Collective Muslim Prayer at Paris Airport Sparks Controversy; Government and Airport Operator Vow 'Firmness'
Images of around 30 Muslim travelers praying together at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport trigger social media backlash and official condemnation; France, with its strong secularism, has restrictions on public displays of religious belief, including at airports.
- Images showing around 30 Muslim travelers engaging in a collective prayer at Charles de Gaulle Airport have gone viral, igniting controversy and prompting a response from government officials.
- France's transport minister, Clement Beaune, stated that airport authorities are committed to enforcing the rules and has promised 'firmness'.
- Special enclosed areas are provided at the airport for all individuals, regardless of their faith, to engage in private prayer. Public displays of religious beliefs are limited in France, including in areas such as schools and airports.
- The CEO of Aeroports de Paris (ADP), Augustin de Romanet, described the incident as regrettable, reinforcing the existence of designated prayer spaces at the airport and promising increased surveillance by border police.
- The controversy has triggered diverse opinions on social media, with some labeling the incident as an 'attack on the West', while others accused critics of promoting 'Islamophobia'.
CNA 
South China Morning Post 
