Charter of Islam in France: three federations have decided to sign

Europe 1 with AFP 8:18 p.m., December 25, 2021, modified at 8:18 p.m., December 25, 2021

Three federations announced on Saturday their decision to sign the "Charter of the principles of Islam in France", a text wanted by the government and which they qualify as a "perfectible compromise". They had initially refused to sign the "Charter of principles for Islam in France" demanded by the executive, which proscribes "interference" by foreign states and notably reaffirms the "compatibility" of Islam with the French Republic. or gender equality.

"By this solemn act we invite in all fraternity all the member federations of the CFCM (French Council of Muslim Worship, Editor's note) to come together within this unique body which is and will remain our common home, we are convinced of it", indicate in a joint statement the Turkish federations of the Coordinating Committee of Turkish Muslims in France (CCMTF) and Millî Görüs as well as the Faith and Practice movement, close to the rigorist preachers of the Tabligh.

Lack of consultation

These three federations say they respond to comments made on December 13 by the Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin on the "death" of the CFCM.

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In January 2021, when the leaders of the CFCM announced that they had reached an agreement on this charter, the CCMTF, CIMG France and Faith and Practice for their part criticized a lack of consultation upstream of the text and its content, and considered that it risked "weakening" confidence in Muslims.

The three federations had however remained within the CFCM, historical interlocutor of the public authorities on the Muslim religion, while four others, including the Mosque of Paris, had decided to leave the office of the CFCM and to create a "Coordination".

CFCM in turmoil

The CFCM, created in 2003 and which brings together several federations of mosques, has since been plunged into turmoil.

The "divergence" expressed by the three federations was "dangerously instrumentalized to give rise to a climate of division harmful to Muslims in France", they write to explain their initiative intended to "free themselves from a responsibility which is unfairly ours. attributed ".

"Our major concern is to work for the unity of Muslims in France and for national cohesion while respecting the principles and values ​​of the Republic, battered in breach in these difficult times," they assure.