French Lawmakers Propose Mandatory Islam Charter for Mosques, Threatening Closures

Will the signing of the charter of the principles of Islam become mandatory for mosques? LR deputies tabled a bill to this effect on December 21. It aims to "make the signing of the charter of the principles of Islam of France mandatory for all mosques in France" and to "close any mosque in case of refusal". "Mosques must adopt the charter of the principles of Islam of France. Those who do not adopt this charter are sanctioned by an administrative closure or by a suspension of building permits for those under construction," we read.

These deputies invoke the fight against separatism to justify their text. According to them, "the existence of such a charter of Islam should not be optional or decorative". "Because it is more than necessary to ensure the superiority of the laws of the Republic over religious laws, it is appropriate to impose the adoption of the charter of the principles of Islam of France on all mosques". In the eyes of the opponents of the charter of the principles of Islam, this proposal is "an iniquitous choice that denotes a difference in treatment between cults in France".

On Sunday, the three federations of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM)-CCMTF and Millî Görüs, and the Faith and Practice movement — who refused to sign the charter of the principles of Islam presented to French President Emmanuel Macron, have reversed their decision.