Why Are French Muslims Facing Obstacles in Their Lives, If Secularism Means Freedom to Practice One’s Faith?
By Rukshana Choudhury
8th October
2020
French
President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to introduce tougher laws to fight against
‘Islamist separatism’ in order to defend France’s secular values. This is a
country with over 6 million Muslims currently reside in France, making it the
largest population in Western Europe.
Macron
stated that a minority of France’s Muslims were in danger of forming a
“counter-society”. According to the Secular Society, there are 3 defining key
features which define secularism:
Separation of religious institutions from state
institutions and a public sphere where religion may participate, but not
dominate.
Freedom to practice one’s faith or belief
without harming others, or to change it or not have one, according to one’s own
conscience.
Equality so that our religious beliefs or lack
of them doesn’t put any of us at an advantage or a disadvantage.
France’s
government is by law already separated from religious organisations and
institutions, which is referred to as laïcité. The legislation, which Macron
intends to propose to parliament in December 2020, strengthens this existing
law. It will include restrictions on Muslim students being home-schooled,
stricter monitoring of sports, cultural, community organisatons, a ban on imams
being sent to France from other countries, and the funding of mosques being
heavily scrutinised. The new measures will also include a ban on the wearing of
religious symbols for transport employees.
Macron also
stated that “Islam is a religion that is in crisis all over the world today, we
are not just seeing this in our country.” But these measures have been
criticised by other leaders as creating further divisions and could increase
the prevalent Islamophobia which already exists in France.
Macron also
believes it is necessary to “liberate Islam in France from foreign influences,”
naming countries such as Turkey.
The Turkish
foreign ministry initially responded by saying: “To think that they can
discipline immigrant societies by introducing concepts such as ‘European Islam’
and ‘French Islam’ under the pretext of ‘enlightening’ the religion of Islam
means acting in the opposite direction of humanitarian and legal
considerations.”
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday also said, “Macron’s statement that
‘Islam is in a crisis’ is an open provocation beyond disrespect…Who are you to
talk about the structuring of Islam?” he asked, accusing Macron of
“impertinence”.
Critics
have also accused Macron of using Islamophobic language in a tactical move to
appeal to right-wing voters in the upcoming elections. Macron’s party did not
win any major victories in local polls in February 2020, and during this
summer, President Macron reshuffled his cabinet that included ministers from
right-wing parties.
Macron also
stated the problem of radicalisation was partly a result of the “ghettoisation”
of French cities and towns where “we constructed our own separatism.” There have been many ethnic minority Muslim
men from these so-called ‘ghetto’ cities who have taken part in the yellow vest
movement and experienced police brutality.
An investigation by the French publication Street Press reported that 47
unarmed men died between 2007 and 2017.
It was disproportionately black, Arab and Muslims who died or
experienced violence.
The rights
of Muslim women in France have particularly diminished. Women are not even
allowed to have personal autonomy to cover their own bodies when swimming due
to burkini bans. France is also enforcing mandatory facemasks to protect people
against coronavirus but it is still committed to a burka ban – meaning women
are simultaneously forced to cover and yet are not allowed to cover.
Macron has
also never condemned satirical and offensive images of Prophet Mohammed (swt.)
Even halal business owners who refuse to sell non-basic essentials such as wine
and pork have been forced to close down.
If the
foundations of secularism means freedom to practise one’s faith and no fear of
losing equality, then why are French Muslims continually facing obstacles to
lead their lives without reprimand?
Original Headline: Are President Emmanuel
Macron’s new laws a fight against radicalisation or Islam in France?
Source: The Muslim Vibe
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