Francois Bayrou in Paris, September 22, 2020. -

ROMUALD MEIGNEUX / SIPA

François Bayrou, president of the MoDem, an ally of the presidential majority, spoke out on Thursday in favor of a tax on halal products which could make it possible to finance the Muslim cult.

He was asked about BFMTV and RMC on this idea, which has been mentioned many times since the 1990s, targeting halal or kosher products, but never came into effect.

Stressing his caution in the face of "an extremely controversial subject", he felt that "we can think about" including such a measure in the bill to fight against separatism and for secularism carried by the government.

Acquire "own resources"

"This way to finance (mosques) is a way which deserves to be explored", because "when one has no own resources", it allows "foreign States to interfere in the animation. communities ”with“ this weapon of making donations, of giving resources to communities that do not have any ”.

This is why "we proposed a long ago a contribution on certification, not only halal but also kosher", he recalled.

The subject is sensitive: the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin created the beginning of a controversy by saying that he was “always shocked to enter a hypermarket” and to see “such community kitchens”, then specifying that what bothered him no it was not the sale of halal products but the fact that they were placed in "specific departments".

Agreements with foreign countries

In the fight against radical Islamism, the former minister also raised the subject of international aid, pleading that "France, which helps a very large number of countries, (can) in return ask that it there are reciprocal agreements which make it possible to actually carry out the expulsions ”of radicalized foreign individuals, whom the countries of origin often“ do not want to welcome ”.

We should not pose this subject "in terms of blackmail, because perpetual escalation is a very bad advisor".

But "it is natural that in international relations, one can have a negotiation on the conditions of the aid when one helps, on reciprocal agreements in particular as regards visas for the students, and at the same time ask that in return a country assumes its responsibilities towards its nationals ”, detailed François Bayrou.

The bill on separatism must be presented on December 9 in the Council of Ministers.

After the decapitation of a professor, the executive announced that it could be "enriched" with additional measures.

  • Islam

  • Mosque

  • Halal

  • Francois Bayrou