The rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, calls for “stop amalgams” and “stop blaming Muslims for the ills of our society, and in particular anti-Semitism,” in a column published Saturday by the daily Le Monde.
“In the toxic atmosphere that prevails now, racist words are again beginning to be heard in the public space. “I warned the competent authorities to stop organizing and stop blaming Muslims for the ills of our society, and in particular for anti-Semitism,” he wrote.
He “condemns any attack on the Jews of France, as well as on the Muslims of France” and “rejects the transfer to French soil of a conflict in the Middle East, in which there is nothing religious or civilizational.”
“The time has come for decisions. Not between Muslims and Jews. Not between Israel and a Palestinian state, the construction of which is more urgent than ever. No. We must choose between humanism and horror,” the rector adds.
“Deep Injustice”
“Muslims in France are subjected to humiliating accusations that (…) make them complicit in the worst abuses that are not their fault,” he continues.
“As for forcing the Jews of France and the world to take responsibility for the Israeli government in the midst of a political and moral crisis, it is also a deep injustice that I cannot forgive,” he adds.
“In the fog of ideological associations in which we find ourselves, condemning anti-Semitism in France would be a denial of the fundamental rights of all peoples of the Earth, including the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” the lawyer regrets.
“Warning about the rise of anti-Muslim discourse would, by the same logic, equate you with Islamism,” he notes.
The Grand Mosque, through its imam Abdennour Tahraoui, and the French Council of Muslim Worship (CFCM) said they would not participate in the “civic march” against anti-Semitism on Sunday organized by National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet and his Senate counterpart Gérard Larcher.
Source: Le Parisien
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
