Statement on draconian measures taken against France’s Muslims

France is the old colonial power in Burkina Faso. Editorial credit: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com

Over 60 scholars, imams, NGOs and Muslim community leaders have signed a statement in defence of our noble Prophet (pbuh) and in solidarity with French Muslims.

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.

Mohammed Kozbar, Finsbury Park Mosque

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Imam Yousaf Baig, Wifaqul Ulama

Shaqur Rehman, Islamic Council of Europe

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

Shakeel Begg, Lewisham Islamic Centre

Dr. Omar Suleiman, Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research

Prof. Dr. Sami Al-Arian, Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) – Istanbul, Turkey

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

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

Anas Altikriti, The Cordoba Foundation, UK

Salman Butt, Islam21c

Tasneem Najwa, Nakheel Women’s Group

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

Abdul Wahid, Hizb ut Tahrir  Britain

Shabbir Hassan, Faith Space UK

Bilal Ismail, Alkauthar Institute

Abdelmonim Elhakim, British Islamic Medical Association

Abdur Rashid,UK Islamic Mission

Shaykh Bilal Brown, Marifah Institute

Abid Khan, Cheadle Mosque

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

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

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)

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