From here (sorry for the imperfect translation):
http://hasid.livejournal.com/986075.html
"...It is easy to predict what will happen to Russian LiveJournal in 3 years – by year 20012. Russian LJ will consist of 4 segments, with almost no overlapping.
The first segment will consist of public officers and their teams (everything as at Mironov’s who is a brave man who publicly disclosed the mechanism of this activity). Some will have smaller teams, anothers will have at their disposal larger teams, depending on the rank (the “young” President Medvedev’s LJ team, for example, consists of 12 persons). But all the officials from the mayor of the town and above will be obliged to do blogging.
That is, in this segment there will be a total of tens of thousands of accounts (and respectively, 3-4 times more "blogging Negroes” who will actually manually type phrase and comments of what officials would say and "to monitor the blogosphere". Perhaps in this case Russia will invent a new kind of welfare in the world and employ here tens of thousands of clerks). It is clear that these people are not used to and will never get used to speak on equal terms with the nation - in this case with us, ordinary people-bloggers. So, here we shall see tightening the screws. i.e. to censor LJ somehow, to use the Article 282th of the Criminal Code, etc.
(Russian LiveJournal businessmen - from the top: medium to large can be included into the same segment; a person like Chemezov via hands of his PR deparmtent will tell everybody how to live and work).
The second segment - is "ours Petrosyan-like” (Russian-Armenian public low-level humourous artist), what is now called "blogs for hamsters". The examples are the LJs of Lebedev, Tinkov and others like they. It can be compared with today's Russian TV programs like Comedy Club","Dom-2"and other serials like" Ranetki " and in the printed media - the Russian newspapers "Life", ”KP” and other yellow newspapers. Practically, it is cyberpunk.
The third segment - is a "platypus". This corresponds to approaches of small and medium businesses in the real Russia-2009: "to steal the idea in the West and adapt it to Russia," or “to capture the old Soviet enterprise and squeeze everything out of it without reserves" etc. But this segment may have high quality Russian LiveJournal blogs (with an adjustment that the network audience still qualitatively higher than in the corresponding auidience of Russia-2009). Someone, indeed, will exploit "platypus" in the following manner: 1 ad per 1-2 interesting and "working" blog post. Someone starts blogging as clippings (like the current blogger Drugoi) and will post not just "hot" photos, but something found in the archives, to complement their own research. Another will buy antique books and post their scans, etc. But overall, I think the ratio of “working bloggers” and “add to the friend list for food” be 1:1000 or even more (the same ratio as the ratio between “quality” and "junk" mass media in Russia-2009 or between innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and the typical Russian “sucking money” business).
Finally, there will be marginalized "honest men" niche of bloggers - this is the fourth segment. These will be blogs of those persons who are neither officials, nor cyberpunks, and nor businessmen. And every month their share will diminish – some shall crawl over to Verbitsky’s blog, or to any other community (in Russia-2009 it corresponds to "emigrate"), others shall go to work as "blogging Negro" for an official (who has gone into the power - to lift Russia from the knees"), or shall become a "platypus" ("it-is-necessary-to- get-money-for-life!"). Those who ill stay in ghetto shall squabble with each other, receiving "from experience" stomach ulcer, stroke, and finally the coffin. Just a small portion shall go to the extreme escapism (from crafting kids toys to other unusual habits).
All of this does already exist here and now, but while these segments are still connected by some thin threads, illusions "about the future" are alive.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Journalists talk their differences and search for dialogue
Published 09 December, 2009, 13:22
http://rt.com/Top_News/2009-12-09/european-asian-media-forum.html?fullstory
A major forum of European and Asian media has started in Moscow.
The annual event is organized by RIA Novosti news agency, which has brought it to the Russian capital for the first time. The gathering joins around 150 top media managers from the former Soviet and Baltic states. “There is a long-felt need for open and professional dialogue,” RIA Novosti Editor-in-Chief Svetlana Mironyuk said ahead of the conference.
