PARIS — A hundred years ago, Paris erected a monumental mosque to honor Muslim soldiers from French colonies who fought in World War I. It now stands in the Latin Quarter, and as it celebrates its centenary, worshippers reflect on the Muslim experience in today’s France.
The rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris regards the site as a symbol of interfaith dialogue and the nation’s diversity, yet he expresses concern about religious tensions linked to Middle‑Eastern conflicts and the polarizing rhetoric of the upcoming presidential campaign.
“It’s the responsibility of everyone to see Muslims as a part of the national community,” Chems‑eddine Hafiz told The Associated Press.
Visitors attending the anniversary prayers on Friday came from across Paris, including French‑born residents and those who migrated over decades from Algeria, Senegal and other former colonies. Many trace their roots to France’s colonial past.
The mosque’s ornate prayer hall, carpeted and inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, is listed as a top attraction by Paris City Hall. Its 33‑meter‑high minaret overlooks the Seine, complementing the nearby Notre Dame Cathedral. The complex also houses a tea room and hammam.
Above all, it remains a place of worship and history.
French authorities built the mosque to honor the “blood spilled” by Muslim soldiers who died in World War I trenches defending France, many of them from African colonies, Hafiz said.
“When it was built, French President Gaston Doumergue made a declaration reminding us that France’s diversity could only reinforce its national community,” Hafiz recalled, calling the message “beautiful.”
“I believe the political will and the political message have remained unchanged since 1926,” he said. “The problem lies in people’s attitudes. Today, anti‑Muslim acts are still being committed against Muslims. Islam is often misunderstood, and talking about Muslims or Islam can trigger hostility.”
Islam is now the second most practiced religion in France, which hosts Western Europe’s largest Muslim population. However, French Muslims often face discrimination and struggle for full acceptance. Stigmas have worsened after deadly extremist attacks over the past decade.
France is now in the midst of a presidential election campaign dominated by Marine Le Pen’s far‑right National Rally, which has targeted Islam and immigration.
Fatma Chouchane, a volunteer at the Grand Mosque, decried restrictions on women wearing headscarves in French schools and some workplaces.
“I ask France to leave these people alone” and let them make their religious choices, she said.
Despite the challenges, worshippers at Friday’s prayers emphasized messages of tolerance and unity. “It’s a symbol, it is the Paris museum for Muslims,” she said. “We must all be in solidarity.”
For Ibrahima Seye, arriving from Senegal, the mosque was among the first places he visited after settling in France.
“It’s always open,” he said. “It’s good for the Muslim community, and I see that it’s a mosque that is appreciated by a lot of tourists, too.”
Associated Press writer Angela Charlton contributed to this report.
