Instructions to mosque imams in France: "Pray that God protects France."

The Director of the Paris Grand Mosque, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, asked the imams in the country to "pray to Allah for France to be a place where different religious communities can live together in peace and security."

"PRAY THAT ALLAH PROTECTS FRANCE"

In a message sent to 150 imams associated with the Grand Mosque, Hafiz emphasized the importance of ending sermons with "Allah protect France" and reading them in French as well as Arabic.

Hafiz stated that since the murder of French teacher Samuel Paty by an Islamist extremist in 2020, prayers for France have been held in some mosques in the country, and he also noted that prayers for the "republic" are held in synagogues on Saturdays. The French government is trying to increase its control over mosques in the country due to concerns about terrorism.