France tries to gain control over the training of imams. A most interesting experiment. Do they have the will to follow it through and make it work, by ensuring that the jihad ideology is not taught and that imposition of Sharia is not encouraged? "Muslim finance law agreed," from French-News.com, with thanks to dwntmpo:
After months of hesitation and negotiation, the Minister of the Interior Dominique de Villepin has announced the formation of a foundation to finance the activities of the Muslim religion. The agreement was signed by the four main tendencies, those associated with Algeria, the Frères Musulmans, the Comité de coordination des Musulmans Turcs de France. When the conseil d’état has given its blessing the foundation will come into being. It will then be possible to finance courses for the training of Immams in France. At the moment one third of those in France do not speak French. It will also be able to help finance the building of mosques. A government commissioner will sit with the foundation to monitor the projects to be financed. The aim of the government is to integrate the Muslim religion in France and to end secret financing from dubious foreign souirces.
Isn't France supposed to be a highly secular state? Remember all the fuss about Muslim dress is France's public schools? I would have thought that France is the last place where government funding for religious institutions and causes would be permitted.
This is unbelievable. Islam is effectively a mainstream state religion now. Amazing. France, what has become of you?
Adieu, sanity of France.
FIN, land of liberty, equality, fraternity.
The U.S. CIA tried paying Mafia assassins to kill Castro in the 1960's...
Castro's still around.
So is the Mafia.
Good plan.
France to train imams in 'French Islam'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1201448,00.html
The story from a year ago..
The French interior minister, Dominique de Villepin, said yesterday that the country must urgently begin training Muslim clerics in a moderate Islam that respects human rights and the republican code.
But he said France had to "face the issue of training imams. I ask you to help the Muslim faith get organised better and more quickly so that a real 'French Islam' can emerge."
at least urgent isn't like.. urgent..
I think if they could somehow guarantee that ONLY these french trained imams would be allowed to work as religious leaders in french mosques, this plan could work.
I would take it even a step further. Use the agency to actively recruit ultra-moderate, bordering on agnostic, muslims to train as imams. Semi-religious people aren't usually the prime candidates for religious leadership, so the agency would need to actively get involved and sell them on the idea (community prestige, chance to 'make a difference' etc). Hell, even send undercover agents posing as student imams that always argue for the most liberal interpretation possible of every problematic sura, that strictly limit the 'authentic' hadith, and put forward a strong humanistic agenda to Islamic leadership. Of course, the more conservative clerics would strenuously object, but there could some system used to weed them out along the way; the only thing is you can't be too direct or obvious about it, because they'll cry foul and rile up the Islamic community. But over time, this could really get results.
But the key thing is to strictly ban foreign imams. And mosques would have to be monitored too, and any signs of extremism, that imam should be banned. If the 'peace loving' Muslims have a problem with this, that would really show their true colors.
"a foundation to finance the activities of the Muslim religion."
Madness. The desperate act of people in the ruling elite who cannot figure out what to do, who cannot allow themelves to recognize their own responsiblity in the matter, who cannot begin to comprehend what they will have to do if they wish to preserve the legacy of France, a legacy they have, with such criminal negligence, so badly and dangerously mishandled.
This is all too late. Muslims are going to take this money and do what they like with it. Besides they will have state snaction, which no religion in France has.
Trust Dominique-Chirac to come up with this bit of sheer insanity/nonsense.