The Grand Mosque of Paris is observing its centennial this year, a milestone that comes a century after French authorities constructed the building to honor Muslim soldiers from colonial territories who died fighting for France during World War I. The mosque has become a prominent landmark in the city’s Latin Quarter and appears on tourism lists as a notable attraction, featuring ornate prayer spaces, a 33-meter minaret overlooking the Seine River, a tea room, and traditional hammam baths.
Rector Chems-eddine Hafiz characterizes the institution as emblematic of interfaith cooperation and French pluralism, though he has expressed concern about rising religious tensions linked to international conflicts in the Middle East and the current presidential campaign environment. Hafiz noted that French leadership, when the mosque was established, emphasized how the country’s diversity would strengthen its national community. He has called attention to a historical episode during the Nazi occupation when the mosque’s imam at that time, Abdelkader Mesli, reportedly assisted in sheltering Jews and creating false documents to protect them. Mesli was later deported to concentration camps, where he survived but died shortly after the war’s conclusion. His wartime actions remained largely unknown until family members discovered documentation of his efforts in 2015.
Friday’s centennial prayers drew worshippers from across the Paris region, including individuals with family histories tracing to France’s former colonial possessions in North Africa and West Africa. Attendees emphasized themes of solidarity and mutual respect during the observance. However, participants also acknowledged ongoing challenges facing Muslims in France, including workplace and educational restrictions on religious dress and broader discrimination within society. Islam currently represents the second-largest religion in France, which hosts the largest Muslim population in Western Europe, according to available data. In recent years, the country has experienced deadly attacks attributed to Islamic extremist groups, which some observers link to heightened negative perceptions of Muslim communities. The political landscape heading into next year’s presidential election has seen prominent positioning of far-right candidates whose platforms emphasize restrictions on immigration and Islam-related policies.
Volunteers and regular worshippers at the mosque expressed hope for greater acceptance and religious freedom, while also highlighting the institution’s role as a cultural and spiritual hub for Muslim residents and an attraction for tourists visiting Paris.
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