Front National Councillor Urges French Far-Right Party to Convert to Islam

Maxence Buttey

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A far-right local councillor shocks Marine Le Pen's party by becoming a Muslim and sending Front National officials a video in which he urges them to embrace Islam

A Front National local councillor has embarrassed France's far-Right party by announcing his recent conversion to Islam – and urging fellow members to join him.

Maxence Buttey, 22, offended officials of the anti-immigration party by sending them a video in which he praised the "visionary" virtues of the Koran and urged them to become Muslims.

Mr Buttey, a councillor in the eastern Paris suburb of Noisy-le-Grand, said the Front National and Islam had much in common.

"Both are demonised and very far from the image portrayed in the media," he told Le Parisien newspaper. "Like Islam, the FN defends the weakest. The party denounces exorbitant interest rates charged on the debt of our country, and Islam is against the practice of usury."

Jordan Bardella, a local party secretary, said Mr Buttey had been suspended from a regional FN committee. » | David Chazan, Paris | Saturday, October 25, 2014

Memo from France: More in France Are Turning to Islam, Challenging a Nation’s Idea of Itself
THE NEW YORK TIMES: CRÉTEIL, France — The spacious and elegant modern building, in the heart of this middle-class suburb of Paris, is known as “the mosque of the converts.”

Every year about 150 Muslim conversion ceremonies are performed in the snow-white structure of the Sahaba mosque in Créteil, with its intricate mosaics and a stunning 81-foot minaret, built in 2008 and a symbol of Islam’s growing presence in France. Among those who come here for Friday Prayer are numerous young former Roman Catholics, wearing the traditional Muslim prayer cap and long robe.

While the number of converts remains relatively small in France, yearly conversions to Islam have doubled in the past 25 years, experts say, presenting a growing challenge for France, where government and public attitudes toward Islam are awkward and sometimes hostile.

French antiterrorism officials have been warning for years that converts represent a critical element of the terrorist threat in Europe, because they have Western passports and do not stand out.

In October, the French police conducted a series of antiterrorism raids across France, resulting in the arrests of 12 people, including at least three French citizens who had recently converted to Islam. Converts “often need to overdo it if they want to be accepted” as Muslims, and so veer into extremism more frequently than others, said Didier Leschi, who was in charge of religious issues at the Interior Ministry under former President Nicolas Sarkozy. » | Maïa de la Baume | Sunday, February 03, 2013

Bruno Metsu Famous French Footballer Converts to Islam
ABNA: Metsu is preparing the UAE for their Asia Cup qualifier against Jordan at Al Shabab’s ground tonight. But the man who coached Senegal at the World Cup in 2002 and then led Al Ain to the AFC Champions League in 2003, admitted he and his wife had converted to Islam.

He recently visited the Department of Awqaf in Dubai and formally announced he converted before the religious scholar Ismael Tojo. He said: “This will make me feel comfortable, peaceful and stable. But for many years in my coaching career, I was known as Bruno Metsu.

“So, I am keen to keep my image good in the minds of people who made friends with me and called me by the name that has been famous in different countries.” Sameera Al Fuhaimi, the acting director of family guidance of the Dubai Islamic affairs department, added: “The department received the French coach and wife following their conversion.

“We gave them books and tapes in French and which explain teachings of our religion. Metsu and wife were highly delighted and were keen to have Islamic books”. Metsu is also believed to be preparing for a Haj pilgrimage. [Source: Ahl ul Bayt News Agency] | Tuesday, October 18, 2011

French Couple Converts to Islam in Mahweet
YEMEN NEWS AGENCY: MAHWEET, Sep. 27 (Saba)- The French couple Lidris, aged 25, and Fabine, aged 24, who traveled to Yemen, Mahweet, for tourism have converted to Islam after being hosted by a local in the city.

The local, Ahmed Mutahar, invited the French couple to his house in Ramadan and introduced them to teachings and tolerance of Islam which they admired and expressed their intention to embrace Islam.

The couple said the testimony at the Cultural Center for Foreigners Call in Sana'a and got a new marriage contract according to the Islamic Sharia. [Source: French Couple Converts to Islam in Mahweet >>> AM/AM | September 27, 2008

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