From war memorial to political fault line, the Paris Grand Mosque turns 100

A century after its inauguration, the Grand Mosque of Paris stands as a tribute to Muslim soldiers of the First World War and a site at the heart of France’s political debates. AFP - BERTRAND GUAY

The Grand Mosque of Paris marks its 100th anniversary this year, reviving debate over its political role and its place in French history. Built to honour Muslim soldiers who died in the First World War, the mosque has become a symbol of Islam in France, and a recurring source of political tension.

The Grand Mosque's minaret rises 33 metres above the Latin Quarter on the Left Bank of the French capital. Behind the heavy wooden doors of its green and white Arabo-Andalusian buildings are tiled courtyards, a library, a restaurant, gardens with fountains, even a hammam.