Nine years after the building permit was approved and four years after the signing of the 99-year emphyteutic lease, the project for the great mosque of La Courneuve is taking shape. Pollution removal and earthworks are almost finished, and some foundations have been laid. Azadaly Mouhamadaly, secretary general of the Grande mosquée de La Courneuve association and the Federation of Muslims of La Courneuve (FMC), explained that geothermal studies, due to the land's pollution, and the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the start of the construction.
Located in the city center, on the site of the former KDI factories and the future town hall district, this project, initiated in the 2010s, will feature two distinct buildings connected by a garden with a fountain. The first building will house the worship center, with a prayer hall on the ground floor, a mezzanine prayer hall for women, a mortuary washing room, and a family space. The second building will be dedicated to the cultural center, including a conference room, a library, an exhibition gallery, and classrooms.
The total construction budget is estimated at 6 million euros, funded exclusively by donations from worshippers. Azadaly Mouhamadaly emphasized the need for communication to raise awareness and rally support. The association is already organizing activities such as interfaith dialogue conferences, Iftar meals, and Eid prayers in other venues while awaiting the completion of the construction.
