BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In the midst of a growing wave of anti-Muslim sentiment in France, particularly through aggressive rhetoric on private television channels following the events surrounding the Al-Aqsa Flood, Mr. Chems-eddine Hafiz, the Rector of the Paris Grand Mosque, handed a letter to Mr. Roch-Olivier Maistre, the President of Arcom_fr, the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and visual media, expressing deep concerns on behalf of the Muslim community in France. The letter addressed the urgent need to counter and prevent the dissemination of hate speech against Muslims in the media and called for appropriate measures to protect and support the Muslim population, effectively reducing the prevalence of attacks against them.
Mr. Hafiz’s letter to Mr. Maistre, the President of Arcom_fr, the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and visual media, underscores the gravity of the situation. In the letter, he articulates the Muslim community’s apprehensions and the urgent need to confront and prevent the spread of hate speech against them through media channels. The Muslim community in France is calling for immediate action to protect their rights, security, and dignity.
The Rector’s letter also highlights the vital role that Arcom_fr plays in regulating the audiovisual and visual media landscape in France. It calls on the regulatory body to take decisive steps to curtail the dissemination of content that fuels anti-Muslim sentiments and contributes to the rise of hate crimes against Muslims. By intervening and implementing appropriate measures, Arcom_fr has the power to foster a safer and more inclusive media environment.
The Paris Grand Mosque’s message is a call for unity, understanding, and respect among all communities in France. It emphasizes the need to safeguard the principles of freedom, equality, and fraternity that are integral to the French Republic. In the face of increasing division and hostility, Mr. Hafiz’s actions aim to remind society of the importance of coexistence and mutual respect.
