For French Muslims There Will be a "Before" and "After" January 7

After the emotion we all felt, it is time for us to ask the right questions and everyone must take responsibility.
Muslims in France are innocent of the crimes committed in the name of their religion. Like every other citizen in this country, they rose in numbers against barbarism and the kidnapping of their faith. Like the other three million people on January 11th, they took to the streets to protest and cry their refusal to submit to terrorism.
History will remember that among the victims there was a Muslim policeman who was executed for defending the very same people who had insulted his religion. Among the "heroes", there also was a Muslim employee of the Kosher Supermarket, who saved no less than fifteen lives from certain death. This act reminds us that seventy years ago, the Grand Mosque of Paris (which was built by the French Government, as a sign of gratefulness for the thousands of people who had fought and died for France during World War I) provided fugitive jews with fake ID’s stating they were muslims in order to protect them from guaranteed deportation to concentration camps. During that same dark period of our contemporary human history, while half of France was collaborating with the Nazis under Maréchal Pétin, King Mohammed the Fifth of Morocco on his side, refused to turn in his Jewish subjects to the Nazis and publicly condemned the Nazi’s policy when they came to visit him.
Black, Arab and Berber Muslims altogether fought for and defended France during World War I, the Indochina War and were all actors of the liberation of France from the Nazi grip in 1945. They then provided France with the hands and sweat it needed to rebuild itself and become a great nation again.
We Muslims of France proudly claim our contribution to the history of our country, even though it remains poorly taught and in many parts ignored by our institutions. So no, Muslims in France are no less patriotic than the rest of the French population.
I now turn to my brothers and sisters in Islam. Do not be afraid and do not feel ashamed. Our religion has been kidnapped and I am writing this letter so that together we take it back and let it play again its role of enlightenment in a materialistic world loosing its humanity. We can no longer afford to look away and let a handful of psychopaths speak and act while perverting the real message of Islam.
The bloody attacks of January 7th and 11th were above all crimes against our beloved Prophet Peace be upon him, a man who is dearer to us than our own parents, a man who never killed or sought revenge against those who oppressed him, even after he returned victorious to his homeland, Mecca.
Perhaps it is time for us to assess where we collectively failed and ask the right questions if we ever want to get the right results. Perhaps it is now the time for us to honestly tell ourselves the truth even it may cause displeasure. We ought it to ourselves and our children because we have all been affected by these tragic events and we are equally responsible for the worsening of our situation.
We can no longer go on as if nothing happened. Refusing to question our organizational model will almost guarantee us new crimes in the name of Islam. There are indeed people whose only dream is to see the world burn, and who will not feel guilty of using our Prophet’s holy name to reach their golas. We cannot afford to let a boulevard wide open for criminals to kidnap our religion again.
If we fail to do our own self-criticism, the wrong people will do it on our behalf and will not shy away from distorting facts, lying and wage a new war of disinformation that will inevitably arouse more hostility, hate and contempt towards us. We will once again be responsible for having left the door wide open for politicians to use Muslims as scapegoats and we will continue to hear illegitimate people speak on our behalf.
Teaching and Education: “Read in the Name of Your Lord”
It is no coincidence that the Quran’s revelation began with the verb “To Read”, “Read in the Name of your Lord.”
Knowledge is the cornerstone of our religion. The practice of Islam -and that’s a secret to no one- is based on the acquisition and execution of knowledge which can only perfect one’s acts of worship. Doesn’t God tell His Messenger Muhammad PBUH: "Get to know me before you worship me"?
In fact, we do have religious training institutes in every major mosque in France. We have several other ones in  major cities and which are most of the time autonomous. We also see flourishing online religious education websites in order to make knowledge based and authentic Islamic education more accessible. A number of these institutions offer a curricula that has been recognized by the highest Islamic authorities in the world and we can only be proud of that.
However, how can we explain the never ending influence of ignorant preachers in our community? Haven’t we had enough of seeing such people (among which many youngsters) “teach” what they do not know and “explain” what they do not understand? Are we effectively living in the times about which Prophet Muhammad PbuH warned us: “(…) people will stand up and preach in lieu of scholars, they will lead people astray and will themselves be misguided.”?
