French Muslim Leaders Clash Over Ties to Turkish Islamic Groups

A clarification to denounce the double discourse of the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris. In a press release, the president of the CFCM stated that Chems-eddine Hafiz had declared on the LCI channel that he could not sit at the same table as the federations (CIMG ’Milligorüs’ and CCMTF ’Coordination Committee of Turkish Muslims in France’) that had refused to sign the charter of principles for Islam in France. He also specified that through these two federations, the Turkish state is interfering in the affairs of France.

"In the same program, the rector accuses me of ’hiding behind the statutes of the CFCM’ to continue to have contacts with these federations," continued Mohammed Moussaoui, before recalling that "the same rector invited the ambassador and representative of the Turkish state in France to a friendly lunch, on March 16, 2021, at the Paris mosque." He also recalled that Chems-eddine Hafiz met with the president of the CCMTF at length at the Paris mosque on March 12, 2021.

Mohammed Moussaoui acknowledges that he did indeed organize a meeting of the CFCM office on March 17, 2021, in order to appoint the national prison chaplain, in accordance with the commitment made in October 2020 by the CFCM before the Minister of Justice. "The leaders of these two federations, in their capacity as elected members of the CFCM office, participated in this meeting," he specified, before refuting the accusations made against his person.

"What the rector abusively calls ’hiding behind the statutes of the CFCM’ is in reality the respect of the rules governing the CFCM in accordance with the law of the Republic on associations," explains Mohammed Moussaoui. As a true republican, I cannot transgress the laws of the Republic and at the same time criticize those who have not signed the charter of principles for Islam in France. Especially since this charter places respect for the laws of the Republic at the heart of its commitments."

"As for the rector of the Paris mosque, nothing obliged him to organize these meetings with those he castigates and denounces, let alone in the formats he chose," notes the official, stating that "this reality of the facts clearly shows the incoherence of the rector of the Paris mosque’s action and his double discourse despite what he claims to be."