World
Grand Mosque of Paris: 100 Years, From Colonial Tool to Emancipation Tool
The Grand Mosque of Paris celebrates its centenary in 2026. Inaugurated in 1926 to honour Muslim soldiers who died for France during World War I, it has evolved into a key diplomatic instrument in Franco-Algerian relations over the decades. Historian Naïma Huber-Yahi, a contributor to a book about the institution, describes it as a 'colonial tool' destined to become 'an emancipation tool'. She shared these insights on France 24 on July 18, 2026.