Retailleau Behind the Leak of a Secret Report, Paris Mosque Warns
The report was presented to French President Emmanuel Macron during a Defence and Security Council meeting.
The mosque noted that the document would increase 'discrimination against Muslims and make them vulnerable to certain political agendas.'
This report was revealed at a time when Algerian-French relations are experiencing an unprecedented crisis. It was also placed on the agenda of a meeting chaired by Macron and attended by his sovereign ministers: Prime Minister François Bayrou, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and Justice Minister Gérald Moussa Darmanin.
The Grand Mosque of Paris, led by Chemseddine Hafiz, issued a statement criticising the French authorities in light of the aforementioned report. It stated: 'The Grand Mosque of Paris recalls that it has always defended a vision of Islam consistent with the letter and spirit of the principles of the Republic. It condemns Islamic extremism, terrorism, and all manifestations of hatred expressed in the name of Islam.'
The leading religious institution for Muslims in France stated: 'Since its founding in 1926, the Grand Mosque of Paris has worked to spread Islam rooted in the values of peace, fraternity, and solidarity, which blend harmoniously with republican principles and the diversity of our society. It symbolises the contribution Muslims have made to the history of France and supports their full citizenship. However, it also 'refuses to allow the legitimate fight against Islamism to become a pretext for stigmatising Muslims and serving particular political agendas.'
The statement emphasises that 'the Grand Mosque of Paris wants to represent the voice of the majority of French Muslims who intend to live their faith in a dignified and peaceful manner. However, they are fabricating a problem targeting the Muslim community, accompanied by a malicious development of a growing discriminatory discourse against them.'
The leaks related to the Muslim Brotherhood and political Islam in France sparked widespread condemnation among members of the Muslim community, who viewed them as a side effect of the campaign led by the right and the far right, led by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. This was evident in the minister's handling of the heinous crime that claimed the life of the young Malian, Aboubakar Cissé, and earlier in his refusal to accept an iftar meal invitation from the dean of the Grand Mosque of Paris.
Observers linked Bruno Retailleau's victory as leader of the right-wing Republicans (LR) party to the leaks concerning the religious affairs sector under his tutelage. These leaks serve only the ambitions of the French Interior Minister, who is preparing to submit his candidacy for the presidential elections in two years. This is especially true given that he is now certain that his repeated hostile statements targeting Algeria played a significant role in his victory over his rival, Laurent Wauquiez.
Since he was appointed Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau has formulated an anti-immigrant policy, a strategy he has used to attack Algeria by targeting its Muslim community. He is the one who invented what he called a 'gradual response,' which reached its peak last Thursday, when French government spokesperson Sophie Primas announced more than a week ago that the next step in the escalation against Algeria would target its community.
It is possible that Macron's meeting with his ministers last Wednesday addressed the targeting of the Algerian community, according to the French government spokesperson. In the absence of any details about what transpired at this meeting, observers believe that Bruno Retailleau leaked the report targeting the Muslim community, marking the beginning of his use of this card in his political agenda.
According to what the National People's Assembly member, Saad Laanani, representing the Algerians in the southern region of France, confirmed in a previous statement to 'Echorouk', that any decision targeting immigrants primarily targets the Algerian community, which is considered the largest in France. Therefore, the leaked report, although it targets what it calls the 'Muslim Brotherhood', in reality, aims to strike at the Algerian community, as confirmed by the French government spokesperson, Sophie Primas, on May 15th.
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