A state-funded French Muslim organisation has called on Muslims not to celebrate the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) birthday following this morning’s deadly attack in Nice.
Mohammed Moussaoui, the president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, also called for all mosques to be closed.
“I call on the Muslims of France as a sign of mourning and solidarity with our compatriots who are victims of this abject act to cancel all the festivities of the feast of Mawlid, the feast of the birth of the Prophet of Islam, which was planned this Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” he said.
“I will also call for the places of worship to be closed from this evening, even if the Minister of the Interior yesterday had decided to let Muslims and Catholics celebrate their two holidays and to start confinement from Monday.”
Moussaoui said he “strongly condemns and vigorously denounces this terrorist act which is once again breaking into our lives. I express all my compassion and solidarity with the victims, their families and their loved ones. expresses all my solidarity with the Catholic community in France which was preparing to celebrate All Saints’ Day.
He added that “this attack risks pointing the finger at Muslims and “a deleterious climate, decency and dignity oblige me to first think of the victims and their families. Muslims in France must feel wounded, horrified by those acts which have been claimed in the name of the Muslim religion.”
The French Council of the Muslim Faith comes under the control of the Ministry of the Interior, and liaises with authorities regarding the construction of mosques, the halal food market, the training of imams, the development of Muslim representation in prisons and in the French Army, among other things.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
