An estimated 3,000 people walked silently in Nice in southeast France on Saturday in honor of French national Herve Gourdel, who was seemingly beheaded in Algeria last week by a group linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL.
Gourdel's hometown organized the march, people holding his photo aloft while many distributed white roses, reported French daily Nice Matin.
On Wednesday, the Jund al-Khilafah group in Algeria, who claim to be linked to ISIL, published a video titled "Blood Message to France," showing the apparent decapitation of Gourdel, a 55-year-old mountain guide who was kidnapped last weekend in Tizi-Ouzou in north central Algeria.
In response, the imam (head) of the Great Mosque of Paris and president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), Dalil Boubakeur, on Friday called on French Muslims and their friends to attend a rally in condemnation of "terrorism."
Thousands of Muslims then gathered at the Great Mosque of Paris after prayers to denounce the "barbaric" acts of ISIL and condemn Gourdel's execution.
"We, Muslims of France, we say stop the barbarity," Boubakeur told a crowd gathered outside the mosque.
"This gathering is a strong expression of our desire for national unity and our will to live together," he said.
Reading a verse from the Koran, Boubakeur said killing a man is similar to "killing all humanity."
"Islam demands respect for life," he added.
Gourdel was kidnapped and seemingly murdered after ISIL spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani issued an online audio message Sunday that called on supporters to kill the nationals of Western countries taking part in a coalition that has since launched airstrikes against ISIL positions in Syria.
"If you can kill a disbelieving American or European, especially the nasty and filthy French, or an Australian, or a Canadian... including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State, then rely upon Allah and kill him," he said.
Flags have been flown at half-mast since Friday in Gourdel's honor. They will remain that way until Monday.
ISIL has captured large swathes of land in Iraq and Syria, later declaring the territories under its control an Islamic "caliphate."
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