The Grand Mosque of Paris is once again at the heart of tensions between France and Algeria, in particular because of its management method and its atypical and controversial relations with the Algerian regime. Is the institution the exclusive property of Algeria?
The rector of the mosque is an Algerian and maintains ties with his country. But these links go beyond what many Muslims and French people could imagine. It would seem that this mosque is today the prerogative of Algeria, and that the struggles of this country should be those of the entire Muslim faith in France.
Chems-Eddine Hafiz, who directs the mosque, plays to amalgamate and confuse the interests of Muslims and those of Algeria. Instead of focusing on his religious mission, he became a spokesperson for Algerian interests.
He who speaks on behalf of the Grand Mosque of Paris repeats that« elle » assume ses “strong and historical links with Algeria”and that she would have a “double Franco-Algerian belonging”.
He recently wrote in a post that “the dual Franco-Algerian belonging, far from calling into question the sovereignty of one or the future of the other, is a precious asset”as if this Mosque would only belong to Algeria and not to all the Muslims of France.
The rector went further to justify the supposed “belonging” of the said mosque to Algeria, arguing that since 1982, Algeria has “provided essential financial support to restore this ruined building”.
The Algerian seems to forget that this mosque was built since the 1920s thanks to financing from Morocco (75%), which is also the land owner. Furthermore, the architecture of this place, the woodwork, zellige work, and plasterwork, are all signed by Moroccan artisans, but this, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, seems to obscure it to see a supposed “double Franco-Algerian belonging”.
-Another shocking element which was raised by an investigation by the French newspaper L’Opinion are the direct economic links between the institution of Muslim worship and Algeria. Since 2023, the country has granted the Mosque the exclusivity to manage certification « Halal » of all French or European products to be exported to Algeria.
Manufacturers must pay fees to the Paris Mosque to have this certification and this does not only affect meat but many other products such as biscuits, oil, dairy products, which do not really need certification. have this certification.
“The press reveals that the Grand Mosque of Paris, linked to Algeria, makes all European companies that want to export to this country pay for halal certificates that are otherwise non-existent,” wrote the vice-president of the Les Républicains party (right), François-Xavier Bellamy, on X.
The French political class cannot believe it and legal action has been launched, believing that these practices could amount to extortion. MP Matthias Renault maintained that this system put in place by Algeria » is similar to a customs duty hindering competition » and he is going “far beyond religious recommendations in this matter”.
The Algerian Hafiz defended himself by accusing “environments hostile to the appeasement of relations between France and Algeria”adding in statements to BFMTV, not to be “a commercial enterprise” but he was playing “a religious role”. He also denied having put in place a tax system.
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