France’s leading Muslim representative body, the Conseil français du culte musulman (CFCM), has voiced sharp disapproval after the Grande Mosquée de Paris (GMP) unilaterally advanced the start of Ramadan, an unexpected move the CFCM says has undermined years of work to ensure unity, predictability, and independence from foreign states.
In its statement released 21 February 2026, the CFCM reaffirmed that 19 February marked the first day of Ramadan 1447 H, in strict accordance with the astronomical calculation method adopted unanimously in 2013 and refined in 2016 to harmonize scientific criteria with visual observation.
It stressed that the date had been publicly announced on 2 February, following consultations with regional and departmental councils, federations, imams, and organizations including Hilal France.
The goal of this system, the CFCM noted, is to give French Muslims a reliable and consistent framework suited to France’s secular context.
The CFCM said it was “surprised” by the GMP’s decision to declare 18 February as the start of the fast, in clear breach of the common rules designed to shield French Islamic practice from fluctuating foreign decisions.
It warned that such unilateral deviations jeopardize the unity of nearly 1,200 mosques that rely on the CFCM to coordinate religious life across the country.
The controversy comes amid broader concerns over Algeria’s growing political grip on the Grand Mosque of Paris, whose leadership is closely tied to Algerian state networks.
The CFCM appealed for a renewed commitment to the common methodological framework, urging all institutions to prioritize the general interest of Muslims in France over external agendas.
