North African Jews and the Role of the Grande Mosquée de Paris During the Nazi Occupation

Built in 1926, the Grande Mosquée de Paris has served as a subject of differing memories across time. In the aftermath of World War I, it was perceived as a space for commemorating Muslims who had devoted themselves to France. During World War II, it became known as a refuge for persecuted Jews. In the early 21st century, when terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists became frequent, the mosque was viewed as a bastion representing the French Republic against Islamic fundamentalism. This paper focuses on one particular aspect of these multiple layers of memory: the memory of the Grande Mosquée de Paris as a site of Jewish rescue during the Nazi occupation. In other words, rather than seeking to uncover the precise historical reality of the mosque’s role as a shelter for Jews during the occupation, the primary aim of this study is to examine a specific aspect of Muslim-Jewish relations through both the contemporary context of that period and its later recollection. This paper will explore whether the Grande Mosquée de Paris, as a representative institution of Islam, had any tangible bonds with Jews who found themselves in dire circumstances under Nazi rule. Additionally, it will consider whether this memory has been exaggerated by present-day French Muslims facing adversity. This study will further investigate the extent to which the claim of Jewish rescue by the Grande Mosquée de Paris aligns with historical realities. Specifically, it will delve into the characteristics of the mosque at the time and the stance of its director, Kaddour Benghabrit, toward Jews. By doing so, it aims to provide a deeper understanding of the conditions that may have allowed the mosque to function as a place of refuge.