Muslims and Catholics join in worship after killing

Members of the Muslim faith in France have attended Masses in a show of solidarity after the murder of Fr Jacques Hamel.

Heeding a call from the French Council for the Muslim Religion, members joined with worshippers at Masses in defiance of the message of separation communicated by so-called Islamic State (ISIS) as it inspires disgruntled youngsters to launch ever more savage attacks in France and elsewhere in Europe.

The joint worship move follows those of the Muslim community in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray in Normandy, where the attack on Fr Hamel took place, to reject a Muslim burial for Adel Kermiche, one of the priest’s killers. Kermiche, along with fellow attacker Abdel Malik Petitjean, were later described by ISIS as “soldiers of the Islamic State”.

 “We’re not going to taint Islam with this person. We won’t participate in preparing the body or the burial,” said Mohammed Karabila, president of the local Muslim cultural association and imam at a local mosque.

Meanwhile, religious leaders in France have met with President Francois Hollande to urge him to increase security at churches and places of worship.