A new step towards French Islam
The leaders of the French Council of Muslim Worship (CFCM) presented last Saturday a draft "Charter of Principles" with which they want to show the Executive of Emmanuel Macron the commitments of Islam to the values of the French Republic. The CFCM is thus trying to slam the door on the instrumentalisation of Islam for political ends.
The draft was received by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who gave his approval. The nine federations that make up the CFCM also approved this 10-point Charter of Principles before it was sent to the French President. By uniting, the CFCM wanted to make it clear that "Islam is not incompatible with the Republic, far from it".
Each of the federations reflects a sensitivity within the Islamic religion, in addition to being linked to different countries. Owing to this different origin, the negotiations and final agreement have not been easy to reach, as one of the issues to be addressed is foreign influence on the Imams and the speeches they deliver in the mosques.
This step is in keeping with the French president's policy of total opposition to radical Islamism and Islamist separatism, which thrives on foreign influence and is spread by clearly radicalised imams. Macron's project sought to combat the Islamist radicalism, Jihadism and communitarianism that is taking place in certain parts of the country and is widening the social gap that exists in the country with a significant part of the Muslim community. The project was controversial, as it can encourage hateful and racist discourse, making words, tone and gestures even more important than ever.
The aim is to direct this council towards the creation of a National Council of Imams, which would be responsible for certifying Islamic clerics, monitoring their independence and ensuring compliance with the principles of this charter. The letter uses language that is strongly linked to republican values and reflects the pain caused by the death of Samuel Paty in October last year.
Throughout the ten points of the letter, the aim is to express the compatibility of Islam with French democracy and the values it defends. It points out that Muslims fully belong to the French national community thanks to one of the pillars of the Republic, equality. In this respect, they stress the need to comply with the law and the principles and rules of the Republic as an essential basis for coexistence.
The charter attacks proselytism and is against any abusive use of religion that leads to violence and fanaticism. The charter also calls for equality between the sexes, and any discrimination and incitement to hatred will be rejected outright. The sixth point, one of the most significant, refers to the instrumentalisation of Islam and foreign influence. The letter shows the intention to combat any attempt to use Islam selfishly as a political weapon, nor will they allow places of worship to be used to spread political Islam and fanaticism.
Finally, it highlights the figure of teachers, the importance of secular teaching and religious neutrality in guaranteeing fair service to citizens regardless of their religious convictions, in a clear reference to the death of Professor Samuel Paty. Finally, the letter mentions the possibility that if any of these points is not fulfilled by any figure linked to Islam and if at least two of the federations so request, an investigation will be opened and, if necessary, a suspension imposed on all bodies linked to Islam in the country.
Although this letter, much awaited by Emmanuel Macron and a significant part of French society, is an essential and positive step forward, the CFCM does not represent the whole of the French Muslim community, nor does it control most of the places of worship in the country, so the work of raising awareness has only just begun. Young people are the main focus of radicalisation and violence, due to the socio-economic contexts in which they grow up and where lack of opportunities and loss of identity are some of the major problems. This is where France needs to do more.
We, as leaders of associations and federations, managers of Muslim places of worship, commit ourselves by this charter both as French citizens and/or as associative actors of the Muslim faith to respect all the rules laid down in the present one, referred to as the "charter of principles". Its purpose is to provide a framework for the ethics and deontological rules that should structure the functioning of the National Council of Imams.
Preamble
We solemnly proclaim our adherence to this charter intended to specify the foundations of our mission in line with republican values. In so doing, we reaffirm from the outset that neither our religious convictions nor any other reason can supplant the principles that underlie the law and the Constitution of the Republic.
No religious conviction may be invoked to evade the obligations of citizens.
This "charter of principles" aims to outline the values to be transmitted to the faithful and shared with them, while respecting the laws of the Republic and Islamic ethics.
Article 1 - Purpose of the charter
Islamic values and the principles of law applicable in the Republic are perfectly compatible and the Muslims of France fully belong to the national community. From a constitutional point of view, all citizens, whatever their religion, beliefs or philosophical convictions, are equal.
From a religious and ethical point of view Muslims, whether nationals or foreign residents, are bound to France by a pact. This commits them to respect national cohesion, public order and the laws of the Republic1.
Through this charter, the signatories are writing an important page in the history of France.
It contributes to establishing peaceful and trusting relations between the national community, in its diversity and plurality, and all Muslims living on the territory of the Republic, whether nationals or foreign residents. Each signatory of this charter therefore undertakes, with respect and dignity, to work for civil peace and to fight against all forms of violence and hatred.
