Muslim community decision
The Muslim community of Lleida has decided not to participate in the recent call of the City Council to build a new mosque. This initiative, approved in November 2023, aimed to provide a suitable space of worship for the faithful, but finally the proposal has not achieved the necessary support.
Received in the municipal offer
The City Council had offered land in the polygon of the Camí dels Frares, but the tender was deserted, leaving the community without the option. The Ibn Hazm association, the largest in the city, has been praying in public spaces for years, and after its expulsion from the Glass Palace in September 2023, they sought a viable solution.
Costs as an obstacle
Although the City Council reduced the annual fee from 61,156 to 40,054 euros, members of the community rejected the offer, arguing that spending was still too high. In addition, they expressed concern about the lack of information on the contest deadlines and requirements, a factor that significantly influenced their decision.
A new solution: Oratory on Alicante Avenue
Faced with the inability to build a new mosque, the IBN Hazm community has decided to reform a premises located on Alicante Avenue as a new oratory. According to the association’s spokesman, this space will be enough to meet the religious needs of the faithful, and have been optimistic about their adaptation.
Opinions and reactions
The Councilor for Civil Rights, Roberto Pino, has expressed his disappointment in the desertion of the tender, considering it a lost opportunity to provide a safe and decent place of worship. Now, the challenge of lack of worship space for Muslims is still present in the city.
Warnings of the mayor
Fèlix Larrosa, the Mayor of Lleida, has warned that if the tender is not fulfilled, prayers will be banned on public roads. Roberto Pino emphasized that this situation should not be normalized and said that the City Council is working to find solutions that respond to the real community needs, although the definition of these needs is still a debate.
