That the imams are “pure French products is ideal,” comments Tareq Oubrou. Since April 1, “seconded” imams must be employed by the mosque that employs them or an association. This is not a problem, according to him, because while waiting for an employee, “there are many volunteer imams” to lead the prayers.
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“This is an important step”greeted Monday April 1 on franceinfo Tareq Oubrou, grand imam of the Bordeaux mosque, author of What you don’t know about Islam published by Fayard editions. From Monday, “seconded imams” who work in France must change their status and be employees. France no longer wants imans sent by foreign countries and paid by them. “It is very important that the imams who officiate in mosques in France are French resident imams and pure French products. This is the ideal”judge Tareq Oubrou.
If a “detached imam” wants to stay in his mosque, he must now be an employee, either of the place of worship in which he officiates, or of an association. But “the majority of imams are volunteer imams”, recalled the grand imam of the Bordeaux mosque. In a mosque, several imams officiate either for the liturgical function of the five prayers, the Friday sermon or religious teaching. “The employed imam, yes, it is necessary, but it is not sufficient to manage all the activities that take place in a mosque”he clarified.
“If an imam leaves, there are other imams”
According to Tareq Oubrou, this measure will not disrupt mosques in France. “If an imam leaves, there are other imams. There are many volunteer imams. For prayer, any Muslim can lead it, insists the grand imam of the Bordeaux mosque. In Islam, there is no ordination of the imam. He’s not a priest.” he explained.
“Any Muslim who has a little knowledge of his religion, a general culture can lead worship. We can tinker while waiting to find a salaried imam.”
Tareq Oubrou, grand imam of the Bordeaux mosqueat franceinfo
The government’s idea is to reduce the influence of the countries of origin. This measure concerns some 300 imams out of the 2,700 in France. Until now, they came mainly from Turkey (150), Algeria (120) and Morocco (30). “There is an ethnic Islam which is still linked to the country of origin. There is an intervention by the countries of origin for geotheological and geopolitical reasons” observes Tareq Oubrou. “Islam in France must stand out” of “the intervention of countries of origin”.
