Macron Pushes for ’Republican Values’ Charter from French Muslim Leaders

Within two weeks, at the President’s request, the leaders of the Muslim faith will have to develop and present a "charter of republican values" to constitute a basis of commitment for the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) and the nine federations it brings together. The charter must emphasize that Islam in France is a religion and not a political movement and specify the end of interference or association with foreign states.

The council of imams will therefore have the mission of identifying the imams and granting them an official card, but also, to withdraw the accreditation in case of non-compliance with the charter and the code of ethics that it will also draft. Furthermore, whether the imam is a prayer leader, preacher or lecturer, he will have to have a level of knowledge of French, but also degrees up to university training depending on his role.

The vision of the Head of State being to put an end to the presence in France of 300 foreign imams "seconded" by Turkey, Morocco and Algeria, within four years, the pressure is increasing more and more on the governing bodies of Islam in France, since the speech of the French President against separatism and radical Islam in early October, fueled by the assassination of teacher Samuel Paty and the attack in Nice, in order to fight against foreign influence, radicalization and political Islam.

The accession of the CFCM to this new organization of the Muslim faith in France will be a victory for Emmanuel Macron, often targeted by criticism from Muslims in other countries, because of his remarks on a "crisis" Islam and his speech against radical Islam.