For Bruno Retailleau, the Foif “did more in three years” than the CFCM in twenty years
Since taking office, this is the first time that Bruno Retailleau has exposed his vision of relations between the state and the Muslim worship. Tuesday, February 18, the Minister of the Interior brought together, Place Beauvau, the members of the forum of Islam of France (FORIF) on the occasion of the closing session of the second work session of this dialogue between The Muslim state and cult launched by its predecessor, Gérald Darmanin, in 2022.
He took the opportunity to expose the essential principles which, according to him, must guide this relationship, mentioning in the first place the fight against Islamism. “I don’t only accept French (Muslims, editor’s note) who live their faith in peace while respecting the laws and values of the Republic are taken hostage and strength in a counter-company, to better break French society ”, he insisted, encouraging the Forer to grasp this “Combat”.
“The Forif is not intended to be a representation body”
However, the minister insisted that “Secularism is not secularism”, recalling that “State neutrality has never been the neutralization of religions”. He also spoke out against “Interference” of the state in the organization of Muslim worship.
Intrance which, according to him, presided over the organization of the French Council of Muslim worship (CFCM), body of representation of the Muslim worship created by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2003 and which had been disowned by Gérald Darmanin at the end , although made up of Muslim actors in civil society, however remains shaped by the State, since its members are chosen by Prefects.
Bruno Retailleau then clarified what he wants for the Foif which, according to him, “Is not intended to be a representation body”. The Minister therefore dismisses the question of the representativeness of Muslim worship, however central and suffering from a void since the sidelining of the CFCM.
“It is up to our Muslim compatriots to bring out the organization of their worship”, he cuts. The FIROF therefore remains a platform for dialogue and work of civil society actors who are working to advance concrete questions necessary for the proper functioning of Muslim worship in France.
Before them, the Minister undertook to advance certain specific subjects. Faced with the growing lack of space for Muslim squares in cemeteries, he declared that he had asked the directions concerned what were the possible legal developments and should seize the Council of State to know what the Constitution allows. So far, a circular encourages the creation of squares, but its application is suspended from the good will of mayors.
Legal recognition of the Imam profession
To remedy the difficulties of access to insurance and the fences of bank accounts experienced by many Muslim worship associations, the Minister undertook to ask the prefects to bring together in the spring “The local actors concerned by this problem. »»
Bruno Retailleau finally praised the advances of the Forif who, in his eyes, “Has done more in three years than previous entities in twenty years”. As well as the resumption of the National Council of Muslim chaplaincy, which will be responsible for proposing to the administrations of national chaplains for hospitals, armies and prisons. He also announced the publication of a decree “Ratifying the recognition of prison chaplains as occasional collaborators of the public service”, which will open up the right to social protection.
On the thorny subject of the status of the imam, the working group concerned obtained the official registration of the Imam profession in the French work repertoire. Before this legal recognition, a certain number of imams had only contracts of educators or teachers. After this first result, there remains unanswered the question of social insurance to which the imams can be linked, as well as the component of their training.
After Ramadan, these results of the FORIF will be discussed at the territorial foundations of Islam in France – a body which brings together Muslim actors around the prefect in the departments. Before a new Forif session at the start of the next school year.
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“Antimusulman acts down 29 %,” according to the Interior Ministry
173 anti -muslim facts were identified in 2024, a drop of 29 % compared to 2022 where 242 facts had been recorded, the Ministry of the Interior said on Tuesday, February 18. A figure “No doubt below reality, because all the victims do not necessarily file a complaint”, said Bruno Retailleau.
For this census, Beauvau will now rely on the Defense Association against Discrimination and Antimusulman Acts (Adam). Created a year ago, this association has set up a platform for the reporting of anti -Muslim acts which will be launched “In a few days”.
