PARIS (AP) 鈥� A hundred years ago, Paris erected a monumental mosque to honor Muslim who fought in World War I. It’s now an integral part of the capital鈥檚 bustling Latin Quarter, and as it celebrates its centenary, worshippers are reflecting on
The rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris sees it as a symbol of interfaith dialogue and France鈥檚 diversity, but worries about linked to conflicts in the Middle East and the for next year鈥檚 presidential election.
“It鈥檚 the responsibility of everyone to see Muslims as a part of the national community,” Chems-eddine Hafiz told The Associated Press.
Visitors arriving for 100th anniversary prayers Friday included people from different regions around Paris, those born in France or those who came over the decades from Algeria, Senegal and beyond. Many trace their origins to France鈥檚 colonial empire.
The Paris city tourism office’s website lists the mosque as a top attraction, calling its ornate, carpeted prayer room a 鈥渕ust-see.鈥� Inspired by the , the mosque has a 33-meter (108-foot)-high minaret that overlooks the Seine River 鈥� complementing but not overshadowing the twin towers of nearby Notre Dame Cathedral. The mosque houses a popular tea room and hammam steam baths.
The mosque inspired by national unity
But most of all it is a place of worship and history.
French authorities wanted to honor the 鈥樷�檅lood spilled鈥� during by Muslim soldiers who died in trenches of Verdun and beyond to defend France, Hafiz said. Most came from colonies in Africa.
The mosque鈥檚 imam during the Nazi occupation of Paris, Abdelkader Mesli, helped shelter Jews and supply false documents to try to protect them, and was later himself deported to death camps, according to Hafiz. He survived, but returned in poor health and died a few years later. Mesli鈥檚 wartime efforts were rediscovered in 2015 when his family found notebooks documenting the period.
鈥淲hen it was built, French President Gaston Doumergue made a declaration reminding us that France鈥檚 diversity could only reinforce its national community,” Hafiz said, calling it a 鈥漛eautiful message.”
“I believe the political will and the political message have remained unchanged” since 1926, Hafiz said. 鈥樷�橳he problem lies in people鈥檚 attitudes. Today, anti-Muslim acts are still being committed against Muslims. Islam is often misunderstood, and talking about Muslims or Islam can trigger hostility.”
Many Muslims face discrimination as the far right rises
Islam is now the second religion in France, which has the largest Muslim population in Western Europe. But the country鈥檚 Muslims often struggle to gain full acceptance and face discrimination. Stigmas against Muslims worsened after deadly over the past decade.
France is in the midst of a campaign for next year鈥檚 presidential election so far dominated by and her far-right National Rally, which has targeted Islam and immigration.
Fatma Chouchane, a volunteer at the Grand Mosque, lamented restrictions on women wearing Muslim headscarves in French schools and some workplaces.
鈥淚 ask France to leave these people alone鈥� and let them make their religious choices, she said.
Like other worshippers at Friday鈥檚 prayers, however, she focused on messages of tolerance and celebrating the mosque anniversary.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a symbol, it is the Paris museum for Muslims,鈥� she said. 鈥砏e must all be in solidarity.鈥�
For Ibrahima Seye, the mosque was one of the first places he visited after arriving in France from Senegal.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always open,鈥� he said. “It鈥檚 good for the Muslim community, and I see that it鈥檚 a mosque that is appreciated by a lot of tourists, too.鈥�
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Associated Press writer Angela Charlton contributed to this report.
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