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Rabat – The rector of a Paris mosque, Chems-eddine Hafiz, has condemned the rise of anti-Islam rhetoric in the French presidential election.
The mosque’s rector said on Sunday that the anti-Islam rhetoric in the election campaign could cause a “spiral of hatred.”
“I am extremely worried,” the rector said, stressing that Muslims no longer feel safe.
“We’re in a society that is fractured and searching for itself, a society that is weakened and fearful after the pandemic,” he said.
Several candidates in the French election have made controversial comments on Islam, making the religion their focus during their campaign.
One of the candidates is far-right French journalist Eric Zemmour, who has been causing controversy over his remarks against Muslims and Islam.
In January, the far-right pundit said he will make sure “Muslims respect France.”
He argued that while “Muslim countries are free to establish Islam as a state religion,” France would not tolerate Muslims coming to France to preach and give lessons about integrating or accepting Islam as French religion.
He added that he is concerned with “protecting the French people, their identity, their language, their history, their tradition, and their customs.”
Islamophobia has been a source of concern for Muslims living in France for a long time. The Muslim community had experienced a series of Islamophobic incidents recently, including vandalism at mosques across the country.
Mosques are being targeted by vandals who paint anti-Islam tags on the walls of the prayer houses.
In November 2021, attackers used red paint to draw the crosses of Lorraine on the walls of two mosques in Besancon, France.
The Lorraine cross symbolizes French resistance to Nazi occupation in the 1940s.
Several other mosques have witnessed similar Islamophobic acts in recent months.
France’s policymakers also sparked outrage for their Islamophobic acts, including the French senate’s decision to ban the hijab (Muslim headscarf) in sporting events.
In January, the French senate decided to prohibit the wearing of “conspicuous religious symbols” in sport.
The amendment targeted the Muslim veil, claiming that the hijab can put the safety of athletes wearing it at risk.
