French Muslims, Catholics join in prayer
SAINT-ETIENNE-DUROUVRAY, France — Muslims and Catholics joined in Friday prayers at the mosque in the Normandy town where an elderly priest was slain this week, with one imam chastising the extremists as non-Muslims who are “not part of civilization.”
Muslims came from other parts of France for the service shared with Chris- tians.
The killing Tuesday of the Rev. Jacques Hamel, 85, as he celebrated morning Mass sent shock waves around France and deeply touched many among the nation’s 5 million Muslims. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, as well as the July 14 truck attack in Nice, where 84 people were killed by a man who plowed his truck down a seaside promenade.
The head of the main Muslim umbrella group, Anouar Kbibech, who attended Friday’s gathering, reiterated a call for Muslims to visit churches Sunday to show solidarity with Christians as they pray. But one imam made a rare direct strike at the killers.
“You have the wrong civilization, because you are not a part of civilization. You have the wrong humanity, because you are not a part of humanity,” said Abdelatif Hmitou. “You have the wrong idea about us (Muslims), and we won’t forgive you for this.”
The two 19-year-old attackers were killed Tuesday by police as they left the Saint-Etienne- du-Rouvray church, where they had held two nuns and an elderly couple hostage as they slit the priest’s throat. A third nun escaped and raised the alarm. That church is now closed.
Another 19-year-old was handed preliminary charges on Friday for “criminal terrorist association” after investigators found a video at his home showing one of the slain attackers — Muslims attend prayers in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. Abdel-Malik Nabil Petitjean — warning of a “violent action” to come, a judicial official said. The discovery was made a day before the church attack.