French President Emmanuel Macron, center, arrives to visit an exposition for the century commemoration of the Grande Mosquee of Paris opening, next to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, second left, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, third left, and Franco-Algerian lawyer and Rector of Paris' Grand Mosque Chems-eddine Hafiz, right, in Paris, Wednesday Oct. 19, 2022. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)This photograph shows the Grande Mosquee during a visit of the French President for the commemorative century exposition of the opening of the Grande Mosquee of Paris, in Paris, Wednesday Oct. 19, 2022. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)French President Emmanuel Macron, right, shakes hands with Franco-Algerian lawyer and Rector of Paris' Grand Mosque Chems-eddine Hafiz as he arrives for the commemorative century exposition of the opening of the Grande Mosque of Paris, in Paris, Wednesday Oct. 19, 2022. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)French President Emmanuel Macron, left, walks next to Franco-Algerian lawyer and Rector of Paris' Grand Mosque Chems-eddine Hafiz during the exposition for the commemorative century of the opening of the Grande Mosque of Paris, in Paris, Wednesday Oct. 19, 2022. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)French President Emmanuel Macron, left, looks on next to former French Presidfent Nicolas Sarkozy during a visit for the commemorative century exposition of the opening of the Grande Mosquee of Paris, in Paris, Wednesday Oct. 19, 2022. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)French President Emmanuel Macron, left, looks at the century commemoration plate of the Grande Mosque of Paris opening, next to Franco-Algerian lawyer and Rector of Paris' Grand Mosque Chems-eddine Hafiz, center, in Paris, Wednesday Oct. 19, 2022. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)French President Emmanuel Macron, second left, visits an exposition for the century commemoration of the Grande Mosque of Paris opening, next to First Deputy Mayor of Paris Emmanuel Gregoire, left, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, second right, and Ile-de-France prefect Marc Guillaume, right, in Paris, Wednesday Oct. 19, 2022. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, arrives to visit an exposition for the century commemoration of the Grande Mosquee of Paris opening, next to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, second left, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, third left, and Franco-Algerian lawyer and Rector of Paris' Grand Mosque Chems-eddine Hafiz, right, in Paris, Wednesday Oct. 19, 2022. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)
PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron visited Paris’ central mosque on Wednesday to mark 100 years since it was built -- a presidential stop to project that the French leader is representing all factions of French society, united under one secular republic.
The visit comes just months after his reelection in April in which debates about the Muslim veil and the role of Islam in secular France — home to Western Europe's biggest Muslim population — became a political hot potato. The centrist won his second term against the far-right, anti-Islam candidate Marine Le Pen.
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During the afternoon ceremony, which was attended by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and Army Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Macron unveiled a plaque marking France’s “recognition” for its Muslim soldiers.
The Great Mosque of Paris was built in honor of the 70,000 Muslims who died for France during World War I.
Macron also decorated Grand Mosque Rector Chems-Eddine Hafiz with the insignia of the Legion of Honor, France's highest civilian honor.
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