The forum’s moderator, deputy chief of Rossiya TV channel Sergey Brilev agrees:
“Despite having been brothers, we are not just different mentally and politically now, we are different professionally,” he told RT. “It is of paramount importance to actually start exchanging things. We haven’t been exchanging our news agenda in the past several years.”
President Medvedev arrived at midday. After delivering a short welcoming speech, he then answered a series of questions from foreign journalists.
“Modern, up-to-date media, staffed with qualified personnel are, in my opinion, the main characteristic of an independent and strong state. I am absolutely sure of that,” Dmitry Medvedev said.
Questions came from the representatives of the former Soviet states, namely Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Lithuania, Moldova, as well as Israel.
The forum has also provided common ground for Russian-speaking people, former member of the European parliament and journalist Guilietto Chiesa told RT.
“The question is very important not only because it is a great heritage from the Soviet times, but it is also a reality. The Russian language is a common language for millions of people not only in Russia, but outside also,” Chiesa observed.
The issue of journalists being killed in Russia hasn’t been raised at the Media Forum, but the situation is alarming, Jim Boumelha, president of the International Federation of Journalists, told RT.
Over 1,000 journalists have been killed all over the world, the Federation has estimated. That means two journalists die every week.
The death toll of people involved in media in Russia is grim, Boumelha said. “There is a huge crisis of impunity,” he said. “Only a small fraction of the killers are ever brought to justice and I would have thought that with these kinds of facts it would be a very hot issue being discussed by the media leaders.”
(P.S. Medvedev's speach at the forum is here:
http://rt.com/Politics/2009-12-09/medvedev-media-forum-address.html)
Published 09 December, 2009, 13:22
http://rt.com/Top_News/2009-12-09/european-asian-media-forum.html?fullstory
A major forum of European and Asian media has started in Moscow.
The annual event is organized by RIA Novosti news agency, which has brought it to the Russian capital for the first time. The gathering joins around 150 top media managers from the former Soviet and Baltic states. “There is a long-felt need for open and professional dialogue,” RIA Novosti Editor-in-Chief Svetlana Mironyuk said ahead of the conference.
The forum’s moderator, deputy chief of Rossiya TV channel Sergey Brilev agrees:
“Despite having been brothers, we are not just different mentally and politically now, we are different professionally,” he told RT. “It is of paramount importance to actually start exchanging things. We haven’t been exchanging our news agenda in the past several years.”
President Medvedev arrived at midday. After delivering a short welcoming speech, he then answered a series of questions from foreign journalists.
“Modern, up-to-date media, staffed with qualified personnel are, in my opinion, the main characteristic of an independent and strong state. I am absolutely sure of that,” Dmitry Medvedev said.
Questions came from the representatives of the former Soviet states, namely Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Lithuania, Moldova, as well as Israel.
The forum has also provided common ground for Russian-speaking people, former member of the European parliament and journalist Guilietto Chiesa told RT.
“The question is very important not only because it is a great heritage from the Soviet times, but it is also a reality. The Russian language is a common language for millions of people not only in Russia, but outside also,” Chiesa observed.
The issue of journalists being killed in Russia hasn’t been raised at the Media Forum, but the situation is alarming, Jim Boumelha, president of the International Federation of Journalists, told RT.
Over 1,000 journalists have been killed all over the world, the Federation has estimated. That means two journalists die every week.
The death toll of people involved in media in Russia is grim, Boumelha said. “There is a huge crisis of impunity,” he said. “Only a small fraction of the killers are ever brought to justice and I would have thought that with these kinds of facts it would be a very hot issue being discussed by the media leaders.”
