Union of Islamic Organisations of France
Encyclopedia
The Union des organisations islamiques de France (UOIF, Union of Islamic Organisations of France) is a prominent Muslim
umbrella organization
, and the French chapter of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe
. Its inclusion by then Interior Ministry Nicolas Sarkozy
into the Conseil Français du Culte Musulman has been criticized by both left-wing and right-wing members.
The UOIF was founded in 1983 in Meurthe-et-Moselle
by two foreign students, Abdallah Ben Mansour (Tunisia
) and Mahmoud Zouheir (Iraq
) as a federation of about 15 organisations; as of 2005, it covers around 200 organisations. As objectives, the UOIF cites "to respond to religious, cultural, educational, social and humanitarian needs of the Muslims of France. Its website states that it "takes part in the individual and collective understanding of the need for a responsible and positive integration". http://www.uoif-online.com/uoif.php. The UOIF owns around 30 mosques and directs around 200 others.
It is the French chapter of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe
, which is partly funded by money from the Gulf States, and whose aim is to promote an Islam adapted to the European context. The UOIE is directed from the United Kingdom
by Ahmed al-Rawi, assisted by the European Council of Research and Fatwa, which studies and edicts "collective fatwa
s to answer questions for Muslims of Europe and solve their problems, in accordance to the rules and aims of the sharia
".
On November 7, 2005, the UOIF issued a rather ineffective fatwa
condemning the ongoing civil unrests
, saying that "it is strictly forbidden for any Muslim [...] to take part in any action that strikes blindly at private or public property or that could threaten the lives of others".
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
umbrella organization
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
, and the French chapter of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe
Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe
The Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe is an umbrella group of member organizations from EU countries. There are ties between the Muslim Brotherhood and FIOE's leadership, central institutions, and member organizations as well as to Saudi Arabia. Funding for the FIOE is derived largely...
. Its inclusion by then Interior Ministry Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
into the Conseil Français du Culte Musulman has been criticized by both left-wing and right-wing members.
The UOIF was founded in 1983 in Meurthe-et-Moselle
Meurthe-et-Moselle
Meurthe-et-Moselle is a department in the Lorraine region of France, named after the Meurthe and Moselle rivers.- History :Meurthe-et-Moselle was created in 1871 at the end of the Franco-Prussian War from the parts of the former departments of Moselle and Meurthe which remained French...
by two foreign students, Abdallah Ben Mansour (Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
) and Mahmoud Zouheir (Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
) as a federation of about 15 organisations; as of 2005, it covers around 200 organisations. As objectives, the UOIF cites "to respond to religious, cultural, educational, social and humanitarian needs of the Muslims of France. Its website states that it "takes part in the individual and collective understanding of the need for a responsible and positive integration". http://www.uoif-online.com/uoif.php. The UOIF owns around 30 mosques and directs around 200 others.
It is the French chapter of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe
Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe
The Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe is an umbrella group of member organizations from EU countries. There are ties between the Muslim Brotherhood and FIOE's leadership, central institutions, and member organizations as well as to Saudi Arabia. Funding for the FIOE is derived largely...
, which is partly funded by money from the Gulf States, and whose aim is to promote an Islam adapted to the European context. The UOIE is directed from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by Ahmed al-Rawi, assisted by the European Council of Research and Fatwa, which studies and edicts "collective fatwa
Fatwa
A fatwā in the Islamic faith is a juristic ruling concerning Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In Sunni Islam any fatwā is non-binding, whereas in Shia Islam it could be considered by an individual as binding, depending on his or her relation to the scholar. The person who issues a fatwā...
s to answer questions for Muslims of Europe and solve their problems, in accordance to the rules and aims of the sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
".
On November 7, 2005, the UOIF issued a rather ineffective fatwa
Fatwa
A fatwā in the Islamic faith is a juristic ruling concerning Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In Sunni Islam any fatwā is non-binding, whereas in Shia Islam it could be considered by an individual as binding, depending on his or her relation to the scholar. The person who issues a fatwā...
condemning the ongoing civil unrests
2005 civil unrest in France
The 2005 civil unrest in France of October and November was a series of riots by mostly Muslim North African youths in Paris and other French cities, involving mainly the burning of cars and public buildings at night starting on 27 October 2005 in Clichy-sous-Bois...
, saying that "it is strictly forbidden for any Muslim [...] to take part in any action that strikes blindly at private or public property or that could threaten the lives of others".