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Grand Mosque of Paris

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Why was the Grand Mosque of Paris built? This majestic building, the Grand Mosque of Paris, stands as a symbol of gratitude and remembrance. It was built in the early 1920s. The purpose was to honor the Muslim soldiers who fought bravely alongside France during the First World War. Over 100,000 Muslim soldiers sacrificed their lives for France between 1914 and 1918. The Grand Mosque of Paris aimed to pay tribute to their sacrifices. It also aimed to strengthen the bond between France and the Muslim world. This sentiment is evident in the plaque within the mosque’s courtyard commemorating those brave soldiers. However, the Grand Mosque of Paris’s connection to wartime history runs deeper. During World War II, it played a courageous role in providing refuge to Jews fleeing persecution. Under Si Kaddour Benghabrit’s leadership, the mosque became a beacon of hope. Benghabrit and the mosque’s clerics issued fake certificates of Muslim identity to Jewish individuals. They used the mosque’s underground tunnels and facilities to hide and protect those in need. This act of bravery saved an estimated 1,732 lives. Today, the Grand Mosque of Paris stands as a testament to the power of compassion and interfaith solidarity. It serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, humanity can shine through.

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