(P.S. Medvedev's speach at the forum is here:
http://rt.com/Politics/2009-12-09/medvedev-media-forum-address.html)
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
...we did not help them formulate their questions
from here:
Putin: Yes, I May Run Again. Thanks for Asking
By Simon Shuster Wednesday, Dec. 09, 2009
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1946505,00.html
... As with many high-profile political campaigns in the West, little is left to chance at the upper echelons of Russia's leadership, especially when the Prime Minister's image makers want to send a message to the public. Which is why, says Andrei Kryukov, a student who asked Putin about his plans for the 2012 elections, he had been steered by Putin's press service and coached for two days before the live show went on the air. Putin's answer to Kryukov's question and one other was clear and direct. Yes, he told the millions of viewers watching the show, he would think about running for President again. And no, nobody should hold their breath for his giving up power.
If the Q&A session is anything to go by, Russia's democracy will probably stay tightly choreographed. "It was very well organized," says Kryukov of the rehearsals for the show. "They gathered together people from various institutes across the country, and one of those was our institute," he says, referring to the St. Petersburg State Mining Institute, which he has studied at since 2005.
Kryukov, a graduate student in open pit mine development, says he and four classmates caught a train to Moscow and were housed at a resort outside the capital that is owned by the Russian State Technology University. "That's where all the students were taken. They treated us really well. We didn't pay for any of it," he says. Rehearsals for the program lasted two days and were organized by Putin's press service and producers from the state-owned Vesti television channel. "We had other questions, ones that were more relevant to us, about mining, about the education system and so on," Kryukov says. "Then it was decided that the question should be more general, more significant. So that's how it came out."
In a statement to TIME, Putin's press service said it had helped state TV producers organize the event and rehearsals but had not helped select questions. "Of course we did not help them formulate their questions. People asked their questions on their own and chose what questions they would ask," the statement said...
Putin: Yes, I May Run Again. Thanks for Asking
By Simon Shuster Wednesday, Dec. 09, 2009
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1946505,00.html
... As with many high-profile political campaigns in the West, little is left to chance at the upper echelons of Russia's leadership, especially when the Prime Minister's image makers want to send a message to the public. Which is why, says Andrei Kryukov, a student who asked Putin about his plans for the 2012 elections, he had been steered by Putin's press service and coached for two days before the live show went on the air. Putin's answer to Kryukov's question and one other was clear and direct. Yes, he told the millions of viewers watching the show, he would think about running for President again. And no, nobody should hold their breath for his giving up power.
If the Q&A session is anything to go by, Russia's democracy will probably stay tightly choreographed. "It was very well organized," says Kryukov of the rehearsals for the show. "They gathered together people from various institutes across the country, and one of those was our institute," he says, referring to the St. Petersburg State Mining Institute, which he has studied at since 2005.
Kryukov, a graduate student in open pit mine development, says he and four classmates caught a train to Moscow and were housed at a resort outside the capital that is owned by the Russian State Technology University. "That's where all the students were taken. They treated us really well. We didn't pay for any of it," he says. Rehearsals for the program lasted two days and were organized by Putin's press service and producers from the state-owned Vesti television channel. "We had other questions, ones that were more relevant to us, about mining, about the education system and so on," Kryukov says. "Then it was decided that the question should be more general, more significant. So that's how it came out."
In a statement to TIME, Putin's press service said it had helped state TV producers organize the event and rehearsals but had not helped select questions. "Of course we did not help them formulate their questions. People asked their questions on their own and chose what questions they would ask," the statement said...
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Former NHL and Olympic star Slava Fetisov is coming out of retirement at age 51 to play for CSKA Moscow
December 10, 2009, 12:09 PM ET
Fetisov to play for CSKA Moscow
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4730664
MOSCOW -- Former NHL and Olympic star Slava Fetisov is coming out of retirement at age 51 to play for CSKA Moscow in a competitive game in the Continental Hockey League on Friday.
Fetisov ended his professional career in 1998 at age 40, and went on to become a lawmaker with Federation Council and president of CSKA.
When the club needed another defender after Denis Kulyash was injured, coach Sergei Nemchinov turned to the front office for help. Rather than finding a short-term replacement, though, one of the best defensemen Russia ever produced agreed to fill in.
