Location Paris, France Website www.mosqueedeparis.net Opened 2013 Phone +33 1 45 35 97 33 Number of minarets 1 | Affiliation Islam Minaret height 33 m Height 33 m Architectural style Neo-Mudéjar Architectural type Mosque | |
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Address 2bis Place du Puits de l'Ermite, 75005 Paris, France Similar Jardin des Plantes, Panthéon, Grand Mosque of Évry, Arab World Institute, Jardin du Luxembourg | ||
Inside grand mosque of paris
The Grande Mosquée de Paris (commonly known as The Paris Mosque or The Great Mosque of Paris in English), is located in the 5th arrondissement and is one of the largest mosques in France.
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History
The mosque was founded in 1926 as a token of gratitude, after World War I, to the Muslim tirailleurs from France's colonial empire, of whom some 100,000 died fighting against Germany. The mosque was built following the mudéjar style, and its minaret is 33 m high. It was inaugurated by President Gaston Doumergue on 15 July 1926. Ahmad al-Alawi (1869–1934) led the first communal prayer to inaugurate the newly built mosque in the presence of the French president. He was an Algerian Sufi, the founder of the modern Sufi order Darqawiyya Alawiyya.
During World War II (when France and Paris were occupied by Nazi Germany), the rector Si Kaddour Benghabrit managed the mosque to serve as a secret refuge for Algerian and European Jews. He ensured they were provided shelter, safe passage, and fake Muslim birth certificates to protect them from German persecution.
The mosque was assigned to Algeria in 1957 by the French Foreign Minister. The mosque is currently led by mufti Dalil Boubakeur.
Controversies
In November 2012, a prayer room was set up in Paris by founder of the group 'Homosexual Muslims of France' Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed. The opening has been condemned by the Grand Mosque of Paris.