Macron launches crackdown on 'Islamist separatism' in Muslim communities

By Michel Rose

 

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech to present his strategy to fight separatism, in Les Mureaux, near Paris, France October 2, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS

 

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Friday to fight "Islamist separatism", which he said was threatening to take control in some Muslim communities around France.

 

France has struggled with homegrown Islamist militancy for years, but Macron's government is increasingly worried by broader signs of radicalisation - often non-violent - within Muslim communities, French officials say.

 

They cite the refusal of some Muslim men to shake women's hands, swimming pools that impose alternate time slots for men and women, girls of as young as four being told to wear full-face veils, and a proliferation of 'madrassa' religious schools.

 

Macron said a bill tackling Islamist separatism would be sent to parliament early next year. Under the new law, home-schooling would be severely restricted to avoid children being "indoctrinated" in unregistered schools that deviate from the national curriculum, he said.

 

"What we need to fight is Islamist separatism," Macron said during a visit to the impoverished Paris suburb of Les Mureaux. "The problem is an ideology which claims its own laws should be superior to those of the Republic."

 

Among other measures, the teaching of Arabic in France would be encouraged and an Institute of Islamology created, Macron said. But foreign imams would no longer be able to train clerics in France.

 

Prefects - local representatives of the central government - would be given powers to annul decisions by mayors to restrict school cafeterias or swimming pools to women or men only.

 

CHOICE OF WORDS

 

Muslims of France association president Amar Lasfar told Reuters that he was not sure that a new law was necessary, as applying existing laws could reach the same result. He also took issue with Macron's choice of words.

 

"It is a speech that tries to point at a danger, and I do not quite agree. In 'Islamism' there is the word 'Islam' and I think he could have talked about extremism or radicalisation. One cannot stigmatise all Muslims," he said.

 

More than 250 people have been killed on French soil over the past five years in attacks by Islamist militants or individuals inspired by jihadist groups.

 

Less than two years before the next presidential campaign, Macron is keen not to leave himself open to attacks from far right and traditional conservative parties, who take a hard line on crime and immigration and who want a stricter application of French laws on secularism.

 

France follows a strict form of secularism, known as "laicité", which is designed to separate religion and public life. The principle was enshrined in law in 1905 after anti-clerical struggles with the Catholic Church.

 

In recent decades, the growing desire among French Muslims to express their religious identity has shifted the focus of balancing religious and secular needs onto Islam.

 

Many French Muslims, though, have long complained of discrimination and marginalisation that have contributed to poverty and social alienation within their communities.

 

At the heart of the matter is the question of what it means to be French in a country with Europe's largest Muslim minority - numbering around 5 million or 7-8% of the population.

 

Macron said Islam and radical Islamism should not be conflated and that he wanted an "enlightened Islam" in France.

 

(Reporting by Michel Rose; Additional reporting by Elizabeth Pineau; Editing by Richard Lough, Geert De Clercq and Alex Richardson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-03

 

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An inflammatory and unsubstantiated post has been removed along with reply.

 

unable to  comment as it wont be  liked

should of done this over 15 years ago. 

Better late than never.

The consequences of Empire.

1 hour ago, bodga said:

unable to  comment as it wont be  liked

Indeed, touchy subject...

And yet Europe lets more in..........

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

France has struggled with homegrown Islamist militancy for years, but Macron's government is increasingly worried by broader signs of radicalisation - often non-violent - within Muslim communities, French officials say.

Not only in France, this is a familiar concern wherever muslim communities settle inside none muslim countries, they don't play well with others - Fact !!!  

Edited October 3, 20205 yr by Geoffggi

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The problem is an ideology which claims its own laws should be superior to those of the Republic."

seems to be a common theme world wide

He will have a job on his hands and it should be done in the UK, the reason for it is the faith they follow, the Quran instructs them to keep away from unbelievers, one of many quotes:

 

Quran (5:51) - "O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people."

Edited October 3, 20205 yr by Orton Rd

2 hours ago, mr mr said:

should of done this over 15 years ago. 

Component of the OP program was first announced 02/20. I credit Macron with a focussed and credible effort to minimise Islamist teachings within France, although obviously threat by online means still exists, but virtually impossible to block all online Islamist content from overseas.

 

https://www.dw.com/en/france-to-curb-foreign-imams-to-counter-islamic-extremism/a-52425779

 

Other efforts have been underway for quite a while. Back in 2015 40 Islamist Imams were deported, don't know how many since.