"We urgently need one more defender," Nemchinov said. "Fetisov practices constantly and has agreed to help the team. We just need to settle some legal procedures."
It won't be the first time that Fetisov played for the Russian club. He began his career with CSKA in 1978 and played through the 1988-89 season, when he signed with the New Jersey Devils. Fetisov went on to win Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.
Fetisov is one of the most decorated players in international hockey, helping his country win gold medals at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo and the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. He was also on the team that won silver in 1980 at Lake Placid, when the United States shocked the USSR in the game dubbed the "Miracle on Ice."
Fetisov also won seven gold medals, one silver and two bronzes at the World Championships, and served as head coach of the Russian national team that won bronze at the 2002 Olympics.
Fetisov will be the first Russian ice hockey player to play at age 51, although playing at that age is not unprecedented. Gordie Howe played the entire season for the Hartford Whalers at 51, scoring 15 goals and making 26 assists during the 1979-80 NHL season.
Fetisov to play for CSKA Moscow
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4730664
MOSCOW -- Former NHL and Olympic star Slava Fetisov is coming out of retirement at age 51 to play for CSKA Moscow in a competitive game in the Continental Hockey League on Friday.
Fetisov ended his professional career in 1998 at age 40, and went on to become a lawmaker with Federation Council and president of CSKA.
When the club needed another defender after Denis Kulyash was injured, coach Sergei Nemchinov turned to the front office for help. Rather than finding a short-term replacement, though, one of the best defensemen Russia ever produced agreed to fill in.
"We urgently need one more defender," Nemchinov said. "Fetisov practices constantly and has agreed to help the team. We just need to settle some legal procedures."
It won't be the first time that Fetisov played for the Russian club. He began his career with CSKA in 1978 and played through the 1988-89 season, when he signed with the New Jersey Devils. Fetisov went on to win Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.
Fetisov is one of the most decorated players in international hockey, helping his country win gold medals at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo and the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. He was also on the team that won silver in 1980 at Lake Placid, when the United States shocked the USSR in the game dubbed the "Miracle on Ice."
Fetisov also won seven gold medals, one silver and two bronzes at the World Championships, and served as head coach of the Russian national team that won bronze at the 2002 Olympics.
Fetisov will be the first Russian ice hockey player to play at age 51, although playing at that age is not unprecedented. Gordie Howe played the entire season for the Hartford Whalers at 51, scoring 15 goals and making 26 assists during the 1979-80 NHL season.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sky News about Ohta Tower in St. Petersburg: Russian Skyscraper Will Ruin Historic City
Russian Skyscraper 'Will Ruin Historic City'
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Row-Breaks-Out-In-Russia-As-Work-Begins-On-Worlds-Tallest-Skyscraper-In-St-Peterburg-Gazprom-Tower/Article/200911415466049?lpos=World_News_Third_Home_Page_Feature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15466049_Row_Breaks_Out_In_Russia_As_Work_Begins_On_Worlds_Tallest_Skyscraper_In_St_Peterburg%2C_Gazprom_Tower
6:37pm UK, Wednesday November 25, 2009
Amanda Walker, Moscow correspondent
A row's broken out in St Petersburg as work has begun on what is set to be Europe's tallest skyscraper.
The Gazprom Tower has sparked violent opposition among those who say it will ruin the city's architecture. Few places in the world take heritage more seriously than St Petersburg. Its architecture is its very essence.
Now looming over the elegant grandeur is a threat that could shatter the baroque vista and steal the city's UNESCO world heritage status. At 102m the golden-domed St Isaac's Cathedral is one of the highest buildings in the city. It would be dwarfed by the tower which would stand four times higher and provide a stark contrast to the city's almost uninterrupted architectural style.
The project's chief architect Filipp Nikandrov says the city cannot be a museum: "Each century left its monument: the Peter and Paul Cathedral was about religion, the TV tower was about mass media. "This is about energy, this is a new symbol of the city. Its all about energy."
