Chems-Eddine Hafiz – Eye on Islamism

France-Algeria tensions put Paris Grand Mosque’s ‘iftar for ambassadors’ in spotlight French officials and media have been concerned about ties between the mosque and Algeria amid a flaring crisis between the two countries.

March 17, 2025 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) The upcoming high-level Ramadan iftar ceremony at the Grand Mosque of Paris is attracting a dramatic turn of events as the media is suspecting further tensions between Algeria and France. French news agency Agence France-Presse said the rift between […]

France’s imams urged to include prayers for nation amid rising security concerns

January 12, 2025 Unlisted Author

(Türkiye Today) In an unprecedented move aimed at fostering societal harmony and security, the Grand Mosque of Paris Director Chems-Eddine Hafiz sent a message to 150 mosque imams across France. Known for his close ties to French President Emmanuel Macron, Hafiz urged […]

Trial opens in France in the beheading of a teacher over prophet cartoons

November 4, 2024 Nicolas Vaux-Montagny and Sylvie Corbet

(AP) The trial of eight people in Paris on terrorism charges started on Monday over the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty, who was killed by an Islamic extremist after showing caricatures of Islam’s prophet to his middle school students for a lesson […]

France’s Muslim voters fear far-right election win

June 19, 2024 Claire Gallen

(AFP) Muslim voters are increasingly worried about the prospect of a far-right victory less than two weeks before France’s snap parliamentary elections, fearing the possible restrictions that could follow. For Sarah, there’s a “real risk” of seeing the National Rally (RN) win […]

French National Rally: ‘Houellebecq excessive on Muslims’ Leader Bardella criticizes author's words

January 9, 2023 Unlisted Author

(ANSAmed) The leader of France’s far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally, RN), Jordan Bardella, has distanced himself from the words used by writer Michel Houellebecq on Muslims of France, describing them as “excessive.” In an interview with magazine Front Populaire, the author described […]

Paris mosque drops complaint against French writer Michel Houellebecq

January 7, 2023 Unlisted Author

(Radio France) The rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris has confirmed that he has decided to drop his complaint against award-winning French writer Michel Houellebecq over “violent comments” targeting Muslims made during a recent interview. In a statement issued on Friday […]

French writer Michel Houellebecq says he is a ‘part-time Islamophobe’ The best-selling French writer is notorious for repeatedly arguing that Islam is not compatible with France's 'Republican values.'

January 5, 2023 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) French writer Michel Houellebecq has strikingly admitted to condoning and promoting an anti-Islam discourse, sarcastically pleading guilty to being “a part-time Islamophobe.” France has a problem with Islam The writer made his shocking remarks as he barely emerged from […]

Paris mosque sues French writer Houellebecq over anti-Muslim comments

December 29, 2022 Unlisted Author

(Radio France) The rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris has filed a complaint against award-winning French writer Michel Houellebecq over “staggeringly brutal” comments made during a recent interview in which the author drew divisions between “native French people” and “the Muslims” […]

Macron clashes with Le Pen over Islamic headscarf ban

April 15, 2022 Stuart Williams

(AFP) President Emmanuel Macron has clashed with his rival Marine Le Pen over her plan to ban women from wearing the Islamic headscarf in public, with an eye on the votes of Muslims in the second round of elections. Le Pen on […]

Anti-Islam rhetoric in French election risks ‘spiral of hatred,’ says Paris mosque rector (LINK ONLY)

March 27, 2022 EoI News

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Paris Muslim leaders mark 6 years since Bataclan attacks

November 12, 2021 Unlisted Author

(AP) The Paris Mosque is marking the sixth anniversary Friday of the attack at the Bataclan concert hall in the French capital that killed 90 people. Muslim leaders laid a wreath at the venue in Paris’ 11th arrondissement, one day before a […]

Free speech vs Islamophobia: A teenager fuels debate in France Mila’s anti-Islam rant on Instagram drew thousands of hate messages and resulted in a landmark cyberbullying case.

August 10, 2021 Alexander Durie

(Al-Jazeera) It all started with an Instagram broadcast on January 18 last year. Mila, then 16, with a head of newly dyed purple hair, went on a rant against Islam, addressing some of her 10,000 followers who tuned in. “The Quran is […]

French teen harassed over anti-Islam videos visits mosque

July 8, 2021 Unlisted Author

(AFP) A French teenager whose criticism of Islam saw her targeted with a barrage of online abuse met with the imam of the main Paris mosque [Thursday], a visit she said she hoped would “calm things down for everyone.” It came a […]

French top court mulls curfew exceptions for Ramadan

May 5, 2021 Chris Tomlinson

(Breitbart) The French Council of State, the country’s top administrative court, is considering giving Muslims an exemption from the Wuhan coronavirus curfew during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The consideration is coming in response to a request made by the Grand […]

Muslim leaders at odds over Macron curbs (LINK ONLY)

December 30, 2020 EoI News

Eye on Islamism is no longer printing excerpts from articles published by certain news sources. To read the original article, click here.

France Islam: Muslims under pressure to sign French values charter

December 1, 2020 Lucy Williamson

(BBC) France’s Muslim Council is due to meet President Emmanuel Macron this week, to confirm the text of a new “charter of republican values” for imams in the country to sign. The Council (CFCM), which represents nine separate Muslim associations, has reportedly […]

Five years after Paris attacks, France still scarred and back on alert

November 13, 2020 Richard Lough and Tangi Salaun

(Reuters) Five years after Islamist killers struck in postwar France’s deadliest attack, its prime minister on Friday paid tribute to the victims, with the country again on high alert following a new wave of ideologically driven violence. The Nov. 13, 2015, rampage […]

European imam school ‘not feasible,’ says Paris mosque rector Chems-Eddine Hafiz said Charles Michel’s proposal was a ‘noble idea’ but not viable.

November 13, 2020 Pierre-Paul Bermingham

(Politico) The rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris has described European Council President Charles Michel’s proposal to create a European imam training institute as “not feasible.” Visiting Austria earlier this week after the terror attack in Vienna, Michel suggested establishing an […]

Charlie Hebdo uncowed after attacks — but now with bodyguards

September 7, 2020 Elizabeth Pineau

(Reuters) More than five years after Islamist militants killed 12 of their colleagues, staff at French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo say they re-published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad to tell the world they are “still standing” — albeit with a security detail. […]