France Closes 21 Mosques Amid Crackdown on ’Separatism’, Minister Says

Out of the 99 mosques suspected of "separatism", all have been checked in recent months and 21 have been closed at my request, announced Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, during his appearance on the Grand Jury RTL LCI Le Figaro, specifying that six others are "under investigation". It is on the basis "in particular of the foundation of the law on separatism" that the closure of these mosques was ordered, he explained.

36 other mosques did not suffer the same fate. "For the 36 mosques, the checks have made it possible to demonstrate that the law of the Republic is strictly respected there," he specified, mentioning in particular the departure of certain federations, the separation of imams considered "dangerous" or the cessation of foreign funding.

As for the places of worship that are still suspected of "separatism" but are not the subject of procedures for closure, "about twenty", they are subject to checks, the minister assured. And to plead: "We obviously do not confuse the minority part of the places of worship that are radicalized and that we must indeed close and put back on the right track with the vast majority of Muslims in France [...] who do not pose any problem".

Gérald Darmanin also confirmed the organization of an "Islam forum" at the beginning of 2022. About a hundred "new representatives" will be brought together, including women, secularists, or members of civil society, he specified. "We must assimilate the cult so that it is a national cult," he committed himself. "Muslims have every right to pray in the Republic of course, but not commanded by foreign states."