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French President Emmanuel Macron
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After the recent attacks in Nice and near Paris, France is to receive a council of imams on the initiative of President Emmanuel Macron.
Muslim representatives at a meeting with Macron on Wednesday evening promised to set up such a body, the head of state's office announced.
It is supposed to supervise the training of French imams.
With this, Macron wants to counteract Islamist tendencies.
At the meeting with representatives of the Islamic Council, Conseil français du culte musulman (CFCM) and nine affiliated associations, Macron also demanded the adoption of a “Charter of Republican Values” within two weeks.
This should make it clear that Islam in France is a religion and not a political movement.
"Anti-coup regulation" against foreign imams in progress
In addition, according to Macron's will, the influence of countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia on religious teaching in France should be reduced.
These countries as well as Maghreb states such as Tunisia and Morocco send - similar to Germany - their own imams to France and transfer millions of sums to the communities every year.
Macron had already announced the so-called anti-coup regulation in October.
After the Islamist-motivated murder of the teacher Samuel Paty, a mosque north of Paris was closed, which is said to have incited hatred.
After the teacher's murder, there should also be a law that protects educators better from calls for violence.
Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti said in advance that the motto of the law was: "Hands off my teacher, hands off the values of the republic."
With the new measures, Macron wants to tighten the crackdown on Islamists.
The government plans to get the law off the ground on December 9th.
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mrc / AFP