World Islamic League: Muslims in France Must Respect Constitution and Laws

"We have always called on French Muslims as well as Muslim residents in France to respect the Constitution, the laws and the values of the French Republic (...)", and, "no one is obliged to stay in a place where he does not want to live", indicated the Secretary General of the Saudi NGO with observer status at the UN, Le Figaro reported.

Mr. Alissa said he fully agreed with the French president’s decision to set up a National Council of Imams of France (CNI), announced on Wednesday, November 18, while suggesting the establishment of a global fund to finance mosques and religious centers. In this regard, the heads of the nine mosque federations that make up the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), eight of whom were present, presented the main points of this CNI to the Elysée, including the "implementation of a national accreditation procedure for imams based on their religious knowledge, teaching skills and human qualities", said Mohammed Moussaoui, the president of the CFCM.

The CNI will also be "independent", hammered Chems-Eddine Hafiz, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris (GMP), adding that it will be composed of 18 members. The main objective of this Committee will be to put an end to the presence in France of 300 foreign imams "seconded" by Turkey, Algeria and Morocco.

It should be noted that the federations must also develop and commit to a "charter of republican values" stating that Islam in France is a religion and not a political movement and specifying the end of interference or affiliation with foreign states.