This Tuesday, December 31, 2024, France Télévisions and the Paris town hall presented “The Great Evening of Paris 31”a major concert broadcast live from the Champs-Élysées. Among the artists who performed in front of a large audience was Maître Gims. His participation came as a surprise, due to his past statements against the celebration of the new year, which he considered contrary to his religious beliefs. In 2022, he posted videos on Instagram, where he asked his fans to stop wishing him New Year's wishes or even his birthday.
« Please, with the Happy New Year, New Year, leave me with this, you know very well that I never responded to this, and you continue to send me them throughout the month of January, February… […] It's mostly Muslims who send me this. Did the companions (of the prophet) celebrate the New Year? No. Guys, please stop. “, he said, speaking of the Gregorian calendar. According to the Islamic calendar, the date of the New Year – Raas Assana – changes every year, according to the cycles of the Moon.
The rest after this ad
The Paris mosque sets the record straight
Maître Gims' comments on the celebration of the new year sparked strong reactions on social networks. Damien Rieu, former spokesperson for Génération Identitaire, relayed them, followed by Éric Zemmour who also commented, criticizing Valérie Pécresse, supported by the singer during the regional elections.
The rest after this ad
Contacted at the time by The Parisianthe rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, recalled that there was no religious prohibition for a Muslim to wish a happy new year. “It’s about sharing a moment of joy and happiness. This human fraternity cannot be called into question (…). It is not a question of participating in the practice of another religion. » Each year, the French Council of Muslim Worship publishes a message of greetings to mark this occasion.
France
Lifestyle