Violent scenes erupted at a public hearing where residents voiced their anger at what they say is sheer arrogance. Russia's most powerful state owned company forging ahead with a plan that will benefit nothing but itself.
Director of the Hermitage Gallery Mikhail Piotrovsky told Sky News: "The Gazprom sky scraper is not an idea, it's a big symbol - a symbol of the terrible things that are happening around the world when money dictates the taste of architecture and destroys historical cities."
Critics claim the tower will loom over inhabitants and visitors on every street corner. The architects say this is a misrepresentation and at 5km from the centre the view will be far less prominent.
The construction site sits on an ancient fort. Archaeologists have discovered valuable artefacts but there is little question that this will hamper the project.
In a country where the state still rules, it's unclear whether any opposition or argument, no matter how strong, can actually win through.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Row-Breaks-Out-In-Russia-As-Work-Begins-On-Worlds-Tallest-Skyscraper-In-St-Peterburg-Gazprom-Tower/Article/200911415466049?lpos=World_News_Third_Home_Page_Feature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15466049_Row_Breaks_Out_In_Russia_As_Work_Begins_On_Worlds_Tallest_Skyscraper_In_St_Peterburg%2C_Gazprom_Tower
6:37pm UK, Wednesday November 25, 2009
Amanda Walker, Moscow correspondent
A row's broken out in St Petersburg as work has begun on what is set to be Europe's tallest skyscraper.
The Gazprom Tower has sparked violent opposition among those who say it will ruin the city's architecture. Few places in the world take heritage more seriously than St Petersburg. Its architecture is its very essence.
Now looming over the elegant grandeur is a threat that could shatter the baroque vista and steal the city's UNESCO world heritage status. At 102m the golden-domed St Isaac's Cathedral is one of the highest buildings in the city. It would be dwarfed by the tower which would stand four times higher and provide a stark contrast to the city's almost uninterrupted architectural style.
The project's chief architect Filipp Nikandrov says the city cannot be a museum: "Each century left its monument: the Peter and Paul Cathedral was about religion, the TV tower was about mass media. "This is about energy, this is a new symbol of the city. Its all about energy."
Violent scenes erupted at a public hearing where residents voiced their anger at what they say is sheer arrogance. Russia's most powerful state owned company forging ahead with a plan that will benefit nothing but itself.
Director of the Hermitage Gallery Mikhail Piotrovsky told Sky News: "The Gazprom sky scraper is not an idea, it's a big symbol - a symbol of the terrible things that are happening around the world when money dictates the taste of architecture and destroys historical cities."
Critics claim the tower will loom over inhabitants and visitors on every street corner. The architects say this is a misrepresentation and at 5km from the centre the view will be far less prominent.
The construction site sits on an ancient fort. Archaeologists have discovered valuable artefacts but there is little question that this will hamper the project.
In a country where the state still rules, it's unclear whether any opposition or argument, no matter how strong, can actually win through.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Minarets: a debate that could affect the France
Minarets: a debate that could affect the France
Cécilia Gabizon
30/11/2009
France has this day ten minarets of mosques which cap "cathedrals".
The Swiss referendum could bounce back in France. The secretary general of the UMP, Xavier Bertrand said Sunday he was "not sure we necessarily need to have minarets" to practice Islam. In turn, Marine Le Pen called the "elites to deny the aspirations and fears of European peoples."
To date, France has less than ten minarets. All adorns mosques called "cathedrals". So far, this tower, which serves to initiate the call to prayer in Muslim lands, did not debate. The minaret, silent here, seemed perceived as an ornament, but a banner. The tower whitewashed the Great Mosque of Paris climbs to 30 feet, without causing the commotion. While in Creteil, it reaches 25 meters. In Strasbourg, the minaret is forgotten for the moment, lack of resources. But "if the community wants, it will have its minaret, is committed Roland Ries, the deputy mayor PS, November 27. While the future mosque in Marseille has provided his.