When you get sick and need a surgeon, do you go see a “self educated” person with no track record, or will you just look for the best professional you can afford?
Religious education is paramount to us as believers so why leave it between the wrong hands?
It is our responsibility to promote a structured and standardized Islamic education system so we can succeed in promoting a balanced and sound understanding of Islam in the French context. Outdoing ignorance, the motherlode of extremism begins by a complete questioning  of the religious education system as we know it here. We no longer can afford to leave it unattended and without holding accountable the people in charge.
There are indeed many young French Muslim Imams and Preachers whom have been educated here and whom perfected their knowledge in the best schools abroad, who are real assets to our community and who can best teach Islam in the French context. It is not a question of altering our religion to please anyone but rather to promote a genuine French Islam liberated from foreign cultural biases. Islam in Saudi Arabia does differ from that of Malaysia or Senegal, not because scriptures are different but because historic and cultural backgrounds do affect the way these scriptures are understood.
It is such young graduates that we must sponsor and put on the front line so they can teach with hands on knowledge. The minbars and study circles of our Mosques deserve nothing less.
This overhaul of our religious education system must not only serve to drain the pits of ignorance and extremism, but must also defeat the continuous attempts to teach Muslims about their religion or to define for them who is a "good Muslim” and who isn’t.
Mismanagement of Our Religious Affairs
There are various explanations and excuses for people who do not want to get involved in the community. We abandoned our religious affairs and institutions so they are left between irresponsible hands. This carelessness has made it possible for transparency to be nonexistent, for corruption to reign, for incompetent people to prosper and for opportunistic ones to greatly benefit from all that.
Can we sincerely say that our Mosques here in France are properly managed? Are we sure that Imams who preach in them are selected according to their level of education and experience? Are they fluent in French? Are they familiar with French culture, history, its traditions, customs and habits? Do they have any idea of what the situation of French Muslims is like? Or are they light years away from the real world and are only here to fill a position that no one else wants and -often times- to serve a political agenda that’s diametrically opposed to the interests of Muslims and the Nation?
Can we go on suffering from foreign nationalism and private interests based management of our Mosques? To what extent are we liable for the incompetence of many of our Imams and religious organisations directors?
To the question “who’s put them in place?” Quite often, the answer lies in foreign embassies and consulates as well the offices of local political parties. How can we explain that competent people with a real sense of commitment and service to others are systematically ignored for the benefit of the pathetic characters we see?
Foreign Influence and Interference
The Consulates and Embassies of North African countries, particularly those of Algeria and Morocco have been waging a proxy war of influence through the control of Mosques. Those two countries have exported their bitter rivalry to France and we as French Muslims are paying the cost of it for they have turned our Mosques into foreign policy outlets and propaganda bureaus.
Those Consulates  couldn’t care less about what could possibly happen to the French Muslim Community or what kind of hardships they could go through.The only time we hear from them is when they express their disagreement on when the holy month of Ramadhan should start and end and for decades, Muslims have been torn between either camp. Consulates and Embassies are just doing what they’re supposed to do, i.e to grow their respective countries’ sphere of influence, nothing else.
This foreign interventionism in our local religious affairs is nothing but pure poison. It is no longer about belief in God and service to His creatures but only about the pursuit of political gains. It is not possible to go on with this foreign leash on French Muslims and at the same request from them to act more patriotic than the rest of the people. French Muslims as well as French Authorities ought to get rid of foreign entities from Mosques and Religious Institutions.
Representation
I will avoid mentioning organizations like the CFCM (French Council of the Muslim Faith) that was setup by then Minister of Interior Nicolas Sarkozy, known for his chronic islamophobic rhetoric and who prohibited muslims from electing its president, nor will I speak about the Morocco affiliated FNMF (National Federation of French Muslims) and I will definitely not speak about the Grand Mosque of Paris which Rector is on the Algerian Embassy’s payroll.
Having said that, not a Muslim person here in France feels represented by the people and organizations speaking on our behalf. The overwhelming majority of these “Representatives” are simply decried by the rest of us.
