Wiesenthal Centre Argues that CFCM Political Statement Could Unintentionally Result in Further Violence Against the Jews of France

"In a letter to Gerald Darminin, French Minister for the Interior and of Religious Affairs, the Centre suggested that the CFCM statement may have negated French policy to ensure that Islam inFrance follows the Republic’s set of values, and could, even unwillingly, incite to further hate and violence against the Jews of France"

PARIS—The Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, argued that the statement by Mohammed Moussaoui, president of the CFCM (Conseil Français duCulte Musulman / French Council of Muslim Faith), seems to go beyond its religious mandate in his calls on all Imams and Mosque officials across France to:

1) Devote Friday’s sermon to make known the relevance of Al Aqsa Mosque, the third Holy Site of Islam, and the city of Al Quds (Jerusalem) in the Muslim religion;

For interfaith value, a mention of the Holiness of the Temple Mount of the Jews and the Christian Churches would have mellowed the call.

2) Organize fundraising for the benefit of humanitarian NGOs’ operating within the Palestinian territories;

What audit and guarantee could be provided to prevent the final recipient from being linked to Hamas or other terrorist groups?

3) Launch a large sponsorship campaign between mosques in France and Palestinian mosques, in order to provide the latter with assistance;

Ditto, as many Palestinian mosques are affiliated to Jihadists.

4) In partnership with humanitarian NGOs, launch a large sponsorship campaign between families in France and Palestinian families to provide aid and support, in particular tochildren;

Ditto. Of course, our heart goes out to the children, especially those who were used as human shields in Hamas-controlled Gaza and the trauma of Israeli children under the rockets.

5) Multiply the prayers and invocations for the rest of the victims, the end of the clashes, and the establishment of peace.

Once again, a missed opportunity to include the casualties on both sides as also a mutual hope for "the establishment of peace."

As an interfaith organization, the Wiesenthal Centre works with Imams from France to the Gulf and through our Los Angeles headquarters. We would hope, in the future, to include the CFCM in aconstructive dialogue.

“The CFCM seems to go beyond its religious purview by addressing political issues. This could be, even unintentionally, construed by French Islamists - already heavily influenced by thePalestinian narrative supporting Hamas - to mobilize Jihadist attacks against the French Jewish community.”

In a letter to Gerald Darminin, French Minister for the Interior and of Religious Affairs, Samuels suggested that "the CFCM statement may have negated French policy, which is to ensure that Islamin France follows the Republic’s set of values... and could, even unwillingly, incite to further hate and violence against the Jews of France," he concluded.

For further information contact Dr. Shimon Samuels at csweurope@gmail.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is anNGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).