The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) gave itself new statutes on Sunday giving more weight to “departmental structures”, he announced in a press release, after an extraordinary general meeting. A text adopted unanimously and “thus opening the way to a profound overhaul” of this structure, writes the one which was until 2021 the body for dialogue with the authorities on questions relating to the organization of Muslim worship. .
This overhaul provides for two major changes: first of all “a reorganization of the CFCM on the basis of departmental structures in which all the mosques of France can sit, in an egalitarian manner”, he assures. This reform is also based on the “end of the system of co-option” of half of the members of the CFCM, putting an end to the weight of the federations of mosques attached to the countries of origin (Algeria, Morocco, Turkey). This system was the cause of the strong internal dissensions that have paralyzed the CFCM in recent years.
Competition between CFCM and Forif
“Through these two changes, the CFCM wishes to give the floor to local actors elected by their peers who will have the necessary legitimacy”, explains the press release. “These actors who bring together common concerns will abolish the artificial borders and divisions that have severely hampered the CFCM in its missions”.
The latter claims to represent “more than 1,100 mosques”, out of some 2,500 places of worship in France. “This figure is expected to increase significantly with the new reform,” he said, adding that “new electoral regulations will be adopted soon.”
At the end of February, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, declared that he had “decided to put an end” to the CFCM as a body for dialogue between the State and the Muslim faith since 2003, for the benefit of the Forum de l’islam de France (Forif ), made up of players in the field appointed by the prefects.