Shariah banking should be standardised, FNC says

ABU DHABI // The different Sharia systems followed by Islamic banks in the Emirates have left many customers confused.

And with nearly a fifth of the population doing business at the country's eight Islamic banks - and with services that one bank allows being forbidden at another - some members of the FNC are pressing for a committee to be created to bring standards to the sector.

To their surprise, the members discovered that their idea was not new. The FNC member Ali Al Nuaimi from Ajman found that in 1985, a law was passed, by Cabinet and presidential decree, for such a committee to act as a monitor.

Twenty-seven years later, the law is still waiting to be enacted.

"This has left the end user confused over which standard should be followed and which bank follows Sharia," Mr Al Nuaimi said. "They all do - but there are different services in all of them."

The 1985 law stated that it was the responsibility of the Ministry of Islamic affairs to oversee the committee's work - but shortly after the law's passage, the law foundered as the ministry was turned into the General Authority of Islamic Affairs.

That change, Mr Al Nuaimi said, left the execution and responsibility of the law lost at the federal level, prompting him to start with the Ministry of Finance and ask them who will take the responsibility of the new committee.

The Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Al Tayer, passed the question to the Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry of Justice referred the question to Cabinet, which referred it to the Central Bank, which referred it back to the Ministry of Justice, which referred it back to Cabinet, which verbally told the FNC to pass the question back to Mr Al Tayer.

He, as well as the governor of the Central Bank, Sultan Bin Nasser Al Suwaidi, both attended last week's FNC session.

While Mr Al Tayer continued to state that the new committee was not his ministry's responsibility, Mr Al Suwaidi stressed that the committee was needed.

"We agree, and we see importance for the execution of this law," Mr Al Suwaidi said. "[Especially] in the light of the difference in practice of the banks, and the difference in their customer relations."

He said the Central Bank does not have to monitor bank operations, and another entity is needed to take on this role.

Mr Al Nuaimi cited the constitution to defend his argument that the Central Bank was the one that should be in charge of the new committee.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and FNC Affairs, then said responsibility will be distributed between more than one entity.

"We want this to be established soon," Mr Al Nuaimi stressed again.

Mr Al Tayer said the ministry has formed a committee, headed by the minister of finance, to look over all laws passed in the 1980s and not yet executed. He said that in light of the economic crisis, many laws required follow-up.

Mohamed Al Murr, a Dubai member who is the speaker of the FNC, told Mr Al Tayer that he hoped the ministry would follow through on these laws as "they are important to Emiratis and the financial sector".

But as the debate ended there, the problem was left unresolved.

Mr Al Nuaimi said that at the FNC's next session, on April 17, he will ask the council to vote on raising a recommendation to Cabinet that the Central Bank take ownership and execute the law - "especially since the governor is in support of this committee".

The consequence of a lack of regulation is that many consumers are reluctant to employ Sharia banking.

Bassma Mohamed, a 25-year-old Muslim in Abu Dhabi, has refused to open an account with an Islamic bank.

"I studied banking at UAE University, and the system followed by the Islamic bank is not much different than other commercial banks," she said. "I don't trust that they are Sharia-compliant, seeing that they are all different."

World's first halal baby food means convenience for Muslim mums

DUBAI // The world's first range of halal baby food is about to go on sale across the UAE, offering mothers convenience and a guarantee that all the ingredients have been prepared in accordance with Islamic law.

The VitaMeal Baby range was the first  of its kind when it was launched four years ago by Moroccan company  Agro-Food Industrie, though competitors have now entered the market. The pots of fruit, vegetables, meats and fish have since gone on sale across North Africa as well as in France, Holland and other European countries.

Now the company has signed a deal with Dubai-based distributor El Majd covering the UAE and other Gulf states, and the agreement means that for the first time halal baby food containing meat will be available in the Emirates.

The range is being showcased at the Gulfood show, which opened yesterday and continues at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre until Wednesday.

