(Image Source: Jezebel)

BY: ERICA COGHILL

A new French law banning public prayer went into effect Friday, veering thousands of practicing Muslims off the streets of Paris and into a former fire station.According to French secular law, it’s okay to practice any religion you want--just not in public.

Here’s France 24, reporting from the makeshift mosque.

“The officials haven’t had the time to decorate the room, but worshippers are thrilled."

"The opening was such a success, thousands of worshippers came to the station.”

Home to the largest Muslim population in Europe, France lacks mosque space and for years worshippers have overflowed into the streets. Al Jazeera talks to some French Muslims who welcome the move.

“It’s nice to have a new, good place to pray, it is better than having to pray at you while everyone stares at you as they are walking past.”

“We started overflowing onto the streets 20 years ago, 10 years ago I made a public call, give me the space and you won’t see anyone on the streets, well now we have the space, so you won’t see anyone on the streets.”

The makeshift mosque might bring Muslims out of the street -- but a Jezebel writer says this law highlights a bigger issue.

“The new facility should fix that problem, but it won't fix the xenophobia of the French.”

Le Parisien reports Friday, hundreds of people did, in fact, break that law, but there are no reports of serious repercussions.  

“Some 200 Muslims prayed Friday afternoon in a street in the Parisian neighborhood of La Goutte d'Or, despite the ban that the Interior Minister Claude Gueant pledged to uphold.”