Article 2 - Missions
Our mission and our commitment stem from our commitment to citizenship and our faith.
We carry out our mission within the framework of the principles and rules of the Republic which form the basis of the unity and cohesion of our country.
The principle of equality before the law obliges us to comply with the common rules and make them prevail over all norms and rules including those stemming from our convictions and/or religious interpretations.
Article 3 - Freedom
Freedom is guaranteed by the principle of secularism, which allows every citizen to believe or not to believe, to worship as he or she chooses and to change religion.
Thus the signatories undertake not to criminalise the renunciation of Islam, nor to qualify it as "apostasy" (ridda), still less to stigmatise or call, directly or indirectly, for an attack on the physical or moral integrity of those who renounce a religion.
This reflects a respect for all opinions and expressions allowed by law and, above all, an essential republican principle: freedom of conscience.
God has given men the freedom to choose their ways and convictions without constraint: "No coercion in religion" (Qur'an, 2: 256), and has made it an expression of His will: "If your Lord had so willed, all who are on earth would have believed. Is it then up to you to compel people to believe? "(Qur'an, 10:99).
Abusive proselytism oppressing consciences is contrary to the freedom of reason and heart that characterises the dignity of man.
Convinced that debate is often a source of enrichment and a bulwark against fanaticism, we accept all debates and oppose all violence.
The signatories thus undertake to respect Article 9 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights. This article enshrines freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Article 4 - Equality
The Islam of France is fully in line with Article 1 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen2. The signatories thus undertake to ensure that this principle is respected in all their religious activities.
This Equality is also enshrined in the Islamic corpus: "Truly, We have made all the children of Adam worthy. "(Qur'an, 17: 70)
Equality between women and men is a fundamental principle that is also attested to in the Koranic text: men come from the same original essence or soul (see Qur'an, 4: 1).
We are therefore committed to upholding this principle of equality in accordance with the laws of the Republic by reminding the faithful, as part of our pedagogical role, that certain allegedly Muslim cultural practices do not fall within the scope of Islam.
Article 5 - The Brotherhood
The Fraternity commits us from a religious point of view. Our ethics invite us to observe benevolence towards our fellow citizens, without distinction.
We reject any discrimination based on religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, health or disability and call for every citizen to be respected for who they are and what they believe.
All forms of racism, discrimination and hatred of others, including anti-Muslim acts, anti-Semitic acts, homophobia and misogyny are criminal offences. They are also the expression of a deprivation of mind and heart that no sincere faith can accept.
In defence of all the values set out in this "Charter of Principles", the signatories undertake, in accordance with the laws of the Republic, to reject all crimes against humanity.
Within Islam, there are currents and interpretations that may diverge: there is no hierarchy between them.
The signatories of this charter undertake to accept to debate and exchange with their co-religionists without disqualifying them by theological or political judgements dictated by theorists, ideologists or foreign states.
In particular, it is a question of fighting against the ideology of takfir, (excommunication), which is often the prelude to the legitimisation of murder. In this way, we work to avoid fitna (discord) and to favour exchange in a spirit of mutual benevolence.
In the same way, we call for openness and respect for our fellow citizens' choice of belief or religion, both in our places of worship with our followers and within our families: "We have set out a path for each of you and established a rule of conduct that is specific to you. And if God had so willed, He would have made you a single community, but He wanted to test you to see how each community would use what He gave it. So strive to do good deeds, for it is to God that you will all return, and He will then enlighten you as to the origin of your differences. "(Qur'an 5:48)
Article 6 - Rejection of all forms of interference and the instrumentalisation of Islam for political purposes
The present "Charter of Principles" has the clearly stated aim of combating any form of instrumentalisation of Islam for political and/or ideological purposes. The signatories therefore undertake to refuse to take part in any action promoting what is known as "political Islam"3.
We fight with determination against any movement or ideology whose project diverts our religion from its true purpose and tries to create power relations and fractures in our society.
Thus, we undertake not to use or allow the use of Islam or the concept of ummah (community of believers) in a local or national political perspective or for the needs of a political agenda dictated by a foreign power that denies the consubstantial plurality of Islam.
We refuse to allow places of worship to be used to disseminate political discourse or to import conflicts that take place in other parts of the world. Our mosques and places of worship are reserved for prayer and the transmission of values.
