British Muslim leaders in show of support for Jews during France visit

British Muslim leaders have travelled to France to meet with their counterparts in a show of solidarity following the Charlie Hebdo attacks which sent shockwaves around the world.

Extremist brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi killed 12 people – including two police – in the attacks on the satirical magazine’s Paris headquarters on January 7. Charlie Hebdo staff had been meeting to discuss its forthcoming Islamic issue when the brothers stormed the building and opened fire.

The deaths prompted a wave of support from across the world, with newspapers carrying provocative cartoons in tribute to those killed.

A further four hostages were killed by conspirator Amedy Coulibaly at a Jewish supermarket two days later.

World leaders joined in with hundreds of thousands of mourners at protests in Paris and beyond that weekend.

Today, British imams met with their French counterparts and Jewish representatives of CRIF, the Jewish umbrella group, in a show of support following the massacre.

Leeds imam Qari Mohammed Asim told mosque rector Dalil Boubakeur: “We’ve seen how difficult it is in those challenging times to keep communities together.”

The rector denounced extremists as Muslims’ “common enemy”.

Charlie Hebdo went on to print more than five million copies for its first edition following the attack, up from the normal run of 60,000.

Group of British #Imams meeting Jewish counterparts to show solidarity after #Paris attacks. #unity #interfaith pic.twitter.com/xDf0r2M0yO

— Imams Online (@ImamsOnline) February 2, 2015