Chaos in the management of our religious associations (with the exception of emerging ones) made it possible for illegitimate Representatives to become visible. This absence of legitimacy and credibility is known by all, Muslims, Non-muslims, politics and government institutions. It is then no surprise that in order for them to keep their positions and privileges, they will act as told. There is a logical explanation to their silence in the face of this “treatment of exception” towards French Muslim Citizens, the exponential rise of islamophobia, institutionalized discrimination and this media war we’ve been suffering from for over twenty years.
A duly elected representative is a strong representative who gets his legitimacy through the backing of his community and their support. He is therefore capable of speaking and acting freely without having to worry about pressure or manipulation.
It is high time to question our organizational model and the process (if there is one) that allows fake representatives to stay in place. It is high time for us to speak for ourselves.
Supporting Emerging Organisations
Our Mosques are full of people and every Friday prayer, worshippers are called upon to make donations. But where does this money go? We have dedicated Islamic organisations that have displayed a perfect track record in serving the community but that have no financial visibility and are chronically ill funded. These organisations lack the funds and the people to properly operate on the long term.
It is these organisations, which some of them are managed like real businesses with innovative business models, that are making a difference. From within them, we are witnessing the rise of potential leaders, whom are capable of speaking in the name of the French Muslim community, free from political influence and whom are bringing added value to the Nation.
We do not lack the means to help ourselves -the sad proof of it is the endemic consumerism affecting our community-. Muslims in France are leaving their ghettos and becoming more and more present in all professional fields. They are in fact becoming relevant.
Many of them have not forgotten to give back to the community but they also need to stop being naive. They need to start developing a result oriented approach with their donations. It is not enough to give and look away just to feel better. We need to support organisations that do deliver quantifiable results and God knows that many of them are desperately looking for their support. As a matter of fact, blind donations are just as useful as pouring a glass of water into the desert.
Getting Out of Isolationism
Do we wish to be an integral and active part of our society or are we just going to give in to the temptation of turning in on ourselves and playing the victimization card? I remain optimistic in answering this question for the rise of new muslim organisations with a sense of social and civic responsibilities is truly reassuring. I myself proudly represent a  young local organisation that is totally dedicated to serve the community, and that managed to mobilise muslim voters during the 2014 municipal elections. Our voice was heard because we had built our credibility with muslims and non muslims alike as devoted servants to them.
Living on the side often times begins by the choice of refusing to get involved. We must therefore fully play our role here at home and take part of debates. Our country needs fresh new perspectives, new ideas, different points of views, innovative approaches and an enriched critical mind. Il is not because one group of people, regardless of their extremism, monopolizes speaking time in the media that others are not ready to listen to what we have to say.
Look at what happened in libraries. Major book retailers ran out of books on Islam and particularly the Quran. When some of our brothers and sisters decided to distribute it freely at train stations, they went back home empty handed, everything was gone. So yes, I am indeed proud of this country and I reject the idea that is genuinely hostile to Islam. People have no idea of what our religion is about so it is on us to answer their legitimate questions.
The self exclusion and victimization card will only push us towards more isolation and confinement. That is not our role and we are not meant to live secluded from society. Even if we strongly disagree with them, ideas can only be fought with better ideas. One idea, as poisonous as it can possibly be, can manage to survive in the face of an atomic bomb, but it cannot survive a better idea upheld by the right people.
I say it again and again, we are are part of this country and of its long history.  We are still unaware of our potential, of our importance and of the good we can do to it. It is on every Muslim person to look at his or her non Muslim neighbor and without being ashamed tell him that despite our different beliefs, we do share the past and the future of this country.
Calling Our To Politicians
The French political scene is surely pitiful and pathetic. We are headed by irresponsible   and egocentric individuals that are so clueless about the real worries of the people, that they spend their time between sterile debates and playing with people’s emotions. Rather than having concrete solutions to the challenges of the 21st century (globalization, mass unemployment, deficit, public finances, environment…), government representatives and officials speak about Islam as a source of problems so they can better hide their incompetence.
When you do care about your country, you first worry about its national cohesion. You don’t go around preaching hatred towards one component of the Nation in order to be elected by another. You don’t plant the seeds of hatred in people’s minds just so you can stay in office. The overwhelming majority of our elected leaders have therefore miserably failed. Dare telling me I am wrong.