"The first container of the food is due to arrive in Dubai this week and it will go on sale in supermarkets, including Carrefour and Aswaaq, across the UAE next month," said Agro-Food manager Philippe Charot. "There are about 30 different halal varieties."

El Majd general manager Rachid Ouhammou said: "It's good for mums. You just open it and heat it for five minutes and it's ready. It will cost the same as other baby foods: about Dh10 a pot. There are no pesticides, preservatives or colourants."

The range includes hake with rice and salmon with carrot, while meat and poultry varieties include chicken couscous, beef tagine, veal with green beans and spaghetti bolognaise.

Mr Ouhammou added: "Meat is very important for babies."

Parents visiting the show were divided about the idea of halal baby food, with some welcoming the improved convenience while others said they would prefer to prepare meals for their babies themselves.

Mariam Al Shaikh, a mother of two young children from Saudi Arabia, said she would definitely have used the product if it had been available when her youngsters were little.

Ali Ghadeer, a father from Saudi Arabia, said: "I think it's a good way to market their products; it's convenient."

Other halal foods that are being showcased at Gulfood include Otrimix oats porridge, which manufacturer PomeFresh from Singapore is targeting at those suffering from diabetes and obesity - conditions that are common in the Middle East.

UK firm Kohlico Brands is hoping to sign up a Middle East distributor for its range of halal noodles. Its instant noodles come in six flavours, including chicken, beef, seafood and curry.

Organic halal meat to hit shelves

Caline Malek

It will be available in Carrefour hypermarkets across the country and some independent butchers in Dubai. Organic halal meat has been available only from hotels and restaurants.

OBE Organic, an Australian family business, plans to ship 500 kilograms of the meat each month, starting from the end of March. The company soon hopes to increase that to 1,300kg.

"Consumers in the UAE are learning about the benefits of a new organic lifestyle," said Dalene Wray, the company's regional manager in Asia and daughter of the chairman, David Brook.

"They understand that they have choices and can choose to make organic food a part of their daily diet."

Mr Brook heads a cooperative of Australian farmers with 25,000 head of cattle and more than 7 million hectares of grazing pasture - an area almost as big as the UAE.

The area is in the rich Channel Country, mostly in the north-east state of Queensland but spreading into the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales. The animals are slaughtered in a certified organic abattoir in Brisbane.

OBE's halal certification has been approved by the Government.

"It is important that we provide the opportunity to consumers to have access to our clean, safe, halal organic beef from Australia," said Ms Wray.

The company already exports meat to Kuwait, Egypt, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and North America.

"We will start with Carrefour in Dubai's Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Centre, and Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi," said Dariush Rakhshani, the manager of the meat's local distributor, Country Hill International.

"It will also be sold at some independent butchers' shops in Dubai, such as Prime Gourmet on Sheikh Zayed Road."

Organic food has grown in popularity in the UAE over the past few years.

"Overall, organic is a good way to go," said Stephanie Karl, a nutritionist at the Dubai London Clinic. "It's not always practical or available … organic food is a luxury but a great choice."

USA: Brands Can Win by Tapping Muslim Market

Filed in Branding & Marketing, Opinion, The Americas, USA on 29/03/2012 with 1 comment

Dawn Lyons, Freelance Writer

Muslim consumers are growing faster than any other segment in size and spending power. The world’sMuslim population will increase 35 percent in the next 20 years, rising to 2.2 billion by 2030.

Despite an immense diversity of cultures, governments, and economies, Islam binds Muslims together in their daily lives, including consumption choices. The global halal market is worth $2.1 trillion today and is growing at an annual rate of $500 billion.

Certifying a product as halal signals that it follows Islamic law for production and delivery. Consumers of halal products view them as wholesome, pure, and ethical. Alcohol, pork, and their derivatives are not permitted in halal products. Animals must be slaughtered following Islamic prescriptions, which are similar (but not identical) to kosher rules. The rules apply to products containing any animal-derived ingredients, including clothing, furniture, and cosmetics. Halal rules encompass even pharmaceuticals, financial products, and tourism.

