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Muslim worship in France: is the State-led reorganization underway?
In this article published on February 26, 2025, on The Conversation, Ali Mostfa analyzes the evolution of the Forum of Islam in France (Forif), created in 2022 to replace the French Council of Muslim Worship. The author examines the structural challenges of this new decentralized body in face of contemporary issues: fighting radical Islamism, training of imams, funding of places of worship, and anti-Muslim violence.
The reflection focuses particularly on the tensions between the state’s desire to structure an “Islam of France” and the realities of a community with diverse sensitivities. The article highlights the difficulties in implementing the “Anti-Separatism law,” the ban on detached imams since January 2024, and the obstacles to creating a professional status for imams.
Three years after its creation, Forif is still seeking institutional legitimacy, oscillating between a governmental advisory tool and an autonomous representative body. This in-depth analysis questions the viability of the current model and its ability to sustainably shape Muslim worship in France.
Ali Mostfa is the scientific delegate of Pluriel, lecturer at the Catholic University of Lyon and scientific coordinator of the Mohammed Arkoun training program in Islamic studies.
Dans cet article paru le 26 février 2025 sur le média The Conversation, Ali Mostfa analyse l’évolution du Forum de l’islam de France (Forif), créé en 2022 pour remplacer le Conseil français du culte musulman. L’auteur examine les défis structurels de cette nouvelle instance décentralisée face aux enjeux contemporains : lutte contre l’islamisme radical, formation des imams, financement des lieux de culte et violences antimusulmanes.
La réflexion porte notamment sur les tensions entre la volonté étatique de structurer un “islam de France” et les réalités d’une communauté aux sensibilités diverses. L’article met en lumière les difficultés d’application de la “loi Séparatisme”, l’interdiction des imams détachés depuis janvier 2024, et les obstacles à la création d’un statut professionnel pour les imams.
Trois ans après sa création, le Forif cherche encore sa légitimité institutionnelle, oscillant entre outil consultatif gouvernemental et instance représentative autonome. Cette analyse approfondie questionne la viabilité du modèle actuel et sa capacité à façonner durablement le culte musulman en France.
Ali Mostfa est délégué scientifique de Pluriel, maître de conférence à l’Université Catholique de Lyon et coordinateur scientifique du parcours de formation Mohammed Arkoun sur l’islamologie.
في هذا المقال المنشور في 26 فبراير 2025 على منصة ذا كونفرسيشن، يحلل علي مصطفى تطور منتدى الإسلام في فرنسا، الذي تأسس عام 2022 ليحل محل المجلس الفرنسي للديانة الإسلامية. يدرس الكاتب التحديات الهيكلية لهذه الهيئة اللامركزية الجديدة في مواجهة القضايا المعاصرة: مكافحة الإسلام المتطرف، تكوين الأئمة، تمويل دور العبادة والعنف ضد المسلمين.
يركز التحليل خاصة على التوترات بين الرغبة الحكومية في هيكلة “إسلام فرنسي” وواقع مجتمع متنوع التوجهات. يسلط المقال الضوء على صعوبات تطبيق “قانون مكافحة الانفصالية”، وحظر الأئمة المنتدبين منذ يناير 2024، والعقبات التي تعترض إنشاء وضع مهني للأئمة.
بعد ثلاث سنوات من إنشائه، لا يزال منتدى الإسلام في فرنسا يبحث عن شرعيته المؤسسية، متأرجحاً بين كونه أداة استشارية حكومية وهيئة تمثيلية مستقلة. يطرح هذا التحليل المعمق تساؤلات حول جدوى النموذج الحالي وقدرته على تشكيل العبادة الإسلامية في فرنسا بشكل مستدام.
علي مصطفى هو المندوب العلمي للمنصة الجامعية للدراسات حول الإسلام، وأستاذ محاضر في جامعة ليون الكاثوليكية والمنسق العلمي لمسار تكوين محمد أركون في الدراسات الإسلامية.
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