The imam of the Great Mosque of Paris called for "not importing" into France "the ongoing conflict in the Middle East", Friday, October 13 during his sermon for Friday prayer.
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The imam did not mention the deadly attack at a secondary school in Arras, which claimed the life of a teacher, a tragedy that occurred only shortly before his sermon.
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It is imperative to avoid provocations or even clashes against communities of different religions and beliefs so that we can live in peace and harmony in France," said Imam Abdennour Tahraoui, referring to the situation in the Middle East.
Respecting humanity
Referring to the "devastating attack" on 7 October, he lamented that "civilians (were) deliberately targeted" and essential services such as electricity and water "interrupted, plunging these people into inhumane conditions, treated like 'insects' to be crushed".
Emphasizing the "humanistic vision" of Islam, he warned that "hatred begets hatred, and violence begets violence." "That is why we must reject it categorically, because it will lead to other disasters, including in our own country," the imam added. Calling for "an immediate end to this heinous war," he stressed that prisoners "must be treated humanely, preserving their dignity" and "respecting their humanity."
He also called for "respect for the rights of the Palestinian people in the establishment of their State for a decent life, in peace and security... for they too are human beings."
Call for vigilance
On Thursday, the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) issued a call for "vigilance" to imams, urging them to "find words of appeasement" during Friday prayers. The rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Chems-eddine Hafiz, expressed his "deep concern" on Sunday after the Hamas attack on Israel.
On October 7, in the middle of Shabbat, the weekly Jewish holiday, hundreds of Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel, killing civilians and spreading terror with a barrage of rockets. The Israeli army is waging a massive bombing campaign on Gaza in response to the attack in which more than 1300,1799 people have been killed in Israel. On the Palestinian side, Israeli strikes killed <>,<> people, according to Gaza authorities.