Our democracy suffers from endemic low election turnout rates and French Muslims are the undisputed champions. Standing aside from the political arena will only hurt us. People have developed the feeling that anything towards Muslims is permissible and that they can get away with it. Don’t even wonder why. When you don’t vote, you just don’t exist.
The presidential debate of 2012 clearly showed us that the only thing political figures agree about is their shared belief that aggressive secularism must reinforced towards Muslims. The only laws that have been voted with near unanimity are the islamophobic laws banning the wearing of headscarves. In the wake of voting such laws, they even considered putting a ban on high schoolers’ beards…
But the bankruptcy of our political system and the failures of or political leaders cannot be used as an excuse. We cannot let secularism and more specifically the 1905 law that separated the Church from the State, to be kidnapped and turned into a state religion that fights the existence of others, particularly Islam. Separation between religion and politics was not meant to declare war on faith. But in failing to confront our political leaders, we’ve given them free hands to dictate what secularism should be according to them. I do agree with former Editor of the Liberation daily newspaper Laurent Joffrin “secularism is only used to beat down on Muslims”.
I’d like to use an example to show how secularism is being perverted by political decision makers. If the latter did in fact abide by it, why in the world do they keep interfering with the management of Mosques and Islamic Institutions? How many Mosques still receive orders from local political leaders like mayors and MP’s? How many government officials still appoint Muslim representatives instead of letting Muslims choose on their own?
I have a specific example that directly concerns me. We have at our local level in the city of Athis-Mons in the Southern Suburbs of Paris, a Mayor (whose deputy is a known representative of a Moroccan political party) who did not feel an ounce of shame when she told us: “Well, I don’t have a problem with the Mosque being affiliated with the Moroccan consulate, if I can be invited there for free”
How can we keep granting free will to a political system, that, when it comes to Muslims, has no problem acting like in a banana republic? Unscrupulous mayors who still nominate Imams, push aside active local players because they don’t tell them what they want to hear are indeed the real threat to secularism.
One citation from German Poet Bertolt Brecht comes to mind and I would like for the Muslim reader to keep it in mind: “The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in the political events. He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of the bean, of the fish, of the flour, of the rent, of the shoes and of the medicine, all depends on political decisions. The political illiterate is so stupid that he is proud and swells his chest saying that he hates politics. The imbecile doesn’t know that, from his political ignorance is born the prostitute, the abandoned child, and the worst thieves of all, the bad politician, corrupted and flunky of the national and multinational companies.”
Two elections are coming up. The first one will be held in March to elect our Department Counselors and later by the end of 2015 to elect our Regional Representatives. We therefore have two invitations to make our voice heard. The massive Muslim vote has already made a difference as I mentioned it earlier but cases of a massive Muslim voter turnout are still too few. We will succeed in making change happen when we decide to hit strongly during local elections and that is exactly where we can be the most effective.
Conclusion
The French Muslim System is bankrupt. Its institutions have failed  and we all have our share of responsibility.
We have been losing the public opinion battle for decades. A collective reaction is crucial for we have reached the end of the road. We can no longer afford to look away and wait for things to settle down. They won’t. This system will only generate other excesses, other dramas, other cries and even more grief for our community.
Our fellow citizens do not come to this world hating Muslims. It is on us to initiate the dialogue and preach the true message of Islam. Saying that “this is not Islam” that “Islam is peace” requires deeds and actions that millions of other French people are asking to see. It is high time to clean  up our home before others come to do it in our place.
We have reached the moment of truth and it is on us to check our record and correct what must be corrected. Failing to do so, and I am being highly realistic, will only mean to continue having overzealous youngsters whom in thinking they are accomplishing a God given mission, will only bring catastrophe upon catastrophe on our community.
We are the children of this country, of its history, its traditions and its secularism. We were here yesterday, we are here today and we will definitely be here tomorrow. As we were present during France’s historic moments, let’s take our own destiny in hand and write our country’s beautiful pages today and tomorrow.
Yasser L.
General Manager
ABPE
@ABPE91