As the second season of urban riots is in full swing, what do Muslim institutions have to say about it? Some will insist that this is not the subject. No doubt, but you have to be dishonest not to see that, among the rioters and their supporters, references to Islam are very present. On social networks, expressions of sympathy for Nahel Merzouk are full of religious references. There is also the phrase "Allah y rahmo", which means that Allah gives him mercy, a phrase that appeared in particular on the banners of the support march. The news site Musulmans en France does not hesitate to see in "state racism" and "Islamophobia" the cause of the riots.

In these conditions, how do Muslim institutions position themselves? Since the scheduled end of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), announced by Emmanuel Macron last February, the Grand Mosque of Paris (GMP) led by Chems-Eddine Hafiz intends to regain its rightful place, considering itself the sole legitimate representative of Islam in France. The recent confrontation with Michel Houellebecq demonstrated this.

A visit to the GMP website is instructive. On the home page, three pieces of information are displayed: “Exchanges with Edwy Plenel”, “The Auch mosque tagged” and “Celebration of the 61^rd anniversary of Algeria's independence". Just below, in the Events section, information on "Summer camps in Algeria: summer 2023".

By opening the News section, in addition to the three aforementioned articles and the dates of the Islamic holidays, we read the following press releases:

– “50 young people sent to Algeria by the Grand Mosque of Paris for the 2023 Pan-Arab Games” (July 5);

– “The rector receives former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin” (July 4);

– “Solidarity distribution at the Great Mosque of Paris” (July 3);

– “First ‘Day with the Converts’ yesterday afternoon” (1^er July) ;

– “Press release – Death of young Nahel: appeasement for truth and justice” (June 29);

– “The rector met the president of the Algerian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry” (June 27);

– “Meeting between the supervisors of our next holiday camps in Algeria” (June 24);

– “Working meeting to finalize preparations for our summer camps in Algeria” (June 22);

– “Sciences Po’s Emouna training at the Grand Mosque of Paris” (June 19);

– “Contact details of our service for Halal certification of products exported to Algeria” (June 16)

– “Exchange with Aymeric Caron” (June 15).

This sample gives an interesting overview of the messages that the GMP intends to send. There are very clear signs of subservience to Algeria, an objective of legitimation as a religious authority (halal certification) and charitable institution (solidarity distributions), as well as a strategy of legitimation via higher education (Sciences po) and contacts with various political figures from the left (Edwy Plenel, Aymeric Caron) and the center (Jean-Pierre Raffarin).

The urban riots are not forgotten, but the press release of June 29 seems very anecdotal and very general.

« While incomprehension, pain and anger are legitimate following such a tragedy, the Grand Mosque of Paris calls on young people in particular not to react with violence. It invites them to make their voices heard and to mobilize peacefully so that Nahel's memory is respected and justice is served (…). IIt is the role of a religious institution and of men of faith to show that appeasement is the only possible and constructive path to access truth and justice. ».

There is nothing to say on the surface, except that this press release contains no frank condemnation of the violence, nor any call to reject any link with Islam or to disavow Muslims who commit atrocities.

It is no doubt a coincidence that this press release was published on the same day as that of the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which indicates having “ learned with shock and dismay of the sudden and tragic disappearance of young Nahel and the particularly disturbing and worrying circumstances in which it occurred "The Algerian authorities specify: trust " to the French government for " fully assume its duty of protection, concerned about the peace and security that our citizens must enjoy in their host country ", adding that they follow with " very great attention " this " tragic affair, with the constant concern to be alongside the members of his national community in times of adversity and trial ».

Clearly, the Algerian authorities have not yet understood Emmanuel Macron's goal of cutting ties between French Muslims and foreign countries. One also wonders whether the Algerian government listened to the Minister of the Interior when he explained that 90% of the rioters are French.  

There is still work to be done.