Imams in France forbid greetings at Christmas

This is what French imam Hocine Drouiche wrote on his Facebook page. He is one of the most open-minded French Muslim clerics opposed to extremism. A tireless promoter and supporter of dialogue between different faiths, he condemns those who repeat the "mantra" that Islam is a religion of peace but then consider expressing season’s greetings "as an insult" because "this is not our religion."

For him, the Islam professed by these imams, who are the majority in France, in Belgium, and in many other countries, "is not a true Islam of peace and shared life". "I saw with my own eyes the results of these incomprehensible and illogical formulations, meeting several devout Muslim who view best wishes for the New Year as an insult. They are embarrassed, they look at you in a strange way, they answer: But this is not our religion! As if the New Year belonged to a specific religion. Fortunately, there are also open-minded Muslims, who greet you with a big smile and wish you a Happy New Year," says Hocine Drouiche.

"The Islam of these imams is not a true Islam of peace and shared life. This is a Bedouin and archaic Islam…For me, the Bataclans, Hyper Cachers and Nices stem from these hateful directives. If they refuse to change these inhumane fatwas, they certainly cannot say that Islam is not involved in “isolated" attacks because Islam is a religion of peace!" he adds.

At the end of his post Hocine Drouiche wishes Happy New Year to all "Muslim, Jewish, Christian and atheist friends."

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