Latest news with #GrandMosqueofParis
El Chorouk
23-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Retailleau Behind the Leak of a Secret Report, Paris Mosque Warns
The Grand Mosque of Paris criticised the leaked report on the Muslim Brotherhood and the term 'political Islam' in France. The report was presented to French President Emmanuel Macron during a Defence and Security Council meeting. The mosque noted that the document would increase 'discrimination against Muslims and make them vulnerable to certain political agendas.' This report was revealed at a time when Algerian-French relations are experiencing an unprecedented crisis. It was also placed on the agenda of a meeting chaired by Macron and attended by his sovereign ministers: Prime Minister François Bayrou, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and Justice Minister Gérald Moussa Darmanin. The Grand Mosque of Paris, led by Chemseddine Hafiz, issued a statement criticising the French authorities in light of the aforementioned report. It stated: 'The Grand Mosque of Paris recalls that it has always defended a vision of Islam consistent with the letter and spirit of the principles of the Republic. It condemns Islamic extremism, terrorism, and all manifestations of hatred expressed in the name of Islam.' The leading religious institution for Muslims in France stated: 'Since its founding in 1926, the Grand Mosque of Paris has worked to spread Islam rooted in the values of peace, fraternity, and solidarity, which blend harmoniously with republican principles and the diversity of our society. It symbolises the contribution Muslims have made to the history of France and supports their full citizenship. However, it also 'refuses to allow the legitimate fight against Islamism to become a pretext for stigmatising Muslims and serving particular political agendas.' The statement emphasises that 'the Grand Mosque of Paris wants to represent the voice of the majority of French Muslims who intend to live their faith in a dignified and peaceful manner. However, they are fabricating a problem targeting the Muslim community, accompanied by a malicious development of a growing discriminatory discourse against them.' The leaks related to the Muslim Brotherhood and political Islam in France sparked widespread condemnation among members of the Muslim community, who viewed them as a side effect of the campaign led by the right and the far right, led by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. This was evident in the minister's handling of the heinous crime that claimed the life of the young Malian, Aboubakar Cissé, and earlier in his refusal to accept an iftar meal invitation from the dean of the Grand Mosque of Paris. Observers linked Bruno Retailleau's victory as leader of the right-wing Republicans (LR) party to the leaks concerning the religious affairs sector under his tutelage. These leaks serve only the ambitions of the French Interior Minister, who is preparing to submit his candidacy for the presidential elections in two years. This is especially true given that he is now certain that his repeated hostile statements targeting Algeria played a significant role in his victory over his rival, Laurent Wauquiez. Since he was appointed Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau has formulated an anti-immigrant policy, a strategy he has used to attack Algeria by targeting its Muslim community. He is the one who invented what he called a 'gradual response,' which reached its peak last Thursday, when French government spokesperson Sophie Primas announced more than a week ago that the next step in the escalation against Algeria would target its community. It is possible that Macron's meeting with his ministers last Wednesday addressed the targeting of the Algerian community, according to the French government spokesperson. In the absence of any details about what transpired at this meeting, observers believe that Bruno Retailleau leaked the report targeting the Muslim community, marking the beginning of his use of this card in his political agenda. According to what the National People's Assembly member, Saad Laanani, representing the Algerians in the southern region of France, confirmed in a previous statement to 'Echorouk', that any decision targeting immigrants primarily targets the Algerian community, which is considered the largest in France. Therefore, the leaked report, although it targets what it calls the 'Muslim Brotherhood', in reality, aims to strike at the Algerian community, as confirmed by the French government spokesperson, Sophie Primas, on May 15th.
Ya Biladi
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Representatives of Muslim groups received by Macron following Islamophobic attack
Representatives of Muslim institutions in France were received on Tuesday, April 29, by President Emmanuel Macron, following the Islamophobic attack in La Grand-Combe. After the murder of Aboubakar Cissé in a mosque, the organizations denounced the «prevailing Islamophobic climate», often «amplified without restraint by certain media and political figures». According to a statement from the presidential entourage to AFP, the Head of State met with the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris and the president of the Coordination of Muslim Associations of Paris to «express the Nation's support». During the meeting, Macron declared that «racism and hatred based on religion will never have a place in France», and reaffirmed that the Republic «guarantees freedom of conscience and the free exercise of worship», according to the same source. In a joint communiqué, the two Muslim institutions confirmed that the president had reiterated the «inviolability» of freedom of worship and announced upcoming measures «to strengthen the protection of places of worship». Chems-eddine Hafiz, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, and Najat Benali, president of the Coordination of Muslim Associations of Paris and rector of the Javel Mosque, said they had conveyed «the growing sense of anger and fear felt by many Muslims» across the country. In their written statement, the two representatives emphasized that the authorities' «failure to classify» the murder of 22-year-old Malian national Aboubakar Cissé as a terrorist act reinforces «a sense of unequal treatment and a troubling double standard». Meanwhile, the Forum of Islam in France (FORIF) has requested a meeting with Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau for a «discussion session» that had already been scheduled «since mid-April». On Tuesday, a minute of silence was observed in the National Assembly in memory of Aboubakar Cissé.
