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On Saturday, February 21, 2026, the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) issued a statement to address the recent controversy surrounding the start of Ramadan. The council clarified that February 19 marked the beginning of Ramadan 1447 AH, based on the astronomical calculation method unanimously adopted by its members in 2013.
The CFCM explained that this date had been announced as early as February 2, following consultations with affiliated regional and departmental councils, as well as several federations and imams. Other organizations, such as Hilal France, also recognized February 19 as the official start date.
However, the decision made on February 17 during the "night of doubt" event at the Great Mosque of Paris, which set the start of the fast for February 18, caught the CFCM off guard. The council argues that this decision, influenced by Saudi Arabia's announcement, deviates from the criteria established in 2013 and updated in 2016 to align astronomical calculations with visual observations.
The CFCM stressed that adopting the calculation method was intended to eliminate inconsistent decisions influenced by foreign entities and to allow French Muslims to organize their spiritual lives within a secular framework.
As the body elected by nearly 1,200 mosques and the only one with a broad and diverse territorial presence, the CFCM expressed regret over the unilateral challenge to common rules by the Great Mosque of Paris. It called for preserving unity and the collective interest of Muslims in France, while extending wishes for a blessed Ramadan to all the faithful.
