Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Don’t let youth fall prey to Islamic extremism, French Muslim leaders say

Don’t let youth fall prey to Islamic extremism, French Muslim leaders say

Last updated on: November 27, 2015 at 2:07 pm by CNA Daily News

Don’t let youth fall prey to Islamic extremism, French Muslim leaders say 2015-11-27T14:07:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Paris, France, Nov 27, 2015 / 07:07 am (CNA/EWTN News).- France’s leading Muslim organization has called on Muslims to counter radical forms of Islam, especially in the wake of the Islamic State group’s attacks on Paris.

The French Council for the Muslim Faith encouraged education of young people to “combat the ideas of hatred within our religion” so they don't turn into “terrorist bombs that want to destroy the values of the Western countries but in reality are destroying Islam’s image and the future of Islam in France and Europe.”

The Muslim council emphasized that “the future of our religion is in play and the fate of your children and it’s up to us Muslims to decide to act or not.”

It said the text would be broadcast for Nov. 20 Friday prayers in the 2,500 mosques of France. The effort follows the deadly Islamic State attacks on Paris Nov. 13 which left more than 120 dead and hundreds wounded.

Criticizing extremists, the declaration said that “according to the ideology of these ignorant Islamists, the Islam of tolerance and humanism, and openness to inter-religious dialogue has become an act of treason and collaboration with the West.”

The council warned that this situation has made it so that “tolerant imams have been threatened inside their own mosques by these extremists (who) have chosen harshness and hatred against anyone that might be different even if they are Muslims.”

“The leaders of Islam in France don’t measure up to the standards of the true values of Islam nor the true values of the Republic. They’ve made our universal Islam into a sectarian religion that does not accept openness or adaptation to European values,” the council said, according to the text published by the Italian newspaper Avvenire.

In addition, the Muslim council rejected “incompetent” imams as “failed leaders” who “should leave their positions to others who would be more competent and more open because they have not been able to reassure Muslims or the French.”

The council questioned why terrorists’ parents and families had not countered extremism.

“What kind of things have they taught them? Have they been supplanted by the Internet and social media?”

The council said condemnation of the attacks has not been enough and warned Muslims against behaving like ostriches.

“We can't hide our heads under the sand repeating that malevolent phrase, ‘it’s not us, it’s them!’”

“Every imam, every religious leader, and every Muslim has to take their part in responsibility because these criminal attacks have been committed in the name of our religion,” the council continued.

The council also said that Christians, Jews and atheists have “a hard time living in the Muslim world.”

“Building a church or synagogue is an impossible dream to realize in those countries that even needs the intervention of the president of the republic!”

Unlike Christians and Jews in some Muslim lands, they continued, “Muslims in France and Europe live in complete freedom and dignity.”

“They build mosques, Islamic centers, and religious schools without any sabotage or exclusion.”

The text noted that European countries “even offer us benefits and advantages we don't find in our countries of origin in spite of all the hardships that certainly exist in the neighborhoods and outlying areas.”

Europe

Previous Post

November 27, 2015

Full text of Pope Francis' powerful, unscripted talk with Kenya's youth

Next Post

November 27, 2015 Pope praises Ugandans for helping refugees rebuild their lives

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was Paul's hometown companion?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Silas Barnabas Timothy Luke