Chairman
of the French Council for the Muslim Religion (CFCM) Dalil Boubakeur
said the estimated five million Muslims reject the “odious
blackmail” of the abductors.
“The
Muslim community must set itself apart from these schemes that are
reprehensible in the eyes of Islam and give no indication that these
people are acting in their interest,” he told Agence France-Presse
(AFP).
CFCM
vice president Mohamed Bechari further urged the kidnappers to release
the two journalists.
He
said the hostage-taking would not help resolve either the headscarf
issue or the unstable situation in Iraq.
In
Baghdad, Iraq's main Sunni Muslim religious organization also appealed
for the release of the pair.
“In
the name of the Muslim Scholars Association, we urge the kidnappers to
release the two journalists,” said Sheikh Abdessatar Abdelzhawad, a
member of the association, speaking on Al-Jazeera.
Sacrifice
Fatiha
Ajbli, the representative of the UOIF, said Sunday during a meeting
with de Villepin that she and other veiled French Muslims were ready
to sacrifice themselves for the safety of their natives.
“We
are French citizens and our loyalty is unquestionable. We call on the
kidnappers to immediately release our fellow citizens,” she said,
addressing de Villepin.
“I
am veiled and my hijab does not run counter to the laws of the
republic as well as I oppose any ban on the hijab, but I totally
reject using violence or terrorism to make my voice heard,” she
added.
The
French government, in crisis mode, called Sunday for the release of
the two journalists.
“Together
we ask for their release,” de Villepin said after meeting with
Muslim leaders, addressing “all those who have some kind of
authority or responsibility for the fate” of the two newsmen.
Prime
Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin cancelled a trip to the south of France
to hold urgent talks with de Villepin, Foreign Minister Michel
Barnier, and Culture and Communications Minister Renaud Donnedieu de
Vabres early Sunday.
Raffarin
was due to preside over a second round of ministerial talks before
meeting with French President Jacques Chirac at 4:30 pm (1430 GMT),
AFP said.
The
controversial French law, due to go into effect this week when classes
resume, prohibits the wearing of hijab and “conspicuous” religious
insignia in state schools and universities.