Muslims often buy kosher products, the closest thing they can find to halal. The US kosher market has grown to about $12.5 billion, yet only 25 percent of kosher consumers are observant Jews. Other consumers simply believe kosher food is healthier. Muslims believe halal food may similarly appeal to a broader consumer base. Yet kosher products outnumber halal ones by a whopping 800 to 1, according to Muxlim, a social network for Muslims (which shut down last month after financial losses).

There is also significant overlap between halal consumers and environmentally conscious consumers. Beauty products comprise $500 million of the $2 trillion global halal market. These products are made using plant extracts and minerals and contain no alcohol or pork ingredients. Halal cosmetics also appeal to a global trend for beauty products that are not tested on animals, nor use animal derivatives, as well as booming demand for products based on natural ingredients.

The US Muslim consumer market represents a niche opportunity comparable to the one a decade ago in the Hispanic market, which has grown to $1.4 trillion. The number of Muslims in the United States is projected to more than double over the next two decades, to 6.2 million by 2030, and the purchasing power of American Muslims is about $12 billion annually. Yet few brands and products are targeting US Muslims.

With controversies such as the “Ground Zero mosque,” NATO Quran-burning, and the Arab Spring constantly in the headlines, brands have been hesitant to speak to Muslim consumers or make them a high priority in their marketing strategies. Brands that have taken steps sometimes experienced backlash, as Best Buy did in November 2009, when it wished Muslim customers “Happy Eid” in an ad. Critics threatened to boycott the chain and said the ad should have wished customers “Merry Christmas.” But Best Buy stood by its ad and won the support of Muslim consumers. Sales increased by 13 percent from a year earlier. Since then, Best Buy has included holiday wishes for other faiths in its ads.

More recently, the health food supermarket chain Whole Foods faced criticism, mostly from anti-Muslim bloggers, for a blog-based campaign to promote Saffron Road halal foods during Ramadan. After some initial ambiguity, Whole Foods held firm. As a result, sales increased 300 percent, and Whole Foods acquired a new and loyal segment of customers.

The lesson is that courage pays off. Muslims will show loyalty to brands that support them in the public space. They want brands to reach out to them and show them the same respect as other faiths(pdf). And because Muslim communities all over the world tend to emphasize and trust in relationships, word of mouth and peer influence are extremely important. If brands can see every interaction with the Muslim consumer as an interaction with the Muslim community as a whole, addressing Muslims can pay off in a big way.

Morocco: Halal Exhibition to be held in Meknes

Filed in Halal Integrity, Media & Events, Middle East & Africa, Partner Events, Trade Events on 27/03/2012 

For the first time, Morocco will hold an international Halal food exhibition entirely dedicated to the export market. Halal food producers will be brought together under one roof, with exhibitors from the manufacturing sector, including Halal ingredients right through to the finished products on display. It will be held in the historic city Meknès, in Morocco, 13-15 of September 2012.

The launching of this Halal trade event was motivated by major official decisions made during the Halal labeling conference at the last “France-Maghreb Convention 2011” under the High Patronage of His Majesty The King Mohamed VI.

It was decided an official Halal Label is going to be established in Morocco allowing food industry professionals (both manufacturers and retailers) to provide millions of consumers the reassurance of genuine Halal certified products.

Pioneering countries like Turkey, Malaysia, France or Brunei… will be invited to give feedback on their Halal labeling experience at the conference being held during the exhibition, in order to highlight the necessity of setting up an official Halal label and Halal certification organization.

Moroccan authorities, as well as concerned institutions, will be attending to discuss and debate on the current government directives, and also to share their different experiences regarding Halal issues with all the foreign participants.

The Kingdom of Morocco is today an economic hub which sits at a crossroads between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This event will produce major opportunities for local and foreign companies to meet as business partners in order to develop their export activity, particularly in the Halal food industry.

