With the start of the new year, France will no longer allow new imams sent from abroad into the country. Instead, the clergy should be trained at French universities – also to take action against Islamist separatism.
From January 1st, France will no longer allow any more imams sent from abroad. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced in a letter to the affected states that the change, which was initiated by President Emmanuel Macron at the beginning of 2020, should now come into force. Imams already in France have until the end of March to change their status.
According to Interior Minister Darmanin, the Islamic clerics previously sent from countries such as Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria must have a new status from April 1st – and be paid directly by their mosque association in France.
Law introduced in 2020
The law aims to ensure that imams working in France are not employees of foreign states. For this purpose, the training of imams at French universities should also be expanded.
The end of the deployment of foreign imams is part of several measures launched by President Macron in February 2020 to combat “Islamist separatism”. Among other things, they are intended to prevent French mosques from being financed from abroad.
In mid-December, the federal government in Germany and Turkey agreed to end the sending of imams from the country.