Les conditions d’exercice de l’activité d’imams étrangers en France

In 2020, Emmanuel Macron announced his intention to combat Islamic separatism. Among other things, this meant ‘freeing Islam in France from foreign influences’ and putting an end to the system of ‘seconded imams’ : foreign imams paid directly by their country of origin to work in France. Since 1 January 2024, the system of seconded foreign imams has been in force.

Foreign imams wishing to work in France will have to pass an examination in French to ensure that they speak the language correctly, take a training course leading to a qualification in secularism, and obtain a work permit for ‘socio-cultural intervention’ and the status of ‘leader of social activities and local life’ (because the status of imam is not legally recognised in France). They will also need to have a professional residence permit, for which they will need an employment contract attached to a religious association.
These requirements will be supplemented by rigorous monitoring of the activities of these imams by the Bureau central des cultes, which will ensure compliance with the conditions laid down. In the event of non-compliance, the Ministry of the Interior reserves the right to intervene. The residence permits of these imams will be subject to a ‘positive report on their behaviour’. The government’s aim is to tighten control over preaching and ensure ‘greater conformity with republican values’.
These conditions were laid down by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin in a letter to prefects dated 29 April. Around 300 imams from Algeria, Morocco and Turkey are affected by these new measures. This measure is accompanied by extended social protection : imams will be entitled to unemployment benefits and pensions.

See :
– Islam : pourquoi Gérald Darmanin veut un "statut de l’imam en France" dès la rentrée (francetvinfo.fr), February 2024.
– Contrat de travail, langue française... Darmanin fixe les conditions pour les imams étrangers qui veulent exercer en France (lefigaro.fr), May 2024.
– Gérald Darmanin annonce la création d’un "statut d’imam de France", qu’est-ce que cela signifie ? (huffingtonpost.fr), February 2024.