Algeria refuses French hegemony over its national community members settled in France

The National Federation of the Great Mosque of Paris (FNGMP) refuses the organization of Islam in France without the concertation among the Muslims themselves, while denouncing “any form of interference” by the French State in the management of the Muslim cult.

Following a meeting of its national office, which brought together the regional delegates representing the Muslim faith in France, the FNGMP reiterated, after consultation and debate among its members, its decision not to participate in the proceedings of The Islamic Foundation of France and its guidance council, said a press release given at a press conference on Tuesday at the Grand Mosque in Paris.

The federation again denounced “any interference directive” in the management of the Muslim religion and its representation, regretting that the “heterogeneous assembly” of the Foundation headed by the former French Minister of the Interior, Jean-Pierre Chevènement, “was not the subject of prior consultations with the Muslims of France”.

The members of the FNGMP, present at the press conference, pointed out that despite the fact that their president, Mr. Dalil Boubakeur, is well – known for the presidency of the Council of guidance of this foundation, he was “totally marginalized” in its development while noting the “unbalanced” make-up of the latter, despite the favorable reception given to Mr. Jean-Pierre Chevènement by the Great Mosque of Paris.

Asked by reporters for his reaction to the latest developments, Mr Chevènement declined to comment, just saying that he’s taken note of the (FNGMP) Federation’s decision.

The federation also emphasized that the Great Mosque of Paris, a “free hearth”, created in 1922 by a state law which conferred upon it and always confers on it the care and dignity of Muslim worship in France, of republican secularism and of the equality of religions “without any form of interference”.

In his speech at the press conference, the president of the FNGMP and rector of the Muslim Institute of the Great Mosque of Paris called for strict respect for the freedom of worship and secularism which forbids the French State to meddle in the organization of worship. “We rise up against the use of this secularism against the Muslims,” he said, noting that they are the first to be affected by the phenomena of radicalization and extremism.

“We are witnessing an amazing blackout in the organization of this foundation to which we haven’t understood anything,” he said with bitterness, denouncing the “total” reorganization of Islam in France without the direct involvement of concerted representatives of the Muslim faith.

For him, “there is a desire for interference by the French administration in the training of imams (preachers), in the financing of worship and in the appointments of the people of the cult, while the other cults in France are spared from any undue interference”, as he put it.

 It is in this sense that he expressed deep concern about the French state’s will to tightly control zakat, the slaughter of sheep according to the Muslim rite (halal) and the organization of Umrah and Hajj (pilgrimage) to the holy places of Islam in Saudi Arabia.

“All this is contrary to the secularism that some circles in France want to manipulate for murky purposes and we have no advice to receive in the management of the Muslim worship, except from bona-fide scholars, imams and professors specializing in Islam,” he argued.

“We have our ideas, our vision in the organization and management of the cult of Islam which is the religion of peace, tolerance and the right path. We refuse this hanging guardianship and we ask that there should be broad consultations on this outstanding matter,” he underlined. 

He also stressed that the organization of the Muslim worship “can only be carried out with the involvement of the Muslims themselves”.