Halal Certification: Behind the Scenes at the Grand Mosque of Paris

A projected revenue of five million euros for 2024, thanks to a simple logo affixed to yogurts, pastries, and baby foods. This is the price to pay for exporting products from the European Union to Algeria.
With the support of Algerian authorities, the Grand Mosque of Paris has established an exclusive halal certification system. This monopolistic arrangement resembles a mandatory tax imposed on all food products exported from the EU to Algeria. This lucrative activity generated several million euros in 2024. However, French authorities were not informed of this mechanism, which is officially presented as a means to finance Islamic religious activities, while the exact destination of the funds remains unclear. Amid rising diplomatic tensions between Paris and Algiers, this situation raises questions.
Founded in 1926, the Grand Mosque of Paris (GMP) is much more than a place of worship. It is a symbol of Islam in France, a prominent spiritual hub located in the heart of the Latin Quarter, and a key diplomatic player in crises between Paris and Algiers. But since late 2022, the GMP has also become the headquarters of a thriving halal certification business. This initiative, envisioned by its rector, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, gained momentum after a convention signed on December 20, 2022, with Algerian Minister of Commerce Kamel Rezig, under the patronage of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.