The French Council of the Muslim Faith (Conseil français du culte musulman, CFCM)

Established on May 28, 2003, the French Council of the Muslim Faith is a national elected body which serves as an official interlocutor with the French state in the regulation of Muslim religious activities.

While CFCM has no special legal standing, it is the de facto representative of the French Muslims before the national government. Nicolas Sarkozy, the then Minister of the Interior, supported the creation of CFCM.

EMF (Etudiants Musulmans en France)

Formed in 1989, the Paris-based EMF is an association made by students for students.

The association aims to promote an inter-faith and inter-cultural approach to the challenges experienced by students, make an effort to fight for comprehensive advancement of students-academic, social, and personal, and encourage the university setting as hospitable grounds for open dialogue and discussion.

Federation of the French Muslims (Fédération des musulmans de France) FNMF

Composed of a predominantly Moroccan constituency, FNMF was established in 1985 by a group that broke off from the Paris Mosque and other representatives from the Muslim community.

Meanwhile, the federation depends currently on funding from member contributions.

Mosques

France has more than 2300 mosques, according to Dalil Boubakeur, president of the French Muslim Council (CFCM).

Grand Mosque of Paris (Grande Mosquée de Paris)

Founded in 1926 as a token of gratitude for Muslim soldiers after WWI, the mosque is widely known as The Paris Mosque or The Great Mosque of Paris.

Located in Paris, the Grand Mosque of Paris is one of the largest Muslim worship places in the country.

Having a 33-meter minaret, the mosque followa the mudéjar style.

Great Mosque of Lyon (Grande mosquée de Lyon)

Officially inaugurated on September 1994, the Great Mosque of Lyon is France’s sixth largest mosque.

Historically, the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries funded the mosque. The Mosque includes cultural facilities, a library, and a school.

In addition, the mosque has an association of halal certification called ARGML, the country’s most reliable association of halal certification.

Grand Mosque of Évry (Grande Mosquée d’Évry)

Built in the 1980s, the Grand Mosque of `Evry has a cultural center associated with its building. Located in `Evry, Paris, the mosque opened ten years after its construction in 1995.

Al Fath Mosque

Located in Hem, the mosque was built in 1984. A six-member board governs Al Fath mosque, including six members who work to reflect the true face of Islam.

Mosquée Sounna de Besanço

Built at the end of the 1990s, it also has the name the Sunna mosque. The mosque, which is located in the Saint-Claude area, has a minaret.

This article is from our archive, originally published on an earlier date, and highlighted now for its importance

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