This strategic position is the reason why the Expo Halal International organization committee designated Morocco as the most appropriate place to launch an international exhibition such as this.

For more information please see: www.expo-halal-international.com

Press contact : Mohamed El ouahdoudi

MCC – 40, boulevard d’Anfa 20 000 CASABLANCA

Téléphone: +212 6 64 78 69 87 mccmrh@gmail.com

بوليف يؤكد أن التمويلات الإسلامية تفرض نفسها كضرورة

هسبريس - و م ع

الثلاثاء 27 مارس 2012 - 18:44

أكد الوزير المنتدب المكلف بالشؤون العامة والحكامة محمد نجيب بوليف٬ أن التمويلات الإسلامية أصبحت تفرض نفسها كضرورة٬ وأن المنتوجات الإسلامية البديلة لا يمكن أن تكون إلا حيوية بالنسبة للاقتصاد المغربي.

وقال السيد بوليف٬ في حديث نشرته يومية "أوجوردوي لوماروك" اليوم الثلاثاء "إذا أردنا أن نجعل من المغرب قطبا اقتصاديا إقليميا٬ ينبغي اعتماد هذه الآليات الجديدة"٬ مؤكدا أن الأمر يتعلق بإحدى محركات التنمية التي ستنعش السوق الاقتصادية الوطنية.

وأضاف أن اعتماد الأنماط الإسلامية للتمويل من شأنه جلب فئة جديدة من المستثمرين٬ مشيرا في هذا الإطار إلى أن مستثمرين كبار في مجال التمويل الإسلامي يرغبون في المساهمة في السوق الاقتصادية الوطنية.

وتساءل "لماذا لا نعطيهم فرصة؟ "٬ معتبرا أنه "يتعين توسيع سلة المنتوجات للمستهلكين والمستثمرين المحتملين لتمكينهم من اختيار ما يناسب انتظاراتهم". وهو الأمر الذي يعتبر برأي الوزير "صلب الديمقراطية".

وذكر السيد بوليف بأنه يجري منذ مدة الإعداد لقانون ينظم التمويل الإسلامي٬ موضحا أنه "كان أمامنا خياران٬ إما تطبيق قانون بنكي إسلامي 100 في المئة أو إدخال بعض التعديلات بشكل تدريجي لتفادي اختلال النظام البنكي الوطني".

وأضاف الوزير أنه "تم اعتماد الخيار الثاني٬ ولذلك تعمل الحكومة بشكل مشترك مع بنك المغرب على تعديل القانون البنكي الحالي قصد التمكن من خلق منتوجات إسلامية بديلة ملائمة لاحتياجات المستهلك المغربي"٬ مضيفا أن "الصيغة النهائية لهذا المشروع ستكون جاهزة خلال السنة الجارية حتى يتسنى تطبيقها ابتداء من سنة 2013".

وفي معرض حديثه عن المنتوجات الرئيسية التي يشملها هذا المشروع ٬ أوضح السيد بوليف أنه بالإضافة إلى المنتجات الموجودة من قبيل "مرابحة" و"مضاربة" و"إيجار" و"مشاركة"٬ سيتم إدراج منتوجات جديدة.

وفي رده على سؤال حول العقبات التي قد تعيق هذا المشروع٬ أبرز الوزير أن "النظام المصرفي المغربي يكتسي طابعا ريعيا. كما أن بعد المخاطر لا يؤخذ بعين الاعتبار".

وخلص إلى القول "سنمضي قدما وبشكل تدريجي إلى أن يستوعب جميع الفاعلين والمواطنين مفهوم المنتوجات البديلة التي تعتبر آليات مالية شفافة"

Spirituality in the kitchen: Wholesome and halal A new generation of Muslims is opting for local, free-range and organic foods to break the Ramadan fast

Spirituality in the kitchen: Wholesome and halal

A new generation of Muslims is opting for local, free-range and organic foods to break the Ramadan fast

july 31, 2011|By Manya A. Brachear, Tribune reporter

Yvonne Maffei spent last week in her kitchen simmering soups and sauces, packing her freezers with fruits, meats and herbs and taking inventory of her cabinets and shelves to make sure she has all she needs during the 30 days of Ramadan.