Light ray
So far, the sling antimosquée focused instead on "distortions of secularism." In Montreuil Marseille as some have accused the municipality to finance projects unduly mosque "through the system of long leases. The judges have generally upheld a rent too low could amount to the grant of a cult.
More recently, groups of "identity" that fear "Islamization" entered the battle. But the lawsuit is complex. Some mayors opposed to the presence of a mosque in their city have had their arguments retoques. The State Council has held that such "construction of a mosque in a residential area" did not impair his peace. In Bordeaux, the block was pulled down identity on media activities to challenge the project supported by the UMP mayor Alain Juppé. In January, they have awakened the residents of the district's registered a muezzin. "Here, in a few months, every day, week, Sundays and holidays, the sweet song of the muezzin sounded the hour of waking up ..." could be read on their leaflets. The imam of Bordeaux, Tareq Oubrou, was then corrected: "In France this call is not inside the building. The minaret is not a religious obligation and the mosque project in Bordeaux do not provide. "Indeed, this invention does not date back to Muhammad but the end of the first century of the Hegira. Marseilles, it has provided a ray of light to indicate the hours of prayer.
"Nobody calls the muezzin," assured we at Ministry of Interior. It would in any way "subject to the power of the mayor, like bells." The aedile must "assess the noise and take the necessary measures to ensure the peace of his town," according to the Code of communities. Finally, cathedrals, mosques are the exception, said the office of worship. Who prefers to stress "the new trend: some 200 mosques communal projects, like the flag, without minaret. A model considered "pragmatic". Financially and politically.
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\Original text is here:
http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2009/11/30/01016-20091130ARTFIG00387-minarets-un-debat-qui-pourrait-concerner-la-france-.php
Minarets : un débat qui pourrait concerner la France
Cécilia Gabizon
30/11/2009
La France compte à ce jour dix minarets qui coiffent des mosquées «cathédrales».
Le référendum suisse pourrait bien rebondir en France. Le secrétaire général de l'UMP, Xavier Bertrand, a estimé dimanche, qu'il n'était «pas certain que l'on ait forcément besoin de minarets» pour pratiquer l'islam. De son côté, Marine Le Pen a demandé aux «élites de cesser de nier les aspirations et les craintes des peuples européens».
À ce jour, la France compte moins de dix minarets. Tous coiffent des mosquées dites «cathédrales». Jusqu'à présent, cette tour, qui sert à lancer l'appel à la prière en terre musulmane, ne faisait guère débat. Le minaret, muet ici, semblait perçu comme un ornement, plus qu'une bannière. La tour blanchie à la chaux de la grande mosquée de Paris grimpe à 30 mètres, sans susciter l'émoi. Tandis qu'à Créteil, elle atteint 25 mètres. À Strasbourg, le minaret est oublié pour l'instant, faute de moyens. Mais «si la communauté le souhaite, elle aura son minaret», s'est engagé Roland Ries, le député maire PS, le 27 novembre. Tandis que la future grande mosquée de Marseille a prévu le sien.
Rayon lumineux
Jusqu'à présent, la fronde antimosquée portait plutôt sur les «entorses à la laïcité». À Montreuil comme à Marseille, certains ont accusé la municipalité de financer indûment les projets de mosquée «à travers le système de baux emphytéotique». Les juges ont généralement confirmé qu'un loyer trop peu élevé pouvait s'apparenter à la subvention d'un culte.
