The council will meet at least twice a year to issue opinions and counter the fundamentalist discourse. But its too broad composition and lack of prominent theologians, he risks paralysis, according to critics.
Often criticized for its inability to clearly pronounce the name of Islam in France, the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) took an important step Sunday evening by announcing the creation of a “theological council.” According to its proponents, it aims to engage the intellectual reflection to “contextualize” the practice of Islam in French culture. Clearly, it is to produce clean theological sum to Islam of France.
The theological council will meet at least twice a year, not including special sessions on referral. Composed of 22 members (including the imam of Bordeaux Tareq Oubrou, liberal face threatened by Daech), the group aims to provide clear answers to theological questions facing the Muslims of France. “During the debate on the wearing of the full veil, for example, the CFCM had developed a position based on the opinion of its various federations. But a theological council would ease the stance, “says the president of the CFCM, Anwar Kbibech.
Thwart fundamentalist discourse
“The need to create a theological council is imposed by the dramatic events of recent months, but with the proliferation of the Hijab or on alternative menus, “says Anouar Kbibech. Theological Council will speak on three areas: issues related to the practice of the Muslim faith in France, the council’s position on social issues and the prevention of “radicalization”. “So far, each federation or mosque had its own theological council to answer those questions. It was necessary to create a collegial body, which groups all the sensitivities of Islam in France, “Anouar Kbibech.
As such, all the sensitivities of Islam recognized by the CFCM are represented, the Great Mosque of Paris to the Union of Islamic Organisations of France (UOIF) from the Muslim Brotherhood in through literalists pietists from Pakistan. Salafism is excluded. Faced with the rise of radical Islam that appeals particularly young and new converts, the committee aims to develop “an against-speech based on a solid theological arguments in response to the speech conveyed by some and circulating on the social networks, particularly among young people, “according to a statement of the CFCM.
risk of inaction
Although it looks so, the theological council does not want to be identified as a body of the fatwa . “It avoids using that word because it has been distorted over the debates,” said Anwar Kbibech. “For Muslims themselves, it is a reducing term that refers to a specific answer about a particular religious practice.” Nevertheless, the institution should defend a liberal Islam and “contribute to the effort of Reform has always been worn by Muslim scholars, “says the press CFCM. But to want to cover too much in all the tendencies of Islam in France, it may soon be condemned to immobility, according to critics.
“There is a form of misunderstanding between the name of instance, theological council ‘, and the people who compose it “, says Malek Chebel, an anthropologist of religion, psychoanalyst and promoter of an” Islam of Enlightenment. ” “In this council, I see that community activists who work for the Muslim Faith, no big names in theology. I fear that it becomes a kind of Spanish Inn paralyzed by the diversity of opinions, unable to issue clear decisions. “
Instead of a representation by federations and large mosques, Malek Chebel would have rather seen the creation of a council of “five or six members and recognized for their theological work” that would authority and whose opinions would be followed. “Currently, the Muslims of France hear the opinions of Rabat, Algiers, Cairo and Jeddah [Saudi Arabia, Ed], so that their positions on the web or their halal come from abroad. But if the CFCM can not oppose them credible theologian, particularly deconstructing the fundamentalist discourse, the initiative will have no interest. “
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