Rabi-Ul Akhir / Jamadiul Awwal 1423 H
July 2002
Volume 15-07 No:187
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Rabi-Ul Akhir / Jamadiul Awwal 1423 H July 2002 Volume 15-07 No:187 |
Recently, I visited Geneva to participate in the Neelan Tiruchelvam Training Seminar and later in the meeting of the UN Working Group on Minorities. At first glance, I could hardly spot any Muslims here, but the existence of three mosques in Geneva lifted my spirits - the biggest mosque is located at the Petit Sacconnex Bus Terminus.
This
mosque belongs to the Islamic Cultural Foundation of Geneva. Two decades ago,
there were no facilities for Muslims in Geneva to learn about Islam, Islamic
culture and to carry out activities according to Islamic rules. It was then that
King Faisal of Saudi Arabia helped out in building the biggest mosque in 1977
and it was inaugurated by King Khalid in 1978. King Fahd created an awkaf in the
name of the Islamic Cultural Foundation. Since then, the mosque has been
expanded as the number of worshippers visiting the mosque increased. For the
Friday prayers, over 1500 to 2000 people from all over Geneva visit this mosque.
Geneva has a Muslim population of 15,000 in its total population of 4,50,000. In
Switzerland, Islam seems to be the fastest growing religion. While the
percentage of Protestants grew by 2 per cent, Catholics declined by 8 per cent
and Muslims increased by 12 per cent. The Foundation has full-time staff
members, a director, an imam, a librarian and a media officer. Mehmood, an
Egyptian who is the director, has dedicated his life for the activities of the
Foundation. The mosque also comprises a school where children are enrolled into
the study of the Quran. The morgue provides facilities for burial of the dead
including bathing of the bodies.
In the Swiss schools, the Muslim children are not exposed to the Islamic principles and values and the existence of the school attached to the mosque is a boon to the kids. The Foundation conducts a regular part-time Arabic language course for non-Arabic speaking people. Spending time at the library in the Foundation is an unique experience by itself as one can get engrossed in books on Islam and Muslims in French, Arabic and English. The Foundation has four clubs within its premises - a club for Muslim men, club for Muslim women, club for Young Muslim boys and the club for young Muslim girls.
The
clubs provide the community life to the Muslims and the children here who
otherwise get lost in the glitter and glamour of the western world. Through
these clubs, the Foundation organises Quran recitation competitions for kids and
tours and picnics are a regular affair too. Geneva has many Muslims who have
migrated from Morocco, Egypt, Libya and Sudan. Twice a year, Muslim cultural
programmes called as Muslim Carnival are organised to bring the Muslims
together. This year, the ailing King of Saudi Arabia who had arrived in
Switzerland to recuperate had sent food packets to be distributed as gifts to
the Muslim kids at the Carnival.
From Geneva, I travelled to Cartigny village which is 10 minutes distance by bus. A sleepy village located on an agricultural plateau, it is surrounded by farms and wild grass. On the hills, one can see grape vines. Cartigny is a perfect holiday spot, though there are no recreational facilities around.
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