Though Maffei's preparation may seem counterintuitive for the holy month when Muslims are commanded to fast from dawn to dusk, Maffei, a chef and food blogger, believes the feast should be as sacred as the fast.

"If you feel more aware, you really savor it for the miracle that it is," said Maffei, the Des Plaines chef behind the blog MyHalalKitchen.com.

A new generation of Muslims is focusing on the spiritual side of the kitchen during Ramadan, from the way they clean to what they cook. While traditionally Muslims have tried to break their fasts with cultural comfort foods, some Muslims are making sure their food is not just halal, but organic, free-range and "tayiib" — Arabic for wholesome. They care as much about how the animal was killed as they do about how it was raised.

"We're so focused on the slaughter, we're not focused on the animal's life," Maffei said. "We're saying we have to go a step beyond because this food is sacred."

During the holy month of Ramadan, expected to begin Monday after a sighting of the new moon Sunday night, Muslims are expected to abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours as a sign of patience and piety. The fast also forbids vices such as smoking, profanity and ill temper.

Families rise before dawn to pray and share a light meal called "suhur" in Arabic. They gather again at sundown to break the fast in a meal known as "iftar."

Muslims traditionally break their fast by biting into a date, a simple sugar that the body can break down quickly. After evening prayers, Muslims return to the table for a protein-rich meal. Morning and evening menus are often designed to fuel Muslims for the sacrificial regimen.

That's especially important when Ramadan falls during the steamy month of August, in which the days are long and thirst is strong. While Maffei struggles without her morning coffee and enjoys piquant dishes from her and her husband's Latino and Italian heritage, she will avoid both caffeine and spices and prepare recipes that hydrate.

Last week, she bounced from the sink to the stove to her computer, sanitizing fresh peaches with a white vinegar spray, simmering Sicilian marinara and summer squash and zucchini soup, and posting recipes and cooking tips for others in the same boat. She says that after a day of fasting, soups are easier on the stomach than some other foods. So she keeps several kinds of soup in the freezer and alters them gradually as the month progresses.

She does most of the cooking before Ramadan so she can then concentrate on prayer and reading Scripture.

"Ramadan is a time to put our house in order and purify our soul with acts of worship," Maffei said. "I don't want to be in the kitchen longer than I need to be. I want to be reading the Quran. ... The last thing you want to think about is what I'm going to cook. There's just no energy for that. Plenty of time, but no energy."

Sheikh Kifah Mustapha, imam and associate director of The Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, said the Quran instructs the faithful to eat and drink without waste. The consumption of a wholesome, or tayiib, diet comes from the lifestyle of the Prophet Muhammad 1,400 years ago.

"He was the role model. He was the example of humanity," Mustapha said. "He lived the lifestyle that none of the poor would look up and say, 'Wow, this guy is a king.'" Quite the contrary. He lived a lifestyle that everyone could emulate. He consumed grains and dates that were grown in the city of Medina and meat that was raised locally.

"It was all organic at that time," Mustapha said. "In Islam, people are urged to connect with nature for the preservation of the nature itself and the human body."

But Mustapha said there are challenges to maintaining that lifestyle. Though the Muslim community is encouraged to build relationships with local farmers and vendors, buying "organic" can double or triple the cost of meats and vegetables.

"It can be a faith-based initiative, but in the end everyone faces the reality of how much they can afford," Mustapha said.

There's also the question of availability. Meat that is both raised ethically and slaughtered according to Islamic law can be hard to find.

Qaid Hassan, 30, owns Whole Earth Meats, an online butcher shop that sells grass-fed, cage-free and hormone-free halal meats. He sees an influx of customers during Ramadan, a time of year when Muslims often think beyond bargains and reflect on ways to be more authentic.

