France uses Catholic model for dialogue with Muslims

Friday, February 27th, 2015

The French government has proposed a plan for dialogue with Muslims which is based on a model it uses to liaise with the Catholic Church.

The plan would promote an Islam “faithful to the values of the republic”.

The official council of French Muslims has been unable to deal with the challenges presented by Islamist radicalisation.

The creation of a new, more diverse representative body would help Muslim leaders and French authorities address issues such as security, prevention of radicalisation and preventing anti-Muslims acts, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.

The new body would meet with the government twice a year, using a model inspired by the dialogue the French government has had with leaders of the Catholic Church since 2002.

The French government also regularly consults with Jewish community leaders via the country’s main Jewish organisation, the CRIF council.

The plan has been decided together with leaders of the existing French Muslim council, the CFCM, created in 2003.

It comes amid increasing religious tension in France.

This follows the January terror attacks in Paris by Islamic extremists against a satirical weekly, a policewoman and a kosher grocery store.

The attacks claimed a total of 17 victims.

Anti-Muslim acts in France in the month after the attacks totalled the same as the entire previous year, Mr Cazeneuve said.

Under the new plan, the French government will promote university-level civics courses for imams, and require them for Islamic chaplains in prisons, hospitals and the armed forces, hesaid.

Like other Western countries, France has seen young Muslim citizens go to Syria and Iraq to train or fight with Islamic State.

Prisons have been a prime venue for their radicalisation.

“We want to form the most representative forum possible,” Mr Cazeneuve said.

“We must permit all representatives of a tolerant and peaceful Islam to discuss and resolve problems in an orderly manner.”

There are 5 million Muslims in France.

Sources