French exam, religious curriculum… What is the status of imam of France, announced by Gérald Darmanin?

“Fight against the idea that Islam is a religion of foreigners for foreigners and financed by foreigners.” This is why Gérald Darmanin, on the occasion of the second session of the Forum for Islam in France, indicated that he wanted to create the status of imam of France. An announcement which comes a few days after the expulsion to Tunisia of Mahjoub Mahjoubi, imam of Bagnols-sur-Cèze, guilty of anti-French preaching.

Concretely, imams will now have to meet religious curriculum requirements. “There are 34 diploma courses today. We are going to develop them with the Institute of Islamology and the Chair of Islamology desired by the President of the Republic and created in France”, indicates Gérald Darmanin who also mentions, an “examination of French and the values ​​of the Republic, the history of the Republic and compatibility with the laws of the Republic”.

Imams will have to speak French

So many conditions from which imams were exempt until now, unlike priests, pastors or rabbis. For Gérald Darmanin, 60% of Muslims in France were born on national territory and imams must therefore be subject to the same rules as other religions. The Minister of the Interior also announced that he would authorize foreign imams to preach in France, provided that they are employed by a place of worship and not by a federation.

These imams from abroad will also have to speak French to facilitate their integration into society. This status will therefore replace the system of seconded imams, that is to say sent by other countries. A status which has been abolished in France since January 1. This new framework is due to come into force within the next six months.