French Muslim Council Urges Mosques to Promote Covid-19 Vaccination Amid New Restrictions

In a statement dated Tuesday, July 13, the CFCM recalled the announcements of the French president, Emmanuel Macron: "Among the measures announced by the President of the Republic in his speech to the Nation, presenting a vaccination certificate or a negative Covid test will be required in certain places with more than 50 people from August 30, 2021. [...] However, the public authorities indicate that religious ceremonies taking place in places of worship are not affected by this measure," the Muslim organization specifies.

"That being said, the CFCM calls on the imams and mosque officials in France to seize all the opportunities that present themselves to them to encourage the faithful to get vaccinated," the same source indicates. For the body chaired by Mohammed Moussaoui, "the duty to preserve one’s life and the lives of others is a fundamental principle that must be constantly recalled in such circumstances."

"Vaccination is not immediately mandatory for everyone, but we will extend the health pass as much as possible to push as many of you as possible to get vaccinated," the French head of state declared last Monday. His announcements were well received. Already more than 1,700,000 French people have rushed to make appointments to get vaccinated against Covid-19, according to France 24.