From January 1, 2024, France will no longer accept new “seconded” imams, that is to say sent by other countries. A promise from Emmanuel Macron implemented, welcomed by Nathalie Goulet, who admits to having been “pretty sure that he would not keep it”.
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“It’s really a very good measure”greets UDI senator Nathalie Goulet on franceinfo, Saturday December 30, after the government announced that France will no longer accept, from January 1, new imams “detached”that is to say sent by other countries. “How do you expect employed imams from Turkey, who have only known the genocide in Armenia and who also do not recognize it, to form a society in Lyon or Marseille where there are significant Armenian communities? “points out the centrist, co-author of an information report on Islam in France.
For the elected official, this decision is even “a step towards the Islam of France”, even if the road is still long. NOW, “we need a religious curriculum in France, but that is up to Muslims themselves”. “You have to get it in France” to aspiring imams “training that does not lead them to go abroad for training”, as is often the case these days. Indeed, she recalls that “agreements have been signed between France and the countries concerned”.
Gérald Darmanin “courageous”
It was Gérald Darmanin, the Minister of the Interior, who announced the end of welcoming imams “detached” in France to the countries concerned, in a letter. Nathalie Goulet finds it “very brave”. Emmanuel Macron made this commitment in 2020 to fight against “separatism”but she was “pretty sure he wouldn’t hold it”.
Indeed, she emphasizes “the diplomatic aspect” And “possibly trusted” of such a decision. “I am thinking in particular of Turkey where there is a real difficulty, because Turkish imams in France are directly employees of the Turkish state”she points out.
