The Muslim Rector who protected the Jewish people from Nazis in Paris

By Seven Oaks -

Summary 

Si Kaddour Benghabrit was the first rector of the Great Mosque of Paris.

During the Occupation of France by Nazis, the Muslim Rector Benghabrit sheltered and saved many Jews in the basements of the Grand Mosque of Paris.

He arranged papers to save Jews from Nazis and move them out of France. 

He fought in the French resistance against Nazis. 

Movie actor portrayal of Si Khadour Benghabrit 




Introduction

Si Kaddour Benghabrit was born in 1868.  He died in 1954 aged 85 in Paris, France.

He was an Algerian religious leader, translator and interpreter who worked for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 




Copyright & Source - Wiki see link below


He saved Jews by arranging forged papers to certify them as Muslims

During World War II and after the fall of France to Nazi Germany, Si Kaddour Ben Ghabrit worked to protect his people, both Muslims and Jews.


He saved the lives of at least five hundred Jews, including that of the Algerian Jew singer Salim Halali, making the administrative staff grant them certificates of Muslim identity, which allowed them to avoid arrest and deportation.


He hid Jews in Basement of the Grand Mosque of Paris to save them from Nazis

He also arranged to have Jewish refugees hidden in the mosque at times of German roundups, and transported by the Resistance out of the country.

One such first hand account is mentioned by Stew Ross in his online article "Muslims, Jews & the Gestapo"

Ross writes 

"Dr. Albert Assouline (1905-1993), an Algerian-born Jewish survivor of the Holocaust as well as a decorated soldier and résistant, offered his firsthand story about his experience with Benghabrit and the mosque. 


He talked about how he and another Muslim soldier escaped from a German prison camp and Benghabrit sheltered them before providing them with an escape line. "


Muslims were part of French Resistance against Nazi 

In addition, during the war in France, Benghabrit along with many Muslims joined the French Resistance movement against Nazi occupation. 

With Abdelkader Mesli - another resistance member, he protected numerous victims, sometimes estimated to be more than a thousand.


Awarded for his bravery and for saving lives

Benghabrit was awarded the:

  • Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (1939) 
  • French Resistance Medal with rosette (1947)


Filmography 

According to Wiki - 

Si Kaddour Benghabrit's efforts to save Salim Halali and other Jews are depicted in the French drama film Les hommes libres (Free Men, 2011) film, directed by Ismaël Ferroukhi and released in 2011. He is played by French actor Michael Lonsdale. Si Kaddour Benghabrit also inspired Mohamed Fekrane in his short film Together, released in 2010. The role of the imam is played by actor Habib Kadi. 


Reference

  • https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_Kaddour_Benghabrit
  • https://time.com/4651298/holocaust-memorial-day-muslims-jews/
  • Muslims, Jews and the Gestapo -https://stewross.com/benghabrit/
  • Picture 1 & 2 - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_Kaddour_Benghabrit
  • Picture 3 - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Si_Kaddour_ben_Ghabrit_et_le_sultan_Moufay_Hafid.jpg

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