Plus récemment, des groupes «identitaires» qui redoutent «l'islamisation» sont entrés dans la bataille. Mais l'action en justice est complexe. Certains maires hostiles à la présence d'une mosquée dans leur ville ont vu leurs arguments retoqués. Le Conseil d'État a par exemple jugé que «la construction d'une mosquée dans une zone résidentielle» ne portait pas atteinte à sa tranquillité. À Bordeaux, le bloc identitaire s'est rabattu sur des actions médiatiques pour contester le projet soutenu par le maire UMP Alain Juppé. En janvier dernier, ils ont réveillé les habitants du quartier au son d'un muezzin enregistré. «Ici, dans quelques mois, tous les matins, semaine, dimanche et jours fériés, le doux chant du muezzin sonnera l'heure de se réveiller…», pouvait-on lire sur leurs tracts. L'imam de Bordeaux, Tareq Oubrou, avait alors rectifié : «En France cet appel ne se fait qu'à l'intérieur du bâtiment. Le minaret n'est pas une obligation religieuse et le projet de mosquée à Bordeaux n'en prévoit pas.» De fait, cette invention ne date pas de Mahomet mais remonte de la fin du premier siècle de l'Hégire. Marseille, elle, a prévu un rayon lumineux pour signaler les heures de prières.
«Personne ne réclame le muezzin», assure-t-on au ministère de l'Intérieur. Il serait de toute façon «soumis au pouvoir du maire, comme pour les cloches». L'édile doit «apprécier la nuisance sonore et prendre les mesures nécessaires pour assurer la tranquillité publique de sa commune», selon le Code des collectivités . Enfin, les mosquées cathédrales restent l'exception, rappelle le bureau des cultes. Qui préfère insister sur «la nouvelle tendance : les quelque 200 projets de mosquées communales, de type pavillon, sans minaret». Un modèle jugé «plus pragmatique». Financièrement, comme politiquement.
LIRE AUSSI
Cécilia Gabizon
30/11/2009
France has this day ten minarets of mosques which cap "cathedrals".
The Swiss referendum could bounce back in France. The secretary general of the UMP, Xavier Bertrand said Sunday he was "not sure we necessarily need to have minarets" to practice Islam. In turn, Marine Le Pen called the "elites to deny the aspirations and fears of European peoples."
To date, France has less than ten minarets. All adorns mosques called "cathedrals". So far, this tower, which serves to initiate the call to prayer in Muslim lands, did not debate. The minaret, silent here, seemed perceived as an ornament, but a banner. The tower whitewashed the Great Mosque of Paris climbs to 30 feet, without causing the commotion. While in Creteil, it reaches 25 meters. In Strasbourg, the minaret is forgotten for the moment, lack of resources. But "if the community wants, it will have its minaret, is committed Roland Ries, the deputy mayor PS, November 27. While the future mosque in Marseille has provided his.
Light ray
So far, the sling antimosquée focused instead on "distortions of secularism." In Montreuil Marseille as some have accused the municipality to finance projects unduly mosque "through the system of long leases. The judges have generally upheld a rent too low could amount to the grant of a cult.
More recently, groups of "identity" that fear "Islamization" entered the battle. But the lawsuit is complex. Some mayors opposed to the presence of a mosque in their city have had their arguments retoques. The State Council has held that such "construction of a mosque in a residential area" did not impair his peace. In Bordeaux, the block was pulled down identity on media activities to challenge the project supported by the UMP mayor Alain Juppé. In January, they have awakened the residents of the district's registered a muezzin. "Here, in a few months, every day, week, Sundays and holidays, the sweet song of the muezzin sounded the hour of waking up ..." could be read on their leaflets. The imam of Bordeaux, Tareq Oubrou, was then corrected: "In France this call is not inside the building. The minaret is not a religious obligation and the mosque project in Bordeaux do not provide. "Indeed, this invention does not date back to Muhammad but the end of the first century of the Hegira. Marseilles, it has provided a ray of light to indicate the hours of prayer.
"Nobody calls the muezzin," assured we at Ministry of Interior. It would in any way "subject to the power of the mayor, like bells." The aedile must "assess the noise and take the necessary measures to ensure the peace of his town," according to the Code of communities. Finally, cathedrals, mosques are the exception, said the office of worship. Who prefers to stress "the new trend: some 200 mosques communal projects, like the flag, without minaret. A model considered "pragmatic". Financially and politically.
