More violence despite curfews

Last night saw still more violence in France despite the curfews the French government have imposed, though some improvement has been reported.

More than thirty towns across France have imposed curfews, and where curfews are in place, nobody under the age of sixteen is allowed out between ten o'clock at night and six o'clock in the morning. Further, anyone under tha age of sixteen is banned from buying petrol. In spite of the improvement, however, the measures taken so far have failed to prevent riots sweeping the country. In excess of 558 cars were torched, and more than two hundred arrests were made. So order has yet to be restored.

Recent riots are grist to Le Pen's far-right party, the National Front, which will certainly milk the situation for all it's worth. His anti-immigrant views are apparently going down well with the electorate there. 78% of people are said to be supporting the curfews, and 58% said they were "scandalized" by the recent violence. In all, approximately 6000 cars have been burnt so far, 1500 people have been arrested, and dozens of schools, nurseries, gymnasiums, warehouses, and small businesses have been destroyed. Alas, one 61 year old man has died as a result of the violence.

Dominique de Villepin has said: The Republic is at a moment of truth. What is being questioned is the effectiveness of our integration model. Well, it is certainly a moment of truth for la Republique française, but not in the way he meant it.

France's integration model may well have failed. But how could it have succeeded when faced with a people determined not to integrate? France's real moment of truth is that France has allowed far too many mmigrants into the country, thus swamping local culture and traditions. Moreover, the French are an extremely proud people. They have always been known for their sense of superiority. Ironically, however, so are the poor Muslim immigrants known for their pride and sense of superiority, too. Muslims feel that theirs is the true religion, the true way of life, the true, straight path, as siraat al mustaqeem, the path that leads to Allah. They feel that their religion has come to supersede Judaism and Christianity. To Muslims, it is the perfection of all religions for all time: ad deen al kamal.

The French think of theirs as high culture (rightly in my view), but so do Muslims think of Islamic culture as being superior, though it's hard to imagine why given their propensity to kill and maim!

Nicolas Sarkozy in a moment of inspiration has ordered that all those taking part in the riots, be they in possession of legal residence permits or not, be expelled. This, of course, was the correct approach. The French must re-take control of their own country; and the correct way of dealing Muslims is always to use the firm hand. Muslims, in my experience, respect no weakness.

I always remember once being told by a student of mine at the time when one of the large London mosques had been built and was to be opened. He said something like this: Your country very weak! (In Arabic, the present tense of the verb 'to be' is not used, hence there is no 'is' in the sentence.) My country very strong! When asked why this was so, he replied: [Because] you can't build kaneesat (churches) in my country, but I can build masjeed (mosques) in your country. This means we strong. You weak, Mr!

That should tell you a great deal about the mentality of these people; morever, this was an attitude I met with so often in my time in the Middle East. Regrettably! I soon learnt that one should never deal with the Muslim Arab from a point of weakness. I learnt quickly, too, that they only ever respect strength. Men, especially, have to be strong. Weakness in a man is seen as a sign of effeminacy. The wearing of the beard is one manifestation of the glorification of manhood in Arab culture. And one should never forget that Islam is an Arab religion, so the Arab mentality permeates the Muslim mind, regardless from where he hails.

So let's praise Nicolas Sarkozy for having the courage to declare that all troublemakers be deported forthwith. It is refreshing indeed to witness the Napoleonic spirit alive and kicking in a Frenchman today! He deserves all our support for his gesture of anti-dhimmitude, all our support for his strength. All praise be to Sarkozy!

©Mark Alexander