French President Emmanuel Macron joins hands before giving the highest French order of merit Legion of Honor (Legion d'Honneur) to Rector of Paris' Grand Mosque Chems-Eddine Hafiz, during a visit for the commemorative century exposition of the opening of the Grande Mosque of Paris, in Paris, France, on October 19, 2022. Ludovic MARIN/Pool via REUTERS
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron visited Paris’ central mosque on Wednesday to mark 100 years since it was built -- a presidential stop to project that the French leader is representing all factions of French society, united under one secular republic.
The visit comes just months after his reelection in April in which debates about the Muslim veil and the role of Islam in secular France - home to Western Europe's biggest Muslim population - became a political hot potato. The centrist won his second term against the far-right, anti-Islam candidate Marine Le Pen.
During the afternoon ceremony, which was attended by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and Army Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Macron unveiled a plaque marking France’s "recognition” for its Muslim soldiers.
The Great Mosque of Paris was built in honour of the 70,000 Muslims who died for France during World War I.
Macron also decorated Grand Mosque Rector Chems-Eddine Hafiz with the insignia of the Legion of Honour, France's highest civilian honour.
