By Ekaterina Blinova
21.11.2020
French
President Emmanuel Macron has asked the nation's Muslim leaders to accept a
“charter of Republican values” as part of his campaign against Islamism and
foreign influence in the country. An Egyptian researcher has explained how the
Muslim world perceives the effort, and in what spheres the interests of France
and the Arab states overlap.
On 18
November, Macron met with the representatives of the French Council of the
Muslim Faith (CFCM) and urged them to adopt a Republican values charter within
15 days. CFCM agreed to establish a national council of Imams to oversee
official accreditation of Islamic preachers. In October, France was shattered
by the decapitation of French teacher Samuel Paty and brutal stabbing attack on
parishioners of the Notre-Dame basilica in Nice, both of which were conducted
by radical Islam sympathises, according to the country's authorities.
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The French
president announced the crackdown against radical Islam in a speech he
delivered in Les Mureaux on 2 October: "What we must tackle is Islamist
separatism", Macron said. "A conscious, theorised,
political-religious project is materialising through repeated deviations from
the Republic’s values, which is often reflected by the formation of a
counter-society".
The speech
came amid the trial of Charlie Hebdo attackers and followed the republication
of the Prophet Muhammad cartoons by the satirical weekly magazine. Macron's
tough rhetoric and his endorsement of the cartoons, which are considered
blasphemous in Islam, were met with resentment by Muslims both at home and
abroad. The tension spilled over into other predominantly Muslim countries,
with some of them calling for a boycott of French goods.
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Macron's
hailing of the provocative cartoons has de facto eclipsed the French
president's message, which targeted political Islam and the currents of
extremism and terrorism represented by al-Qaeda*, Daesh*, the Muslim
Brotherhood* and a number of international Salafist currents, which are
spreading radical ideas across Europe and in France, in particular, according
to the political analyst. Besides seeking to free the French Muslim youths from
radical influences, the French president proposed "more Arabic language to
be taught in schools or as part of extended day programmes," Fawzi
remarks.
"What
happened is a misunderstanding on both sides," the Egyptian researcher
believes. "The Muslim world did not read the statements accurately, and
Macron failed to distinguish properly between the issues of freedom of
expression and respect for the religious symbols and sanctity of all human
beings, which promotes peace and co-existence. This prompted some to argue that
[Macron] is flirting with the Right at the expense of Muslims while preparing
for the 2022 French elections."
French
President Emmanuel Macron and Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi visit the scene of a
knife attack at Notre Dame church in Nice, France, October 29, 2020.
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Le Drian's Diplomatic Charm Offensive
In order to
calm tensions, Paris tried to reconcile with the Muslim world. On 8 November,
French Minister of Foreign Affair Jean-Yves Le Drian embarked on a diplomatic
mission to Egypt. Following his meeting with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah
al-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry Le Drian told reporters that France
has "the highest respect for Islam" and that the battle against
Islamic radicalism is "a common battle".
This visit
opened up prospects for dialogue between all the parties, Fawzi notes,
highlighting that the French foreign minister also met Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb,
Egyptian Islamic scholar and the current Grand Imam of al-Azhar.
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"During
the meetings, the sides emphasised the need to fight terrorism and, at the same
time, to respect religious sanctities," the Egyptian researcher remarks,
adding that it's equally important to not describe a particular religion as a
source of terrorism. He has drawn attention to the fact that many faithful
Muslims have fallen prey to al-Qaeda and Daesh although the terrorist groups
claim that they adhere to Islamic ideals.
Egyptian
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C) arrives at the opening of the Mohamed Najib
military base, the graduation of new graduates from military colleges, and the
celebration of the 65th anniversary of the July 23 revolution at El Hammam City
in the North Coast, in Marsa Matrouh, Egypt, July 22, 2017 in this handout
picture courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency
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Egypt's Best Practices in Thwarting Extremism
Prior to
Macron's announcement of the crackdown against Islamism, the French Senate
issued a 224-page report raising the alarm over the steady spread of extremist
ideas within the country's Muslim community over the past 20 years. According
to the document, the Muslim Brotherhood alone controls about 10% of all the
mosques and at least 600 associations in France.
In this
respect France has faced the same problem as Egypt, says Mohammad Fawzi, saying
that the group has a long record of extremist activities since its foundation
by Egyptian imam Hassan al-Banna in 1928. Furthermore, from 30 June 2012 to 3
July 2013 the country was ruled by Mohamed Morsi, who was affiliated to the
Muslim Brotherhood organisation.
The
Egyptian state has adopted a comprehensive strategy to tackle religious
extremism, according to Fawzi. He clarified that in addition to surveillance
and military counter-terror activities Egypt is working "on the
intellectual front" confronting extremist ideas in the state's media,
cultural and research institutions. The country's Al-Azhar University, one of
the oldest and biggest centres of Islamic and Arabic studies in the world,
plays an important role in this effort, the researcher emphasises, referring,
in particular, to the establishment of the Al-Azhar Observatory to Combat
Extremism.
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"In
addition, there are great efforts by some civil society organisations in this
area, for example, at the Mediterranean Youth Foundation for Development, an important
youth institution in Egypt, a project that will begin during this period under
the title 'Dialogues on the Document of Human Brotherhood'," Fawzi points
out.
The
Egyptian researcher believes that there are great opportunities for cooperation
between Egypt and France in the fight against extremism and terrorism,
"especially since both sides agree on the seriousness of these ideas and
their threat to their communities".
Common
interests and threats between Europe and the Arab world are pushing them to
develop and bolster relations within the framework of various international
platforms such as the joint Arab-European Summit which was held in February
2019, the researcher suggests. The gathering became the first summit ever held
between the two regions bringing together leaders from about 40 countries. The
researcher expresses hope that the inclusive approach and enhanced diplomatic
efforts may help Europe and the Muslim world settle disputes and understand
each other better.
Original Headline: Macron vs Islamism: How
France & Muslim World Can Overcome Their Spat, Team Up to Combat Radicalism
Source: The Sputnik News
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-west/macron-hailing-provocative-cartoons-eclipsed/d/123569
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