Shams al-Din Hafiz, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, condemned what he described as “malicious and false” attacks targeting the institution he leads, news reports said.
Speaking at an event marking his five years as head of the mosque, he emphasized that the mosque, a historic symbol of Islam in France, is facing an unprecedented media campaign aimed at tarnishing its image.
Hafiz reaffirmed the mosque’s commitment to values of peace, freedom, equality, and fraternity, aligning with French republican principles, stressing the importance of interfaith dialogue and preparing a new generation of imams to address contemporary challenges.
