İlahiyat Akademi

Abstract

France is one of the European countries with the highest proportion of Muslims in its population, with an estimated 5 million Muslims residing in the country. For many years, imams appointed from their countries of origin have served in mosques and religious institutions where Muslim communities in France perform their religious duties. However, new regulations that came into effect in 2024 have led to significant changes in the training and appointment processes of imams. France's understanding of secularism, which is based on the 1905 Secularism Law but is open to different interpretations, has begun to be discussed in the context of Islam, especially since the 1980s. France's colonial past, especially Algeria's struggle for independence, has shaped the perception of Islam in the country and has been influential in determining policies towards the Muslim community. Due to this influence, the fact that imams from countries such as Türkiye, Morocco and Algeria have been working in mosques in France for a long time has been considered as a foreign influence element by the French government. Consequently, as of 2024, these imams are banned from entering the country and working. These regulations made it mandatory to employ imams who received their religious education in France, spoke French, and were directly financed by mosque associations. However, this new regulation has introduced various challenges for the Muslim community in France. Firstly, the inadequacy of the financial resources of religious associations made it difficult to employ imams. As these associations do not receive state support due to the principle of secularism, they rely on donations and membership fees to sustain themselves. Secondly, the inadequacy of the number of imams in France who meet the criteria set by the state, who speak French and have a good religious education, and have sufficient religious knowledge, has further deepened the gap in this area. This study primarily examines the transformation of imam training in France in the context of secularism, security, and social debates, analyzing the increasing state intervention in imam employment. The study will also examine alternative models developed by the Muslim community in France regarding imam training and analyze the imam training processes. The research is based on a qualitative methodology, specifically a literature review, analyzing academic studies, newspaper articles, official documents, and political papers. The data obtained have been evaluated through descriptive analysis, addressing the transformation of France’s imam training policies in light of existing legal regulations and social implications. The aim of the research is to examine the ongoing imam training crisis in European countries, specifically in France, and to evaluate state interventions and the reactions of the Muslim community to this situation, and to examine the imam training projects initiated by France under the conditions it desired, in order to solve the problem. The importance of this study is that it contributes to the determination of new dynamics in terms of the future of the imam profession in France and the continuation of the religious life of the Muslim community, and that it creates resources for studies to be carried out in the field of religious education. In conclusion, it has been determined that the profession of imam in France faces fundamental challenges such as a lack of professionalization, low salaries, and a shortage of trained imams. In this context, the French state needs a long-term education strategy to train imams who comply with the criteria of secularism, citizenship, and language, but also have sufficient religious knowledge. This study provides important clues about how the imam education policies in France will shape in the future.