French Interior Minister Prepares to Revitalize Forum on Islam

Bruno Retailleau meets Muslim leaders ahead of February 18 Forum session to address stalled progress and key issues in French Islam representation.

The Forum de l’Islam de France (Forif), established in 2022 to replace the defunct French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), has struggled to produce tangible results since its inception.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau held an informal meeting with Muslim leaders on February 4 to prepare for the next Forif session scheduled for February 18.
Key topics for the upcoming session include the creation of a formal status for imams, improved training and recruitment processes, and enhanced security for Muslim places of worship.
The Forif was intended to address local and national challenges in French Islam, but its decentralized structure has hindered collective progress and concrete outcomes.
Retailleau has emphasized combating political Islam and ensuring the cohesion of national principles, continuing policies introduced by his predecessor Gérald Darmanin.