 

https://www.thelocal.fr/20150629/france-40-imams-deported-for-preaching-hatred

16 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

He will have a job on his hands and it should be done in the UK, the reason for it is the faith they follow, the Quran instructs them to keep away from unbelievers, one of many quotes:

 

Quran (5:51) - "O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people."

You should research what the bible says in support of slavery and antisemiticisn. It's all part of the same sh*t.

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Indeed, touchy subject...

Not if you can substantiate your on topic claim/s from credible sources.

3 minutes ago, Card said:

You should research what the bible says in support of slavery and antisemiticisn. It's all part of the same sh*t.

No it's not

A post without proper attribution to a source has been removed.  

 

 

My question is whether Macron will act on his words.    If he does, that will be something but unfortunately, it's still too late!

1 hour ago, simple1 said:

Not if you can substantiate your on topic claim/s from credible sources.

Some here will beg to differ and think otherwise.. and in Trink's words: Nuff said...

3 hours ago, mr mr said:

should of done this over 15 years ago. 

Too little too late 

Just a by-product of the failed idea of multi-culturism.

Voluntary assimilation is the only way.

18 hours ago, bodga said:

unable to  comment as it wont be  liked

 

Could be worse. It's still ok to bash Christians and Buddhists. Doesn't seem to faze them much. Mind you they haven't got 72 Houris to look forward to so not so much to lose.

I respect his attempt to stop the isolation of these communities, but my suspicion is that it will be futile. All evidence I've seen from western Europe shows many of these communities( in particular the most religious) do not want to become part of the nations they inhabit, because they view them as immoral, and dirty rewards Islam. Again; good attempt. I have never seen any other French President make an attempt like this, but ultimately different action going to have to be taken with these communities.

18 minutes ago, Aspaltso said:

I respect his attempt to stop the isolation of these communities, but my suspicion is that it will be futile. All evidence I've seen from western Europe shows many of these communities( in particular the most religious) do not want to become part of the nations they inhabit, because they view them as immoral, and dirty rewards Islam. Again; good attempt. I have never seen any other French President make an attempt like this, but ultimately different action going to have to be taken with these communities.

There is a red line: people with roots/ beliefs in opposition to our core values shouldn't be let free to change the fabric of our country.

It's as simple as that: it's not up to us to adapt to people who impose themselves and spit on our values. 

There is a price to pay when you decide to migrate, and it shouldn't be at the expenses of the host country.   

Edited October 3, 20205 yr by Opl

4 hours ago, Youlike said:

Better late than never.

seems that French Wimp has actually grown a pair of B....

8 minutes ago, Harveyboy said:

seems that French Wimp has actually grown a pair of B....

The French have been combatting Islamists for quite some time, both domestically and overseas; the French are not 'wimps' in their efforts against Islamists.

2 hours ago, simple1 said:

Component of the OP program was first announced 02/20. I credit Macron with a focussed and credible effort to minimise Islamist teachings within France, although obviously threat by online means still exists, but virtually impossible to block all online Islamist content from overseas.

 

https://www.dw.com/en/france-to-curb-foreign-imams-to-counter-islamic-extremism/a-52425779

 

Other efforts have been underway for quite a while. Back in 2015 40 Islamist Imams were deported, don't know how many since.

 

https://www.thelocal.fr/20150629/france-40-imams-deported-for-preaching-hatred

the impossible mission is to control what parents at home tell to their children - most of newcomers know nothing about France and are not interested - if not opposed- they have a unique guide -  no need for imams, it's hopeless. 

Edited October 3, 20205 yr by Opl

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Some here will beg to differ and think otherwise.. and in Trink's words: Nuff said...

 

In other words, you can't back up your claim/s: "nuff" said...

2 minutes ago, Opl said:

the impossible mission is to control what parents at home tell to their children - most of newcomers know nothing about France and are not interested, they have a unique guide -  no need for imams, 

 

Suggest to you a practising Muslims would attend mosque at least once a week - Friday prayers.

 

Right now listening to "over you" by ZZ Top - great music...

8 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Suggest to you a practising Muslims would attend mosque at least once a week - Friday prayers.

 

Right now listening to "over you" by ZZ Top - great music...

I suggest they stop whining having to live in a country of disbelievers and not knowing how to cope with - easy : leave

Edited October 3, 20205 yr by Opl

1 minute ago, Opl said:

I suggest they stop whining having to live in a country of disbelievers and not knowing how to cope with , easy : leave

 

Sure, if they're promoting violent Islamist ideology, otherwise any group has a right to express their opinions e.g. the yellow vests who do protest (whine?) a great deal.