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A French Islam is possible REPORT SEPTEMBER 2016 About the Institut Montaigne A non-profit organisation based in Paris, the Institut Montaigne is a pioneering independent think tank established in 2000, which aims to play a key role in the democratic debate. It is a platform for reflections, proposals and experimentations dedicated to public policy in France. It elaborates concrete proposals for the improvement of social cohesion, competitiveness and public finances. Aimed at public authorities, its work is the product of a method of research open to cross-country comparisons and rigorous data analyses. The Institut Montaigne brings together business leaders, government officials, academics and leading figures from wide-ranging horizons to promote all of its actions (proposals, public policy evaluations, participation of citizens, experimentations) by publishing reports and organising high level events. Its activity is supported by over 100 companies of different sizes in different industries. Its funding is based exclusively on private contributions, none of which exceed 2% of its annual budget (circa 3.5 million euros). A FRENCH ISLAM IS POSSIBLE There is no desire more natural than the desire for knowledge 2 A FRENCH ISLAM IS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE AUTHOR An Ecole Normale graduate and with an agrégation in geography, Hakim El Karoui taught at the Lyon II University before joining the cabinet of the Prime Minister in 2002 as speech writer. After serving within the Ministry of Finance, in 2006 he integrated the Rothschild bank, where he led the Africa Practice together with Lionel Zinsou. In 2011, he joined the strategy consulting firm Roland Berger, where he was joint head of the Africa and French Government advisory sectors. In 2016, he founded his own strategy consulting firm, Volentia. Hakim El Karoui is also a writer (Flammarion has published three of his books on economics and geopolitics) and social entrepreneur (he created the Club du XXIème siècle - The 21st Century Club, the Young Mediterranean Leaders, and, together with Bariza Khiari, penned the "appel des 41" column on 31 July 2016 in the Jounal Du Dimanche newspaper). The data gathered for this new study were analysed for this report by Antoine Jardin, Doctor of Political Science and Researcher at the CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research). 3 A FRENCH ISLAM IS POSSIBLE A French Islam is possible 4 A FRENCH ISLAM IS POSSIBLE CONTENTS Foreword by Hakim El Karoui ........................................................................................................................... 7 1. A portrait of the Muslims living in France ................................................................................................. 9 1.1. Survey methodology ....................................................................................................................... 12 1.2. The socio-demographics of Muslims in France ............................................................................... 12 1.2.1. Demographics ...................................................................................................................... 13 1.2.2. Nationality............................................................................................................................ 14 1.3. A typology of Muslims according to their religiosity ....................................................................... 17 1.4. How is Islam practised? .................................................................................................................. 22 1.4.1. Halal and dietary standards ................................................................................................. 22 1.4.2. Why wear a headscarf? ........................................................................................................ 23 1.4.3. Which religious authorities? ................................................................................................ 25 1.4.4. What rate of mosque attendance? ...................................................................................... 25 1.5. Their attitudes towards France, its institutions and society ........................................................... 26 1.5.1. Attachment .......................................................................................................................... 26 1.5.2. Mistrust and dissatisfaction ................................................................................................. 27 1.5.4. Political opinions on French society ..................................................................................... 28 1.5.5. Attitudes towards politics .................................................................................................... 29 2. French Islam: a top-down organisation .................................................................................................. 32 a. Consular Islam ............................................................................................................................... 32 ii. Foreign States producing austere ideologies ......................................................................... 43 iii. Origins and organisation ................................................................................................ 45 iv. An actor of French Islam ................................................................................................ 47 v. Recognition and institutionalisation: a diminished or neutralised UOIF? .............................. 48 b. Salafist Islam: an expanding ideology with no overarching organisation ....................................... 51 i. A contemporary fundamentalism .......................................................................................... 51 ii. Target audiences.................................................................................................................... 52 iii. Differences between Muslim Brotherhood fundamentalists and Salafists .................... 53 c. The State's attempt to organise a French Islam ............................................................................. 56 i. Pierre Joxe and the creation of the Advisory Council on Islam in France ............................... 56 ii. The Pasqua approach or the Algerian choice ......................................................................... 57 iii. Jean-Louis Debré and the laissez-faire approach ........................................................... 58 iv. Jean-Pierre Chevènement: from the Istichâra to the foundations of the CFCM ............ 58 v. Nicolas Sarkozy and the birth of the CFCM ............................................................................ 60 vi. The CFCM's current situation and future prospects ...................................................... 61 vii. Relations between Islam and the French Republic: methods and men ......................... 62 viii. Relations between the State and Islam in Europe: perfecting institutionalisation ........ 64 3. "Bottom-up" Islam .................................................................................................................................. 68 a. Everyday Islam ............................................................................................................................... 68 i. Everyday Islam in France: the pyramid and the rhizome ....................................................... 68 ii. The importance and role of mosques .................................................................................... 69 iii. The role and importance of imams ................................................................................ 71 b. Islam online: a globally connected Islam ....................................................................................... 75 5 A FRENCH ISLAM IS POSSIBLE 4. Initial recommendations ........................................................................................................................ 79 a. Proposals ....................................................................................................................................... 79 i. Successfully building two major institutions: the Foundation for Islam in France and the Muslim Association for a French Islam .......................................................................................... 79 ii. A Grand Imam of France to promote a Muslim doctrine compatible with French values ..... 82 iii. Extending the concordat in the Alsace-Moselle region to Islam .................................... 83 iv. Promoting the teaching of Arabic .................................................................................. 89 v. Training chaplains and giving them a professional status ...................................................... 92 vi. Facilitating the daily management of Islam ................................................................... 93 vii. Appointing a Secretary of State in charge of secularism and religious affairs reporting to the Prime Minister ......................................................................................................................... 99 viii. Developing an understanding of Islam ......................................................................... 100 ix. A further option (studied but not recommended in this report): updating the 1905 law in order to include new religions ................................................................................................. 101
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