The rector of the great mosque of Paris, Chems Eddine Hafiz.

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LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

"Imams, theologians, Islamologists" must do a work of pedagogy towards Muslims and non-Muslims to counter those who "unveil" Islam, pleaded Saturday Chems Eddine Hafiz, rector of the great mosque of Paris.

"It is first of all up to us, our imams, our theologians our Islamologists to express themselves, to speak out, to reach out to Muslims and non-Muslims", declared on franceinfo the rector and vice-president of the French Council of Muslim Worship (CFCM), questioned on the advisability of strengthening religious education programs.

"I am working with the imams" on this "exercise of going to a French citizen who knows nothing about Islam, explaining to him what the Koranic message really is?

This is the first mission ", explained Chems Eddine Hafiz, because" since September 11, 2001 Islam has been almost synonymous with terrorism, violence, killings ".

At the same time, advocates the rector, "we have to get in touch with those who today unveil Islam" and work on a "counter-speech".

As for the cartoons of Mahomet, the republication of which generated new threats against France, where three stabbing attacks have since taken place, in Paris, Conflans-Saint-Honorine and Nice, “you have to know [them] to accept ".

“I am not defending cartoons, I am defending freedom of expression,” he added, “I believe that when we want to speak ourselves, at that moment, we are happy that the freedom of expression applies in this country ”.

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