"There are many folks who think holistically about the food they eat," said Hassan, who knows and trusts the farmers who raise his animals. Inside a Eureka, Ill., warehouse, he slaughters them himself, with a special prayer and a swift slice of the knife across the throat.

"It can add to the spiritual dimension of the fast," he said. "More people are taking seriously the ethics behind what they're consuming even though they should be consuming less. We think about our relationship with each other and God and we're very intentional about that. If done correctly, there can be a communal transformation."

Maffei agrees that Muslims have to be intentional about their food selection, especially during Ramadan. She and her husband made their annual trek to one of their favorite butcher shops in Naperville last weekend to stock up on halal meat. She gave specific instructions to the man behind the counter.

"Keep the fat! Love the flavor," she told him.

It's not gluttony, she said. It's a way to drive home the purpose of abstaining.

"At the end of the day, the food tastes wonderful and we appreciate the fast," she said. "You have food and feel compassion for those who don't have a choice."

Pure Halal Beauty (PHB) offers a revolutionary alternative to other beauty products with its largest range of natural halal certified beauty products.

Pure Halal Beauty (PHB) offers a revolutionary alternative to other beauty products with its largest range of natural halal certified beauty products. 

Pure Halal Beauty (PHB) offers a revolutionary alternative to other beauty products with its largest range of natural halal certified beauty products. A PHB franchise store will open in the Middle East in 2012, announced owner Rose Brown, 21, when Arab News caught up with her.

Pure Halal Beauty (PHB) offers a revolutionary alternative to other beauty products with its largest range of natural halal certified beauty products. A PHB franchise store will open in the Middle East in 2012, announced owner Rose Brown, 21, when Arab News caught up with her.

How did you come up with the idea of such a concept?

I'm a vegetarian and was shocked by some of the ingredients in beauty product and cosmetics. Animal fat, crushed beetles and pig's placenta are commonly used in many brands. I came across halal certification and found that halal products must meet strict criteria. They don't contain animal ingredients or haram alcohol, and the products were not tested on animals. This fitted perfectly with my philosophy, and I set about formulating my own collection of natural, halal certified products.

How do you plan on revolutionizing the beauty industry through your halal products?

Other beauty products are often full of harsh alcohols and animal ingredients, and even other halal certified products can contain the same potentially harmful chemicals and preservatives used by non-halal companies, such as parabens. There is no reason to use these sorts of ingredients that can damage the skin. I feel strongly about these issues and so my products contain only the purest natural ingredients made from the finest plant and fruit extracts. They offer a truly natural, ethical and affordable alternative to other products available. Therefore my company motto is: “Pure Halal Beauty - Where Beauty & Belief Co-exist.”

What makes halal ingredients better than others?

When you use a lipstick or a moisturizer, up to 60 percent of that product is worked into your skin and can enter the blood stream. If that product contains alcohol, glycerin derived from a pig, or harmful chemicals, such as parabens, they will be absorbed into your body.

There is no reason to use these ingredients; as a result, my products contain none of them. We only use ingredients derived from nature and that nourish and protect the skin. We’ve developed our formulas using natural products that have been used by our ancestors and are universally recognized for their benefits to health and well being. We have combined this knowledge with modern clinical evidence, allowing us to choose the most effective natural ingredients for our products. For example, in our Elixir of Youth Anti-Aging Skincare, we use rosewood, monoi de tahiti and rosehip oil. These are known for their incredible anti-aging properties, helping to combat signs of aging like pigmentation and sagging skin.

What triggered your business mindset?

My store is the first and only store of its kind in the UK, Europe and beyond that sells solely halal certified beauty products. I gained a lot of very positive media attention because of this, and I felt confident that people would be interested in the concept and the products. I think that I’ve always had a belief in myself that I could do a number of different things. It gave me the courage to explore the opportunity I had found.

How has your father, UB40 drummer Jimmy Brown, inspired you?

