Dalil Boubakeur: “Media And Political Parties In France Contributed To Stoking Hatred Against Muslims”

“The Algerian Imams or religious preachers, who are supervised by the Paris Mosque in the context of federalism, are well known and have good relations with the French administration through 500 mosques across French soil”.
“The French media outlets and the French political parties contributed to the fuelling of hatred against Muslims after every terrorist attack in France”, Mr Dalil Boubekeur, the Rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris underscored.

During a meeting with “Echorouk” and a number of national media outlets at the Grand Mosque of Paris, Mr. Dalil Boubakeur said that the French authorities were previously concerned about imams and their abidance by the values and laws of the French Republic and structures of French society, adding that there are now 16 colleges across France coaching imams to this effect.

According our interlocutor, 120 imams sent from Algeria and 50 locally-trained others have been recruited in France.
He stressed that imams affiliated with the Federation of the Paris Mosque, which includes some 500 mosques across the country, are well regarded and have good relations with the French administration.

Mr Boubakeur, further pointed to the nagging nightmare witnessed by Muslims living in France after each terrorist attack in France, stressing that part of French public opinion didn’t waver to accuse Islam and Muslims of what happened, stressing that these unwarranted accusations put enormous pressure on Muslims residing in this country.

Mr Dalil Boubekeur further stated that the lame accusations that followed every terrorist attack in France had contributed to the fuelling of hatred against Islam and this became noticeable in the French media outlets and political parties, which immediately pointed an accusing finger towards the Muslims.

Each time, the Paris Mosque stressed that Islam is utterly innocent and has nothing to do with these horrendous terrorist acts.

With regard to the presidency of the Foundation for the Islam of France now ensured by former French minister John Pierre Chevènement, and to the position of the Grand Mosque of Paris, which has been opposed to the appointment of a non-Muslim at the head of this institution, Mr Dalil Boubakeur revealed that Mr. Chevènement now suffers from health problems and is expected to leave office by next December.

In this respect, Algerian Doctor Sadek Belloucif, is widely tipped to be the future head the foundation of the Islam of France, especially since he has been working for several years in the Islamic hospital of Bobigny.

Furthermore, Mr Dalil Boubakeur said that the Algerian community and Muslims in general are well integrated in France, especially girls and women, adding that this smooth integration will contribute to lessening drastically the social problems experienced by the neglected French suburbs in the past years.