Grand Mosque of Paris Denounces Surge in Racist, Hateful Speech Against French Muslims Amid Gaza War

Paris, November 3, 2023 – The Grand Mosque of Paris, a prominent Islamic institution in France, has expressed deep concern over the increasing prevalence of racist and hateful rhetoric targeting Muslims in the country. This alarming trend has coincided with the ongoing Zionist aggressions against the Palestinians, further exacerbating tensions within French society.

In an official statement, the Rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Chems-eddine Hafiz, highlighted the “disturbing rise in acts and discourse targeting individuals and groups based on their religious affiliations, regardless of what they may be, in France.”

This surge in discriminatory language and actions, Mr. Hafiz emphasized, not only undermines religious coexistence in France but also dangerously fuels tensions at a time when an unbearable tragedy unfolds in the Middle East.

Mr. Hafiz has called on the French authorities to take immediate measures to combat this concerning phenomenon. The Grande Mosquée de Paris strongly condemns the “outrageous statements” made by certain political and media figures, which aim to stigmatize and exclude Muslim citizens from the national community.

The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) had previously denounced statements made by lawyer Arno Klarsfeld, who referred to an “active Muslim minority” regarding anti-Semitism. In response, the Audiovisual and Digital Regulatory Authority (Arcom) has recently received complaints about Mr. Klarsfeld’s comments, as well as remarks made by commentator Pascal Perri on LCI, who mentioned “couscous anti-Semitism,” for which he later issued an apology.

The Grand Mosque of Paris’ statement underscores the need for unity and understanding in a diverse and multicultural society and calls for an end to hate speech and discrimination against Muslims in France.