Muslim Leaders Criticize New French Government-Backed Islamic Forum as ’Colonial’

Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, is behind the launch of the Forum of Islam in France (FORIF), a new governance body for the Muslim faith. Launched on Saturday, February 5 in Paris, the FORIF will have to meet solemnly once a year under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior. The latter has set up four working groups (composed of mosque leaders and religious associations) on the professionalization and recruitment of imams, the functioning and management of chaplaincies, the fight against anti-Muslim acts and the adaptation of associations managing places of worship to the new requirements of the law strengthening respect for the values of the Republic (known as the anti-separatism law).

The prefects "have identified - during the Territorial Assemblies of Islam in France in 2021 - the representative local associations or local actors of the Muslim cult likely to contribute to the working groups," reveals the ministry in a press release, assuring that it does not intend to interfere in the organization of the Muslim cult. "It is up to you, Muslims, to take responsibility for organizing yourselves [...] The State is only legitimate [...] to ensure public order in a framework strengthened by the law strengthening respect for the values of the Republic," Darmanin defended himself.

The remarks do little to reassure certain Muslim leaders. Worse, they provoke strong criticism. "The FORIF is not the representation of Islam in France, reacted Kamel Kabtane, rector of the Grand Mosque of Lyon, one of the selected leaders. We are in a democratic country and this must also apply to Islam. Elections should be held at the departmental level." "I clearly told the Minister of the Interior during an interview in early January that the Muslims themselves must choose their representatives," says Mohammed Moussaoui, outgoing president of the CFCM, in a discussion with Middle East Eye. He regrets that his suggestion was not taken into account. His organization will give way to the FORIF by February 19, where an extraordinary general meeting of the executive board is scheduled.

According to Abdallah Zekri, general delegate of the Council and president of the Observatory for the Fight against Islamophobia (OLCI), it is necessary to give Muslims the possibility to organize themselves at the grassroots level, with elections. He denounces the French government’s desire, through the FORIF, to "lead French Muslims as if they were minors." "This is a colonial Islam and it is insulting," the Muslim leader indignantly.