European Union of Mosques for the Promotion of “Just Islam”

The fruit of years of work, the Alliance of Mosques, Associations and Muslim Leaders in Europe (Ammale) was officially launched on October 7 in Paris, with Muslim leaders from 17 countries, but its birth was overshadowed by the Hamas attack in Israel.

It is about “unifying the voices and efforts of Muslim institutions and personalities across Europe, defending the true message of Islam, opposed to all forms of extremism, and protecting the dignity and citizenship of Muslims,” ​​said the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris Chems-Eddine Hafiz during a press conference.

Indeed, “the lack of coordination between Muslim institutions weakens the scope of our actions and our voice even though they are necessary,” insisted Mr. Hafiz, also president of Ammale (which phonetically means “hope”).

“This creates empty spaces into which all forms of extremism penetrate and grow”, he added, saying that he is “aware of the increase in misunderstanding, intolerance and racism through political and media movements.

Other representative associations already exist, such as, for example, the Council of European Muslim Leaders (EULEMA). For Ammale, “we gathered those who are close to what the Grand Mosque of Paris (GMP) represents, that is, the Sunni, Maliki school of thought.” But we “know there are several schools” and “the door is wide open,” underlined Mr. Hafiz.

An association under French law, organized around the GMP that provides its funding, Ammale specifically aims to “coordinate actions” in the fight against anti-Muslim hatred and discrimination, to “promote the humanistic values ​​of Islam”, to fight against radicalization. and to “block the extreme right”.

“Let’s take part in the European elections,” pleaded Mr. Hafiz, defending “just Islam.”

For Adbassamad El Yazidi, vice-president of Ammale and general secretary of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, “our role is to mobilize people to participate in the vote” in the face of the extreme right that wants “European countries to turn against the fundamental values ​​of Europe.