It was customary to see the site abandoned, asphyxiated by a jungle of weeds. But in recent weeks, brush resumed service and a handful of workers trying to restore the handsome mosque in Balata. It should also return to poor workmanship, make changes before leaving up the artisans Moroccan decor experts. The monument, based on a mosque in Al-Bireh in Palestine, could be completed by the end of the year. The same argument Nasser Mansour, the treasurer of the Association of Islamic Cultural Center: "Inshallah (1) will be completed in December ... ". Aware of walking on eggshells, he adds: "We are in no hurry, we want to make something beautiful that will remain an imprint, a historic religious and cultural at the same time."
If the project was completed much later this year, it took 17 years to overcome. The project itself dates back to 1984, excavation work had begun in early 1994. "We had a dispute with a contractor, he had to stop work and the Islamic Cultural Center has sued. Then we looked for other companies in the mode of bidding, "said Mansour Nasser.

No speakers for the call to prayer

There would also struggled for funding, but this chapter prolific trader prefers not to expand. As the cost of the work: "I'd rather wait until everything is finished to give figures. I can say that is 100 to 150,000 euros of work, and the land is also in this price range. Funding is provided to 65% from outside, mainly Muslim World League, the rest are the gifts of the faithful. " And they can be very generous: "Recently, despite my misgivings, a Muslim who sold a property has donated 10,000 euros."

In the vicinity of the mosque fears that had arisen with the first sod, resurface. A waterfront is concerned: "If they make the call to prayer as we see in Arab countries it will be hell, and then they go to park where? There is no room! "" In Islam, it is important not to disturb the neighbors, reassure Nasser Mansour. The neighbors will not be disturbed by the sound of the muezzin will remain confined within the walls, and parking spaces are provided around the monument. " Far from wanting to disturb the quiet subdivision, the faithful are hoping that this place will serve to unite the Muslim family in Martinique, now split in two.
The project itself dates back to 1984, excavation work had begun in early 1994.

- Interview with Liliane Kuscinsky, anthropologist, researcher at CNRS: "The presence of Muslims is far from being erected in problem"

Why would you be interested in Islam in Martinique?

In the 1990s, I used to work on African marabouts in Paris and mixing practices with Islam. As part of this work, I came to Martinique to intervene in a symposium in 1998. The meeting with a marabout, Fode Marega, I discovered that there were many other Muslims in the island and took me to get interested in installing this religion. I made several trips between 1999 and 2011. This is an exciting theme.
Marabout is what has allowed Islam to expand?

Yes, this religion, arrival in the 1930s with a few Palestinian families, was reduced to a few acts in a purely family. There was also the West Africans to impregnation Muslim stronger but still manifested in private. There was perhaps that time, the desire to blend into the environment from Martinique, still marked by Catholicism. It must be said that a long time among the Palestinians in particular, is the identity of Arabic prevailed. In fact they created a club Arabic, with Christians and Muslims, before be opened a prayer room. In the 1970s, Fode Marega, the Malian Muslim marabout first gathered African Muslims, and called on Palestinians to join this growing community. And above all he began to convert Martinique. But he soon faced opposition in which both entered religious issues, and personal and local ... Some Muslims have begun to criticize highlighting other religious references because they had been trained elsewhere in city or in Palestine, in this current global resurgence and assertion of Islam. For them, Islam based on the marabout was harmful. A minority remained faithful to Fodé Marega, others were another community, Boulevard Allègre. It is they who undertook to build the mosque in Balata.


"Turn back to Catholicism"
Do you have any idea how many Muslims on the island?
There is talk of 500 to 3000 people, the latter figure is exaggerated. The community is marked by incessant coming and going with a stable core, so it remains to be seen. Islam is a very small religious minority that can not be compared in size to Evangelicals, Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses ... But Muslims are trying to organize themselves and for some, their presence in public space.
What are the routes of Martinique converted to Islam?

They are very diverse. There are those who were converted to the Malian marabout, first came to him for healing. Others are from the Rastafarian movement, and others met in the metropolis of Islam.

What emerges from their testimony is often the opening to the universal they are in Islam and its egalitarianism: there is only one community whose members are united by bonds of brotherhood. This affirmation of brotherhood beyond any biological link is all the more force that the company is still stratified Martinique and dominated by differences in skin color. The conversion is also sometimes a way to turn your back to Catholicism, to Western civilization. Moreover, Islam seems to many a very roundabout way to find Africa. There are also Martinique who convert. Despite popular belief, they believe that several points of Islam gives more dignity and respect to women that society Martinique.


