Chems-Eddine Hafiz, rector of the Great Mosque of Paris and member of the CFCM, here at the Elysée.

(archives) -

LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

The president of the CFCM, Mohammed Moussaoui, deplored, this Thursday, "the unilateral exit" of three federations of his organization which still refuse to sign the charter of the Islam of France, in spite of an agreement torn by the executive which excludes any renegotiation of the text.

These three federations, members of the French Council of Muslim Worship reiterated their opposition to this text called for by Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, which, according to them, risks "weakening" confidence in Muslims.

Reassure "on the state of representative bodies of Muslim worship"

Promoter of this "charter of principles for the Islam of France", the president of the CFCM replied Thursday by assuring that these dissident federations "risk being made all responsible for this situation of division detrimental to the organization of the Muslim cult" .

Their refusal "is not likely to reassure our co-religionists on the state of the representative bodies of the Muslim religion", Mohammed Moussaoui continued in a press release.

Signed on Sunday by five out of nine CFCM federations, this text denounces in particular the political “instrumentalisation” of Islam, proscribes “interference” by foreign states in worship in France and reaffirms the “compatibility” of the Muslim faith with the Republic.

The Interior Ministry also rejected the request of the dissident federations to amend the text.

Two sensitive points

“They said they wouldn't agree to sign it as is.

Of which act, they are not signatories ”, indicated this source, excluding any renegotiation.

"These federations want to oppose the executive to Muslims by saying they are shocked by the fight against foreign interference.

So it is not the Muslims they are defending, ”added this source.

President (LR) of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, for his part, invited the dissidents to "think carefully" about their decision.

“Do they want to be next, outside of what we all want to share together?

He asked himself.

According to a source familiar with the matter, the main points of disagreement expressed by these federations relate to two issues that concern them in particular: the definition of foreign “interference” and the precise definition of political Islam.

"An accusatory and marginalizing character"

These three federations - the Coordinating Committee of Turkish Muslims in France, Millî Görüs and the Faith and Practice movement, close to the rigorist preachers of the Tabligh - both criticized a lack of consultation upstream of the text and its content.

"Certain declarations (contained in the charter) undermine the honor of Muslims, with an accusatory and marginalizing character", had thus estimated the three federations in a joint statement, without specifying which ones.

After its formal adoption, this text was greeted Monday by the Head of State as a "clear and precise commitment in favor of the Republic" and should pave the way for the creation of a National Council of Imams (CNI) responsible to “label” imams practicing in France.

Ninth component of the CFCM, the Great Mosque of Saint-Denis la Réunion supports the initiative of the charter but has not signed it, believing that it addressed "problems which only exist in Metropolitan France", declared to AFP its president Iqbal Ingar.

Society

Islam: At the request of Emmanuel Macron, the CFCM will create a council of imams

Politics

Bill on "separatism": The CFCM signs a republican "charter of principles", a success for Emmanuel Macron?

  • Cfcm

  • Society

  • Islam

  • Emmanuel Macron

  • Religion