Respected scholars, du’āt, and academics from around the world have condemned France for their increasingly hostile crackdown against French Muslims.[1]
The letter was compiled in response to the onslaught from French authorities that has created a climate of fear amongst Muslims in France.
More than 70 mosques and Islamic private schools across France have been closed by authorities since the turn of the year, which has only been aggravated by President Macron’s recent speech on combatting “Islamic separatism”.[2]
The letter begins by referencing the cause of the public boycotting of France and its products: the insults towards our Prophet Muhammad (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam):
“We, the undersigned, condemn the recurrent insults towards the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and the insistence of the French government to defend them. This crosses a red line that rightly draws the contempt of Muslims across the world.”
The letter warns against the “irrational and aggressive” statements by Macron and Gerald Darmanin, French Minister of the Interior. Their statements resulted in a family of French Algerians stabbed by two European women near the Eiffel Tower.[3]
The letter also reveals that Muslims around the world were saddened and shocked to learn of Darmanin’s public admission that “dozens of individuals not linked to any criminal investigation were raided in order to simply send a message to Muslims in France. This extraordinary claim highlights that the police and other arms of government have been politicised to intimidate otherwise innocent Muslim citizens.”
Finally, the letter emphasises that “Muslim communities and organisations stand in solidarity with France’s Muslims” and demand that they be treated with dignity and respect. The signatories of the letter call for the “French government to end its campaign of hostility towards those carrying out their duties to live lawfully.”
A full copy of the letter with its signatories can be found below:
We, the undersigned, condemn the recurrent insults towards the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and the insistence of the French government to defend them. This crosses a red line that rightly draws the contempt of Muslims across the world.
We are alarmed by the French government’s violent crackdown on its Muslim citizens which has seen the closure of mosques, schools, businesses and attempts to dissolve mainstream civil society organisations, such as the anti Islamophobia group CCIF and humanitarian relief charity, BarakaCity. These are celebrated organisations that conduct their activities in a lawful manner. They should not be harassed by the state.
Recent statements by the President Emmanuel Macron and the Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin have been irrational and aggressive, deliberately targeting a minority community.
Already there are reports that two Muslim women were stabbed close to the Eiffel Tower on 21 October 2020 in an Islamophobic attack. Such incidents do not take place in a vacuum..
The Interior Minister made the shocking public admission that dozens of individuals not linked to any criminal investigation, were raided in order to simply send a message to Muslims in France.
This extraordinary claim highlights that the police and other arms of government have been politicised to intimidate otherwise innocent Muslim citizens.
Muslim communities and organisations stand in solidarity with France’s Muslims. We call on the French government to end its campaign of hostility towards those carrying out their duties lawfully. Muslims in France should be afforded the rights that others are guaranteed; to live fully, without facing state oppression.[4]
A full list of the letter’s signatories can be found below:
- Mohammed Kozbar, Finsbury Park Mosque
- Imam Yousaf Baig, Wifaqul Ulama
- Shaykh Shaqur Rehman, Islamic Council of Europe
- Shaykh Zahir Mahmood, As-Suffa Institute
- Shaykh Suliman Gani, Purley Masjid
- Shaykh Dr. Haitham Al-Haddad, AlMarkaz Centre for Revival & Reform Studies
- Shaykh Farid Haibatan, Muslim Research & Development Foundation
- Imam Shakeel Begg, Lewisham Islamic Centre
- Shaykh Dr. Omar Suleiman, Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research
- Prof. Dr. Sami Al-Arian, Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) – Istanbul, Turkey
- Shaykh Dr Yasir Qadhi, The Islamic Seminary of America
- Yasemin Yürekli, EMISCO – European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion
- Dr Shazad Amin, MEND
- Imran Shah, Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK
- Dr Asim Qureshi, CAGE
- Shaykh Wasim Kempson, The Wise Muslim
- Ragad Altikriti, Muslim Association of Britain
- Yahya Birt
- Imam Yahya Ibrahim, Islamic Community Services
- Fatih Atmaca, Imam of Balgreen Masjid and Chair of Edinburgh Turkish Community
- Zahid Akhtar, Documenting Oppression Against Muslims
- Rafiq ibn Jubair, IlmFeed
- Fadel Soliman, Bridges Foundation
- Roshan Muhammed Salih, 5Pillars News
- Dr Anas Altikriti, The Cordoba Foundation, UK
- Dr Salman Butt, Islam21c
- Tasneem Najwa, Nakheel Women’s Group
- Shaykh Hasib Noor, Founder & Director of The Legacy Institute
- Samira Sabir, Centrum de Middenweg
- Oguzhan Yürekli, European Yozgat Federation
- Dr Mohammed Rafiq Habib, Muslim Council of Scotland
- Dr Abdul Wahid, Hizb ut Tahrir Britain
- Ustadh Shabbir Hassan, Faith Space UK
- Shaykh Bilal Ismail, Alkauthar Institute
- Abdelmonim Elhakim, British Islamic Medical Association
- Abdur Rashid, UK Islamic Mission
- Shaykh Bilal Brown, Marifah Institute
- Abid Khan, Cheadle Mosque
- Imam Abdullah Patel, Masjid e Umar (Gloucester)
- Mohammed Farook Kazi, Al-Ansaar Welfare & Education
- Muhammad Uddin, Newham Muslim Forum
- Imam Sheikh Mohammad Ismail, United Mosque Council of South Yorkshire and Jamiat Ulama UK
- Muhammad Mulla, Masjid-e-Umer (London)
- Bakhtiar Ahmad, Masjid Salaam
- Dr Louay Al-Alousi, Masjid-us-Sunnah
- Ustadh Omar Hajaj, West London Islamic Cultural Centre
- Usman Qureshi, Norbury Muslim Centre
- Nayeem Haque, Muslim Youth Network
- Nicolas Blancho, Islamic Central Council of Switzerland
- Muhammad Jalal, The Thinking Muslim Podcast
- Firdosa Akhter, Aligarh Muslim University
- Amanj Aziz, Nyans Muslim (Sweden)
- Muhammad Delair, Madinatul Uloom
- Rahma Bavelaar, Meld Islamofobie/Report Islamophobia (Netherlands)
- Mohammed Lockhat, The Peace Centre
- Dr. Aysha Wazwa, Gems of Light
- Yusuf Ríos, Islamic Learning Foundation (Chicago USA)
- Fahmi Adzha, International Islamic Federation Of Student Organizations (Turkey)
- Tahir Alam, Muslim Parents Association
- Dr. Maria Saleemi, Lahore College for Women University (Pakistan)
- Ismail Kamdar, Islamic Self Help
- Shaykh Bilal Ismail, Imam Development Program
- Yacoob Hafejee, Madrasah Taleemul Islam
- Syed N Hoque, As-Subah Academy
- Muhammad Mustaqeem Shah, Al Istiqāmah
- Abul Barakat Monawar Hasan, Centre for Islamic Guidance UK
- Zainulabedin Amir, Woodfarm Education Centre
- Hashim Gora, Al Hashim academy
- Abdallah Mohamed Elsaeidy, Hamad Medical Corporation Doha (Qatar)
Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] https://headtopics.com/us/france-s-draconian-measures-against-muslims-condemned-in-petition-16536053
[2] https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2020/10/14/france-has-shut-down-dozens-of-mosques-islamic-schools
[3] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/muslim-family-stabbed-in-paris-as-government-cracks-down-on-the-enemy-within/
[4] https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/france-s-draconian-measures-against-muslims-condemned-in-petition-40980