News Corner﹕Mosque open day

[2016.01.27] 發表

【明報專訊】A year after the Charlie Hebdo (《查理周刊》) attacks had happened, French mosques invited non-Muslims to their "open-house weekend" in 7-11 January, 2016. They wanted to create a deeper understanding of Islam in the country, where several Islamic extremist attacks that took place in Paris in November 2015 have given people a very negative impression of the religion.

Hundreds of the 2,500 mosques in France, including the Grand Mosque of Paris (巴黎大清真寺), participated in the event. Visitors joined guided tours, workshops and discussions. Refreshments like hot drinks and pastries were provided.

The open-house event, dubbed a "brotherly cup of tea" (兄弟之茶), was supported by the country's leading Muslim body, the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM, 法國穆斯林信仰理事會). President of the Council Anouar Kbibech (克比貝什) said, ''The objective is to create a space where people can be together and meet normal Muslim worshippers and all of our fellow citizens." He also said CFCM wanted to highlight the real values of Islam on the anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

(source: Ming Pao, BBC, Voice of America)

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■Photo story

People spoke with Muslims in a mosque in Ajaccio, Corsica (科西嘉島首府阿雅克肖).

■Words

mosque 清真寺

Muslim 穆斯林

Islam 伊斯蘭教

■Quiz

Choose the correct answers.

(answers on next text)

1. What is French mosques' purpose of organising the "open-house weekend"?

a. to develop a fuller understanding of Islam for the public

b. to promote Islam and attract new worshippers

c. to raise fund for mosque renovation

2. Which of the following words from paragraph two means "participated in"?

a. guided

b. joined

c. provided

3. Which of the following were not featured in the event?

a. workshops

b. refreshments

c. games

4. One purpose of the event was to gather Muslims and non-Muslims together. What is another purpose of it according to Anouar Kbibech, President of the CFCM?

a. to support the CFCM

b. to draw attention to the real values of Islam

c. to highlight the Charlie Hebdo attacks

■Glossary

extremist (n) 極端分子

refreshment (n) 茶點

dub (v) 把……稱為

worshipper (n) 崇拜者