Morocco World
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Macron Defends Religious Freedom Amid Rising Normalization of Islamophobia
Rabat – President Emmanuel Macron has denounced the killing of a Muslim man in a mosque in France, claiming that racism and religious hatred 'will never have a place in France.' Macron's office told AFP that the French President wanted to meet with Muslim representatives, including the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris and the president of the Coordination of Muslim Associations of Paris, to 'engage in dialogue and express the nation's support.' This came just a week after the heinous murder of Aboubaker Cisse, a Malian man who was stabbed 40 to 50 times by an Islamophobic individual who fled the scene to Italy before he turned himself in to Italian police on Sunday last week. He killed Cisse in cold blood in a mosque and filmed the murder, promising to kill more. During the meeting held on Tuesday, Macron reportedly reaffirmed France's commitment to guarantee freedom of conscience and religious practice for all its citizens and residents. The grand mosque and the Muslim association said Macron emphasized the 'inviolable nature of religious freedom,' announcing that measures will be taken to strengthen the protection of places of worship. They also conveyed Muslims' frustration and concern following the heinous murder and the widespread climate of Islamophobia, which is also backed by certain media and political figures. They further criticized the authorities' decision not to classify the perpetrator involved in the killing of Cisse as an act of terrorism. Islamophobia continues to strike a nerve and frustrate Muslims across Europe, particularly France, where officials frequently also make anti-Muslim remarks and restrictions. France's senate decided to ban the weakening of the hijab at sports events, sparking controversy and uproar among Muslims and commentators from around the world in 2022. Several similar controversies emerged as French MPs have long shown hostility toward people wearing the hijab in the parliament. In 2020, MPs left a parliament meeting over a student wearing a hijab. In 2019, some MPs provoked a similar outrage for asking a Muslim woman to remove her veil while taking part in a plenary meeting of the Regional Council of Burgundy-Franche-Comté. The French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools also bans wearing religious symbols in French public primary and secondary schools. Islamophobic attacks are not limited to Cisse's heinous murder. On Monday, a 26-year-old woman filed a complaint after she was attacked in Poissy in the Ile-de-France region in north central France. An unidentified perpetrator assaulted her, tearing off her hijab. According to the news website Le Parisien, a total of 79 anti-Muslim acts were recorded between January and March this year. The number represents a 72% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Hundreds of other cases, if not thousands, could be unaccounted for, in the case of the absence of official complaints. Tags: France islamophobiaIslamophebia
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- The Hindu
Man suspected of killing worshipper at French mosque has surrendered to police in Italy
A man suspected of killing a Muslim worshipper, Aboubakar, in a French mosque has turned himself in to police in Italy, authorities said on Monday (April 28, 2025). French police began searching for the suspect after the attack on Friday (April 25) in the former mining town of La Grande Combe in southern France. The assailant recorded the attack on his phone, and security camera footage showed him shouting insults at God, local media said. The French Interior Minister's office said on Monday (April 25) that the suspect had surrendered to police in Italy, without elaborating. Local prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini said on Sunday (April 27) that investigators are taking into account 'the possibility that this was an Islamophobic act'. 'It's the one we're working on first, but it's not the only one,' he said. The suspect is a man born in France in 2004, who lived in the area and did not have a criminal record, the prosecutor said. 'Racism and hatred based on religion will never have a place in France,' French President Emmanuel Macron said. 'Religious freedom is inviolable.' The Grand Mosque of Paris condemned the attack in a statement and said the victim, a young man identified only as Aboubakar in French media, had just finished cleaning the mosque when he was killed. A march was held on Sunday (April 27) at La Grand Combe in support of the victim and a gathering against anti-Islam crimes was held in Paris.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Man suspected of killing worshipper at French mosque has surrendered to police in Italy
A man suspected of killing a Muslim worshipper in a French mosque has turned himself in to police in Italy , authorities said Monday. French police began searching for the suspect after the attack Friday in the former mining town of La Grande Combe in southern France. The assailant recorded the attack on his phone, and security camera footage showed him shouting insults at God, local media said. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India stares at a 'water bomb' threat as it freezes Indus Treaty India readies short, mid & long-term Indus River plans Shehbaz Sharif calls India's stand "worn-out narrative" The French interior minister's office said Monday that the suspect had surrendered to police in Italy, without elaborating. Local prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini said Sunday that investigators are taking into account "the possibility that this was an Islamophobic act. It's the one we're working on first, but it's not the only one," he said. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unam-dong Modular Homes: See Prices Mobile Homes | Search ads Undo The suspect is a man born in France in 2004, who lived in the area and did not have a criminal record, the prosecutor said. "Racism and hatred based on religion will never have a place in France," French President Emmanuel Macron said. "Religious freedom is inviolable." Live Events The Grand Mosque of Paris condemned the attack in a statement and said the victim, a young man identified only as Aboubakar in French media, had just finished cleaning the mosque when he was killed. A march was held Sunday at La Grand Combe in support of the victim and a gathering against anti-Islam crimes was held in Paris.
