French Council of the Muslim Faith
Encyclopedia
The French Council of the Muslim Faith , is a national elected body, to serve as an official interlocutor with the French state in the regulation of Muslim religious activities. It is a non-profit group created on 28 May 2003, consisting of 25 CRCMs (Conseil Regional du Culte Musulman or Regional Councils of the Muslim Faith). The current president of the CFCM is Mohammed Moussaoui
, a mathematics teacher representing the Rassemblement des Musulmans de France.
While CFCM has no special legal standing, it is the de facto
representative of the French Muslims before the national government. Nicolas Sarkozy
, who was then Minister of the Interior
, supported the creation of CFCM. The group includes other organizations, such as the UOIF. It is presumed that Sarkozy desired to have some "official" representative of the Muslim community, in the same manner as there exist "official" representatives of the Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant faiths. Critics allege that, in virtue of laïcité
, there was no need to give official representation to a religious group, which lead to communautarisme. They further note that most of people of Muslim culture in France are not well represented by such religious institutions. Newspapers like Le Canard enchaîné
or Charlie Hebdo
have stressed that Sarkozy appeared to favour the UOIF.
Mohammed Moussaoui
Mohammed Moussaoui is the president of the French Council of Muslim Faith.As of 2008 he is naturalizing as a citizen of France.On August 2, 2011 he gave an interview with French radio station RTL, where he stated that there are nearly 150 new mosques under construction in France, and that there are...
, a mathematics teacher representing the Rassemblement des Musulmans de France.
While CFCM has no special legal standing, it is the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
representative of the French Muslims before the national government. Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
, who was then Minister of the Interior
Minister of the Interior (France)
The Minister of the Interior in France is one of the most important governmental cabinet positions, responsible for the following:* The general interior security of the country, with respect to criminal acts or natural catastrophes...
, supported the creation of CFCM. The group includes other organizations, such as the UOIF. It is presumed that Sarkozy desired to have some "official" representative of the Muslim community, in the same manner as there exist "official" representatives of the Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant faiths. Critics allege that, in virtue of laïcité
Laïcité
French secularism, in French, laïcité is a concept denoting the absence of religious involvement in government affairs as well as absence of government involvement in religious affairs. French secularism has a long history but the current regime is based on the 1905 French law on the Separation of...
, there was no need to give official representation to a religious group, which lead to communautarisme. They further note that most of people of Muslim culture in France are not well represented by such religious institutions. Newspapers like Le Canard enchaîné
Le Canard enchaîné
Le Canard enchaîné is a satirical newspaper published weekly in France. Founded in 1915, it features investigative journalism and leaks from sources inside the French government, the French political world and the French business world, as well as many jokes and humorous cartoons.-Early...
or Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo is a French satirical weekly newspaper, featuring cartoons, reports, polemics and jokes. It appeared from 1969 to 1981, when it folded, and was resurrected in 1992. The current editor is cartoonist Charb. His predecessors are François Cavanna and Philippe Val...
have stressed that Sarkozy appeared to favour the UOIF.
See also
- Islam in FranceIslam in FranceIslam is the second most widely practiced religion in France by number of worshippers, with an estimated total of 5 to 10 percent of the national population.-Statistics:...
- Muslim Executive of BelgiumMuslim Executive of BelgiumDe Belgische Moslim Executief or L'Exécutif des musulmans de Belgique is the official Muslim interlocutor of the Belgian federal government for the implementation of the July 19, 1974 law recognizing Islam as one of the subsidized religious or secular communities in Belgium according to the law...
- Central Council of Muslims in GermanyZentralrat der Muslime in DeutschlandThe Zentralrat der Muslime in Deutschland is an Islamic federation in Germany. With 15,000 to 20,000 members, mainly German, German Arab, and German Turkish muslims, it has less than half the size of the Islamrat für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland.The Zentralrat was founded in 1994 by Nadeem...
- Islamic Commission of SpainIslamic Commission of SpainIslamic Commission of Spain is the legitimate representative organ of Islam and Muslims before the citizenship and the Administration for the representation, negotiation, signature and follow-up on the Islam - State agreements adopted in Law 26/1992....
- Council on American-Islamic RelationsCouncil on American-Islamic RelationsThe Council on American-Islamic Relations is America's largest Muslim civil liberties advocacy organization that deals with civil advocacy and promotes human rights...
- Muslim Council of BritainMuslim Council of BritainThe Muslim Council of Britain is a self-appointed umbrella body for national, regional, local and specialist organisations and institutions from different ethnic and sectarian backgrounds within British Islamic society. It was established in 1997 to help Muslims, to increase education about the...
- Muslim Council of SwedenMuslim Council of SwedenThe Muslim Council of Sweden is an umbrella organisation of Islamic organisations in Sweden. It was founded in 1990 by representatives of the United Islamic Parishes in Sweden and the Muslim Association of Sweden ....
External links
- Entry of the CFCM on the national registry of nonprofit associations maintained by the Journal officiel de la République françaiseJournal Officiel de la République FrançaiseThe Journal Officiel de la République Française is the official gazette of the French Republic. It publishes the major legal official information from the national Government of France.-Publications:...
- Uncertain future for France’s Muslim council, Reuters on May 5, 2008