I'm very close to my father. He's obviously a very creative and intelligent individual who has won awards for his songwriting abilities and has been a producer and drummer with UB40 for over 30 years now. I'm very proud of him and all of his achievements. Over 30 years in the music industry has meant he’s had a crazy life with lots of worldly experiences, so he always has wise words and advice to give me about life, or business or anything I may need to ask him. And most importantly, he’s a great father who always encourages and supports everything that my three sisters and I do.

Who are your best customers? And is your website and online ordering available to all countries?

Our products are of course available to order in all countries, and we already have a fantastic international customer base. We’re ecstatic about this because not only are we getting fantastic feedback and helping a lot of people, but it also allows us to understand where there is most demand for our products. We recently had to launch a new website to cope with the sheer amount of traffic we have been receiving, particularly from international customers. Our new website, www.purehalalbeauty.com, is available to view in over 50 languages and in up to eight different currencies for the convenience of our customers. Be sure to check it out.

Sarkozy nixes halal meat in schools for Muslims

Sarkozy nixes halal meat in schools for Muslims

March 03, 2012|Elaine Ganley, Associated Press

The issue of France’s Muslims moved front and center into the presidential campaign with the incumbent, Nicolas Sarkozy, excluding on Saturday any special indulgences for halal meat or separate swimming hours for Muslim women in public pools.

Echoing his 2007 campaign, Sarkozy insisted that French civilization must prevail in France. He created France’s first Ministry of Immigration and National Identity after being elected, but has since done away with it.

Muslims, and immigration, are constant themes in recent French presidential races, but the topic is rising to the fore with vehemence as the April 22 first-round vote nears — 50 days from now. The final round is May 6.

Critics say Sarkozy is ogling supporters of extreme-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who is third in polls after front-runner Francois Hollande, a Socialist, and the conservative president. Le Pen, who succeeds party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, her father, has worked to erase the image of the party as anti-Semitic — but now castigates what she says is the profile of Islam in France.

There are an estimated 5 million Muslims in France, the largest such population in Western Europe, and the latest generation is making increasing demands that the country accommodate needs set out by their religion or their customs.

“There is no place in the republic for xenophobia, there is no place for racism … There is no place for pools with hours for men and hours for women,’’ Sarkozy told a rally Saturday in Bordeaux.

The team of Hollande, the Socialist candidate, castigated as “sickening’’ a remark Friday by Interior Minister Claude Gueant, who said that giving foreigners the right to vote in local elections would open the way to halal meat in school canteens and burqa-style bathing suits in public pools.

Sarkozy makes “scapegoats, stigmatizes’’ Muslims, said Manuel Valls, communications chief for Hollande’s campaign.

Hollande has proposed allowing all foreigners residing in France legally for five years to have the right to vote in local elections. The Socialist candidate has made it a policy to avoid implicating himself directly in divisive issues, leaving responses to his lieutenants.

At a rally Saturday in Dijon, Hollande simply reiterated that foreigners should be allowed to vote “without fearing for our citizenship or our national cohesion or our freedom.’’

The French president, who declared his candidacy just weeks ago, on Feb. 15, is narrowing the gap with Hollande but, polls show, would lose by a wide margin in second-round balloting.

“There is no taboo subject,’’ Sarkozy said, suggesting that it is not in the nation’s interest to be politically correct about immigration or about what some Muslims seek to conform to their religious beliefs or cultural mores.

He said issues like halal food in schools or special hours so that Muslim women can swim out of view of men are in contradiction with the French principle of secularism.

Such issues “should be considered not as religious facts, but as facts of civilization,’’ he said.

Jerome Sainte-Marie of the CSA polling firm, monitoring the rally with BFM television, said that with Sarkozy’s showing in polls he must work the terrain where he does best.

“Nicolas Sarkozy has no other choice but to turn the tables and transform this election into a referendum on national identity,’’ Sainte-Marie said.

But the spokesman for Le Pen’s campaign, Florian Philippot, counters that “the French are not for one second dupes of the electoral strings (being pulled) by the Sarkozy camp.’’