19.02.2025 00:20
The French Employment Agency has added the profession of imam to the official list of professions. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau emphasized that this step is an important development for the Muslim community, announcing that an official job description for imams has been created.
In France, the position of imam has been recognized as a profession by being added to the list of professions of the French Employment Agency.
IMAMATE BECAME AN OFFICIAL PROFESSION IN FRANCE
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau spoke at the closing of the 2nd session of the French Islamic Forum (FORIF). Retailleau stated that the dialogue between the French state and Muslim religious representatives should be based on the principles of trust and responsibility, emphasizing that "it rejects the distortion of Muslims' faith by extremist ideologies." He noted that the state should not interfere with religious organizations but can provide support, adding that the profession of imam has been included in the official list of professions of the French Employment Agency.
Retailleau expressed that this step is extremely important as the profession of imam is being fully recognized in France for the first time, announcing that an official job description and employment contract have been created for imams. Minister Retailleau mentioned that there were 173 anti-Muslim attacks in the country last year, emphasizing that this number could be higher in reality due to the fact that not all victims filed complaints.
Retailleau stated that they will launch a new complaint platform related to anti-Muslim incidents to combat these crimes, and noted that Muslim religious officials serving in hospitals and the military will now be officially recognized as part of the public service.