The Alliance of Mosques, Associations and Muslim Leaders in Europe (Ammale) was officially launched on October 7, 2023, in Paris, with Muslim leaders from 17 countries.

But the birth of the alliance was overshadowed by the attack by the Palestinian extremist group Hamas on Israel, which occurred on the same day, according to the French agency AFP.

The aim of the alliance is to "unite the voices and efforts of Muslim institutions and personalities throughout Europe," said the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris (GMP), Chems-eddine Hafiz, at a press conference.

Ammale, which also means phonetically "hope," is an association under French law, organized around the GMP, which finances it.

It aims to coordinate actions to combat hatred and discrimination against Muslims, promote the humanist values of Islam, fight against radicalization and oppose the far right.

Hafiz, who is also president of Ammale, said he was "aware of the increase in misunderstanding, intolerance and racism through political and media movements."

"We will participate in the European elections," he announced, defending "a fair Islam."

Ammale's vice-president and secretary-general of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, Adbassamad El Yazidi, said that the alliance intends to "mobilize people to participate in the elections."

He argued that it was necessary to confront a far right that wants "European states to turn against the founding values of Europe."

There are already other representative associations in Europe, such as the European Council of Muslim Leaders (Eulema), but Ammale leaders said they bring together those who are close to what the GMP represents.

"That is, a Sunni and Maliki school of thought," said Hafiz, referring to the Islamic legal school founded by Malik ibn Anas in the 8th century.

He added that there are several schools of thought and that "the doors are open."

Ammale brings together institutions from France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine, according to the founding minutes published on the GMP website.

The elections for the European Parliament will be held between June 6 and 9.

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