Since June 22nd you have been the new President of the French Council of the Muslim Faith. What are your priorities for this first mandate and what will you change within this organisation.
The French Council of the Muslim Faith certainly has an overall objective that consists in defending the dignity and the interests of the Muslim faith. This dignity and these interests involve a certain number of important issues… For example we must rehabilitate the image of an Islam darkened by violent events enacted in its name and also work on reconciliation for all that is Islam and Muslim. This is a long-term objective that must begin with communications strategies emphasising the image of moderate Islam. As far as problems involving places of worship are concerned, French Islam must have worthy, open and reconciled places of worship that are above all places for meditation. This means not only working a great deal as far as architecture and materials used are concerned, but also on all that these places of worship can offer, through the imams firstly, but also through other religious officials who work in other locations and the imams appointed to officiate in these places of worship. Hence one must first of all provide a good education for these imams and also for others. Interreligious dialogue is a priority we must concentrate on to improve coexistence at a national level, but also as far as all the religious communities are concerned. As far as burial places are concerned, the Muslim community needs to preserve its historical memories with its own cemeteries. Hence, burial places mist be worthy and respect Islamic tradition with regards to the interment of the deceased.
What is your opinion regards to the CFCM’s internal election system based on the area surface of the mosques? Do you consider this a good system or do you think it should be changed?
The current method has worked for the last three consecutive elections, but it has in fact been challenged by many people, while others accept it while awaiting an alternative. For the moment there is no alternative. Those who criticise the system must take part in proposing alternatives. The French Council for the Muslim Faith must address this issue. It cannot avoid it. Furthermore, considering that there has been a significant amount of criticism, I do believe it is our duty to implement reforms. This is why for this mandate we have created a Vice-Presidency that will be responsible for these reforms and will concentrate on the future governance of the CFCM. This group will propose changes and we hope to have indications within a year on how to improve the voting system although we still do not have a precise idea regards to what system will be used for the next mandate.
Another problem is posed by the frauds linked to the organisation of pilgrimages to the Mecca. Many people, especially the elderly, have been cheated by agencies that, after receiving payment, vanished into this air. How do you intend to address this problem and that of ensuring the quality of halal meat?
We have exceptionally decided in the course of our first board meeting, that due to the fact that this pilgrimage is imminent, for this year we will continue to used the committee set up under the former presidency so that it may continue to work and quickly present solutions to the problems that occurred above all during the last pilgrimage. This committee, as well as the halal committee, will be appointed in the course of the next board meeting which will be held between October and November.
What do you intend to do as far as training the imams is concerned?
The CFCM must draft a charter stating all the knowledge and competences an imam or a religious official must have, and provide the associations and federations with permission to create training centres and institutions that respect this charter. Furthermore, it is necessary to encourage existing associations and institutions to comply with the rules. For the moment, the CFCM does not intend to organise training centres for the imams.
A new Federation of Italian Islam has recently been set up in our country and approved by the Ministry of the Interior. Do you believe such an initiative is possible without a dialogue between the various parties and without an election?
I honestly to not know a great deal about the Muslim faith in Italy, but I believe that Muslims must participate actively in obtaining good representation. This is a necessary step, whether it takes place through the Ministry or a partnership established between the main Muslim federations and associations. Regards to the extent to which the Ministry and the Muslim federations and associations are involved, I believe the local players must decide that.
Translation by Francesca Simmons