They are not erected for the dissemination of nationalist speeches defending foreign regimes and supporting foreign policies hostile to France, our country, and our French compatriots.
The misuse of religion to instrumentalise Islam for political purposes must be strongly and unreservedly rejected.
We affirm that the political order remains separate from the religious order. None of our organisations, none of our precepts can have the objective of claiming in France a differentiated treatment for Muslims.
We undertake to ensure that our places of worship are increasingly financed by national funding. Any funding from abroad from a foreign State, a non-governmental organisation, a legal entity or an individual must be in strict compliance with the laws in force and does not entitle any donor to interfere, directly or indirectly, in the exercise of the Muslim faith in France.
Signatories must clearly reject any interference from abroad in the management of their mosques and the mission of their imams.
Article 7 - Attachment to reason and free will
The objectives of a religion contribute to the universal values on which humanity is based. Muslim leaders, lead the faithful to reflect and help them to distinguish in scriptural sources what is applicable in the context of French society.
We affirm that all the doctrinal schools of Islam have the same legitimacy and that it is up to each of the faithful to form their own opinion.
By harmoniously adapting these universalist sources to the realities of our country, we want to enable every Muslim to reconcile his or her religious practice and civic commitment in order to live both in peace and serenity.
We also commit ourselves to fight, through teaching and pedagogy, against superstitions and archaic practices, especially those that claim to be "prophetic medicine" and that endanger the lives of abused believers.
Article 8 - Attachment to secularism and public services
Religious neutrality, one of the principles of secularism, imposed on agents entrusted with a public service mission, aims to guarantee an equitable service to citizens regardless of their religious beliefs and to combat religious proselytism.
Users, for their part, are not subject to this neutrality, but are required, in their religious expression, to respect public order established by law.
In particular, we recall the essential role of the teacher in our society and the importance of the school, which must be preserved from the evils that affect society. In the event of conflicts or disagreements, dialogue will be sought first and, as a last resort, the courts are empowered to arbitrate disputes.
In order to preserve civil peace and harmony, we call for respect for all citizens and in particular for those who carry out a mission of public service and general interest.
Article 9 - Combating anti-Muslim hatred, propaganda and false information
Muslims in France and the symbols of their faith are too often the target of hostile acts. These acts are the work of an extremist minority that should not be confused either with the State or with the French people.
Consequently, denunciations of alleged State racism, like all victimized postures, amount to defamation. They feed and exacerbate both anti-Muslim hatred and hatred of France.
Defamation and the propagation of false information are offences. Their prohibition is a moral requirement: "O you who believe! If a pervert brings you news, check it out, lest you harm innocent people out of ignorance and then feel remorse" (Qur'an, 49:6).
In our country, too often targeted by propaganda that denigrates it, millions of believers go peacefully to the religious service of their choice and millions more refrain from doing so freely. This reality, which seems normal to us, is unfortunately not that of many societies in the world today.
We call on people not to disseminate books, pamphlets, websites, blogs, videos, which propagate ideas of violence, hatred, terrorism or racism in any form whatsoever. Extremist currents are based on bellicose concepts4, inciting violence and secession in speeches that harm French society as much as the image of Islam and Muslims.
We work on pedagogy to educate the youth in order to protect them from the self-proclaimed imams who convey such a vision of Islam.
We favour the French and French-speaking corpus to allow a better assimilation of concepts by Muslims in France and a greater transparency of discourse. We refuse any discourse from abroad which aims, in complete ignorance of the realities of our society, to create discord and divide us.
Article 10 - Respect for the Charter
The signatories are aware that this charter commits them jointly and severally. They apply its principles and values in their respective associations.
If at least two federations consider that an infringement of this charter has been committed, they may decide to open an enquiry, the content of which they shall define. After this contradictory procedure, an infringement shall be established if it is recognised by at least two thirds of the federations, by means of a written statement of reasons.
It then leads to the exclusion of the offender from all bodies representing the Islam of France.
Footnotes
- As Article 17 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights reminds us, no one can justify a legitimate right to "engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights or freedoms set forth in the Convention".
- "All men are born free and equal in rights".
- By "political Islam", the present Charter refers to the political and/or ideological currents commonly known as Salafism (Wahhabism), Tabligh, as well as those linked to the thought of the Muslim Brotherhood and related nationalist currents.
- Concepts such as: al-wala wa-l bara (alliance and disavowal), takfir wa-l hijra (anathema and exile), dar al-harb wa dar al-islam (territory of war and territory of Islam), etc., are not included.