French Interior Minister Revives Debate on Islam’s Role in France

Darmanin had preferred this name and format to combat the idea that "Islam is a religion of foreigners, for foreigners, financed by foreigners" and to ensure the training of imams. The Forum of Islam in France is a group of experts appointed at the departmental level by the prefects. It is composed of six working groups that are reflecting on the challenges related to the organization of the Muslim faith in France.

A report entitled "From Islam in France to an Islam of France, establishing transparency and lifting ambiguities", submitted in 2016 by a Senate information mission chaired by Corinne Féret (PS), highlighted the difficulties encountered by Muslims in France, particularly related to the training of imams, the weight of the countries of origin, the difficulties of financing, and conflicts related to the halal sector. Challenges that the current representative bodies are struggling to meet.

Since the submission of this report, it is the status quo. "We are at a standstill," laments Socialist Senator Corinne Féret. Nathalie Goulet, one of the authors of the report, continues: "It has not progressed because the communities do not want to organize themselves, it takes two to tango." For some observers, the complexity of the problem lies in the responsibility of the State in the organization of religions.

In principle, the State should not recognize or subsidize religions. But at the same time, it must "ensure that it fully exercises its prerogatives as a public authority in areas related to religions under its responsibility (national security, consumer protection, foreign policy, taxation, etc.)," explains the 2016 report. Nathalie Goulet will specify that "the State can suggest, encourage, propose, frame but on the devices themselves, it is up to the communities to organize themselves as they see fit".

By recently receiving about ten representatives of the Muslim faith at the Place Beauvau, Bruno Retailleau is trying to "resume the dialogue" and it is "a good thing," notes Corinne Féret, noting that in the name of secularism, the State cannot interfere in the organization of a religion. Since January 1, 2024, imams seconded by their country of origin no longer have the right to exist in France. In 2016, 301 imams from Morocco, Algeria or Turkey were preaching in nearly 2,500 places of worship in France, according to the report.