The International Union of Muslim Scholars Expresses Deep Concern Over the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Calls for Respect for Sanctuaries

The International Union of Muslim Scholars has expressed its deep concern over the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, which contained many blatant insults to religions and prophets, especially our Prophet Jesus and his disciples.

What happened at that ceremony was an unusual moral decline that had not existed before, and a transgression of the boundaries of spiritual values and human principles. Rather, it was a transgression of the feelings of all believers in God and His prophets and an insult to their deepest beliefs. Just as it is a clear deviation from all that should be present in sports in terms of the spirit of unity and mutual understanding.

Today, we see an increasing deviation in Western values in all aspects of life, which has abandoned spiritual and moral values and has encouraged the dissolution of families, the marginalization of human relations, and moral deviation.

The values embodied in that ceremony are unacceptable and rejected by all heavenly religions and natural instincts. Because they lead to the breakdown of societies and the spread of corruption, crime, hatred, and disrespect among people.

The Union of Scholars also finds it astonishing that French officials warmly welcome the occupying state (Israel) at these Olympics, which continues to kill children, elderly, and women in front of the whole world. It also openly and shamelessly violates human rights and has been condemned by all international and regional organizations for its crimes and genocide.

This scandalous hypocrisy between advocates of human rights and their welcome of an occupying state reveals the deviation and oppression that the international community has fallen into and is a gateway to further oppression and exploitation.

We, in the Union of Scholars, strongly reject these tendencies that advocate for corruption and insult instead of unity and mutual understanding. We call on all sports bodies and international organizations to assume their responsibilities in respecting religions and sanctuaries and to stay away from anything that may cause chaos and tension among peoples. Also, sports should be a bridge for connection and mutual understanding, not an arena for deviation and insult.

In this regard, we call on imams and preachers, in their sermons and lessons, to focus on the importance of respecting all prophets and messengers. They should also emphasize that belief in all prophets is one of the pillars of our religion. Similarly, they should demonstrate their high and great status in all heavenly religions. We must remember our stance towards Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), whom we view as a great prophet and messenger of God. He is also one of the "Ulu al-'Azm" (prophets of strong will), and we believe in him, his heavenly message, and his immortal miracles, which called for monotheism, and we respect his great rank and status.

Giving importance to these values helps spread tolerance and mutual respect among peoples, just as it emphasizes the unity of heavenly messages and their sacred goals.

Doha, 22 Muharram 1446 AH
Corresponding to July 28, 2024 AD

Prof. Dr. Ali Muhiyddin Qaradaghi
President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars

Dr. Ali bin Mohammed Al-Salabi
Secretary General