The mosque, a Muslim anchor in Martinique
The major change for this community is the construction of the mosque?
Yes, it will be a visible anchor Muslim territory of Martinique.

Already, it is very important. In addition there is a particular architecture. This is not the case for example of the synagogue in Schoelcher opened in 1996, which is a beautiful building but nothing identifies as a synagogue from the outside. While with the mosque there is the desire to have a truly Muslim architecture.
What is the view of Martinique on Islam in your opinion?

That's what I'll try to work now. There has been for a long time a great misunderstanding, total confusion with all the Muslim extremists. But in Martinique, the presence of Muslims is far from having been erected in national political issue, because of the multiplicity of religious groups in the island, but the small number of Muslims, discretion and religious moderation: they never hit the headlines locally. But when it came to the mosque, they met on the part of elected officials, and individuals, the same objections as those widely used in the metropolis.

Liliane Kuscinsky
- An imam Martinique

Ali Carpenter is one of the first to Martinique have converted to Islam in 1981.
Ali Carpenter is a tailor by trade, and ... imam. Not very common on an island where we would be more inclined to see the birth of vocations of priest or pastor.
It is one of the first to Martinique have converted to Islam in 1981 in contact with Fode Marega. He has remained true when a sling spoke out against the Malian both healer and imam of the Muslims dividing the island into two groups. Even today he is officiating at Friday prayers in a room located in Terres-Sainville. Like many of Martinique, Ali Carpenter (first name he adopted after his conversion), was born into a Catholic family. From his youth, a deep faith dwells but as he explains: "There are things that I did not understand, which I did not share. But I did not have access to other religious books that the Bible, and I was deeply religious. "

In 1975, he studied in Paris. Feet on the continent he took the opportunity to make the trip to Africa: Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria ... By means of meetings, he became interested in Islam "out of curiosity," and he is touched by the hospitality and culture of the host families. Three years later, it again crosses the ocean and returns home.

No Christmas or Carnival
Sick, the young man was suffering from terrible pain in the leg. Given the failure of conventional medicine, he will see Fodé Marega, the healer, "He gave me a year to heal, and after a year I have actually been cured. Then we kept in touch. He spoke of the Qur'an and I told her about the Bible. He was a very open. " In search of truth, and yet in a spiritual quest, Ali Carpenter finds his answers in Islam: "Allah guide ... "He said simply to explain his conversion.

His wife, who is a nurse, is convinced by Islam as well. The couple, to the surprise of his entourage, adopted the religion and raising her four children by his principles. "There was no opposition from them, we do not preach, we just lived with them Islam. Of course this aroused some curiosity, the choice of first names, the fact that we do not celebrate Christmas or Carnival ... Here we are a minority, it is more meritorious to practice Islam. "

After the departure of Fodé Marega in 1985, Ali Carpenter assumes the office of Imam of the small community.

Even today it provides: "I feel the responsibility to transmit the message. Our community is small but we do with what we have, and we try to remain open to others. "
Simple and discreet man, with deep convictions, Ali Carpenter sums up the life of a Muslim: "We must always strive to do better ... "

EXPRESS - The quiet wisdom of Bath M'Backe
Bathinda M'Backe.
Soft-spoken, about the measured. When Bathie M'Backe is always expressed with great diplomacy. At the age of 64, the imam from Senegal in Martinique officiating for 24 years. After studying in Saudi Arabia, to Medina, he was sent by the Muslim World League at the request of the Muslims of the island. He taught theology, Arabic and leads Friday prayers. It is a pillar of the community which meets the Boulevard
Allegre, who needed a guide with strong theological knowledge. The imam does not forget its roots in Senegal, and every year he traveled to Africa.
EXPRESS - Women Speak

Khadija, MD
"I am Moroccan, I live in Martinique in 10 years. It is more difficult to practice Islam here in my country, especially for Muslims who wear signs identifying them as such. But these signs are part of our faith, not a desire to show, to claim something. We are really annoyed that people perceive it that way. I do not feel aggressive, but there looks ... "
Fatima, converted Martinique
"Although we are a bit away from all these debates on Islam it affects us anyway. It asks questions. But here we have no problem with people, even the way I dress does not bother, they ask me if I am rather rasta because the tet tidal part of our culture.
The problem is that the French media return a negative image of Islam. "
Sarah, from Djibouti

"The Muslim religion is love, tolerance and wisdom. That's what my parents taught me.
42 years ago that I live in Martinique, my neighbors know I am Muslim and my children too. We never had any problems with people. We are all equal, everyone has their own religion and must be able to practice their own way.