After the attacks of January 7, 2015, Tareq Oubrou was one of the thousands of Bordeaux residents gathered to say no to barbarism. The grand imam of the Bordeaux mosque and theologian, known for his positions for liberal Islam, has often intervened to defend “living together” and the freedom to express one's religion while respecting the laws of the republic. Ten years after the events, he returns to the “Charlie spirit” and what remains to be accomplished.
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The grand imam of Bordeaux remembers the Bordeaux demonstration after the tragedy ten years ago. On January 11, the Place des Quinconces, the largest in France, measuring twelve hectares, could not contain the demonstrators.
In the aftermath of the attacks, pMore than 140,000 people marched in Bordeaux in tribute to the victims of the Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher attacks, chanting their attachment to freedom of expression. “There were thousands of people. A demonstration with dignity and respect. There was no hatred.” remembers Tareq Oubrou.
It was truly a demonstration that befits our civilization such as ours, in the face of barbarism.
Tareq Oubrou,Theologian and grand imam of the Bordeaux mosque (Gironde)
The meeting was held at Place des Quinconces where we can assume that nearly 100,000 people will come to demonstrate in the afternoon.
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© Tweet by Jérémy Ballarin
On January 7, 2015, the Kouachi brothers burst into the premises of Charlie Hebdo and murdered twelve members of the satirical newspaper's editorial staff, including journalists and cartoonists Cabu, Wolinski, Charb, Tignous, Honoré, Bernard Maris and Elsa Cayat.
Following this dramatic event, the theologian believes that this should remind us that “our society is fragile“following this crime which was”perpetrated in the name of a religion whose name is Islam which nevertheless means “peace”.
It also remains, for him, our attachment to freedom of expression.which must be preserved.
Caricature is a right. Religious expression is also a right, provided it does not disrupt the public order established by law.
Tareq OubrouTheologian, essayist and great Imam of Bordeaux
For him, “freedom is what he holds most dear.” and it is the republic which is “in the service of freedom of conscience“. In France, secularism makes it possible to determine its limits. “Secularism allows blasphemy, he admits, but also the expression of faith. Freedom in both directions!“
As a religious leader, he urges practitioners to advocate tolerance. “Believers must learn to bear offense. The greatness of a religion is also its ability to transcend the criticism of others.
We must not give in to withdrawal, exclusion, fanaticism.
Tareq Oubrou,Theologian and grand imam of the Bordeaux mosque
Today, the Bordeaux imam seems to have remained committed to his attachment to republican values. He says he often insists in his sermons on freedom, otherness, living together. Of course there is still “in-depth work to be done. Religious must do their job, teachers must also in teaching tolerance, accepting the other, the expression of the other, also“.
After the attacks and since then, Tareq Oubrou was one of those voices who rose to refuse a form of amalgamation, senseless stigmatization of the Muslim community and which threatens our societies.
“The Muslim community is part of French society. It is not in the interest of French society to divide. These barbaric behaviors aim to divide our society. We must not give in to these temptations…“
Nothing is acquired today despite experience. Such tragedies remind us that everyone is the guardian of this freedom, but also of a form of vigilance in the face of theses, religious or not, which fuel hatred and lead to terrorism.