------------
\Original text is here:
http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2009/11/30/01016-20091130ARTFIG00387-minarets-un-debat-qui-pourrait-concerner-la-france-.php
Minarets : un débat qui pourrait concerner la France
Cécilia Gabizon
30/11/2009
La France compte à ce jour dix minarets qui coiffent des mosquées «cathédrales».
Le référendum suisse pourrait bien rebondir en France. Le secrétaire général de l'UMP, Xavier Bertrand, a estimé dimanche, qu'il n'était «pas certain que l'on ait forcément besoin de minarets» pour pratiquer l'islam. De son côté, Marine Le Pen a demandé aux «élites de cesser de nier les aspirations et les craintes des peuples européens».
À ce jour, la France compte moins de dix minarets. Tous coiffent des mosquées dites «cathédrales». Jusqu'à présent, cette tour, qui sert à lancer l'appel à la prière en terre musulmane, ne faisait guère débat. Le minaret, muet ici, semblait perçu comme un ornement, plus qu'une bannière. La tour blanchie à la chaux de la grande mosquée de Paris grimpe à 30 mètres, sans susciter l'émoi. Tandis qu'à Créteil, elle atteint 25 mètres. À Strasbourg, le minaret est oublié pour l'instant, faute de moyens. Mais «si la communauté le souhaite, elle aura son minaret», s'est engagé Roland Ries, le député maire PS, le 27 novembre. Tandis que la future grande mosquée de Marseille a prévu le sien.
Rayon lumineux
Jusqu'à présent, la fronde antimosquée portait plutôt sur les «entorses à la laïcité». À Montreuil comme à Marseille, certains ont accusé la municipalité de financer indûment les projets de mosquée «à travers le système de baux emphytéotique». Les juges ont généralement confirmé qu'un loyer trop peu élevé pouvait s'apparenter à la subvention d'un culte.
Plus récemment, des groupes «identitaires» qui redoutent «l'islamisation» sont entrés dans la bataille. Mais l'action en justice est complexe. Certains maires hostiles à la présence d'une mosquée dans leur ville ont vu leurs arguments retoqués. Le Conseil d'État a par exemple jugé que «la construction d'une mosquée dans une zone résidentielle» ne portait pas atteinte à sa tranquillité. À Bordeaux, le bloc identitaire s'est rabattu sur des actions médiatiques pour contester le projet soutenu par le maire UMP Alain Juppé. En janvier dernier, ils ont réveillé les habitants du quartier au son d'un muezzin enregistré. «Ici, dans quelques mois, tous les matins, semaine, dimanche et jours fériés, le doux chant du muezzin sonnera l'heure de se réveiller…», pouvait-on lire sur leurs tracts. L'imam de Bordeaux, Tareq Oubrou, avait alors rectifié : «En France cet appel ne se fait qu'à l'intérieur du bâtiment. Le minaret n'est pas une obligation religieuse et le projet de mosquée à Bordeaux n'en prévoit pas.» De fait, cette invention ne date pas de Mahomet mais remonte de la fin du premier siècle de l'Hégire. Marseille, elle, a prévu un rayon lumineux pour signaler les heures de prières.
«Personne ne réclame le muezzin», assure-t-on au ministère de l'Intérieur. Il serait de toute façon «soumis au pouvoir du maire, comme pour les cloches». L'édile doit «apprécier la nuisance sonore et prendre les mesures nécessaires pour assurer la tranquillité publique de sa commune», selon le Code des collectivités . Enfin, les mosquées cathédrales restent l'exception, rappelle le bureau des cultes. Qui préfère insister sur «la nouvelle tendance : les quelque 200 projets de mosquées communales, de type pavillon, sans minaret». Un modèle jugé «plus pragmatique». Financièrement, comme politiquement.
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