Grande Mosquée Paris Cancels Mawlid, Launches Fundraiser for Algeria

The Grande Mosquée of Paris, a prominent Muslim institution in France, announced the cancellation of its annual Mawlid Al-Nabawi celebration, which was scheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2026. This decision was made in solidarity with victims of the recent deadly wildfires that affected various regions of Algeria.

In a communique, the institution expressed that it would be challenging to hold a festive gathering given the tragedy that directly impacted some of its faithful and evoked widespread emotion. The communique, signed by Rector Chems-Eddine Hafiz, noted that while the institution had previously invited the Muslim community to commemorate the birth of the prophet Mohamed, the symbolic date of Mawlid serves as a continuous reminder of its teachings.

Beyond canceling the celebration, the Grande Mosquée of Paris also initiated a fundraising campaign on the HelloAsso platform. This effort aims to provide emergency aid and support essential needs for families in Algeria who have been bereaved, displaced, or lost their belongings due to the violent fires that occurred in late August across eastern and central parts of the country. The institution called upon the entire community to unite in this collection to demonstrate solidarity and fraternity with the Algerian people.