Six Minors on Trial in Paris over Murder of History Teacher Samuel Paty | DW News | November 27, 2023

Nov 27, 2023 | A juvenile court in France is begining the trial of six minors today, for their alleged connections to the murder of a French teacher three years ago. Samuel Paty taught history and geography at a school in a Parisian suburb. He'd used the controversial cartoons of the Islamic prophet Mohammed that apperaed in the Charlie Hebdo magazine to discuss free-speech laws in France. He was killed and then beheaded by a radical Islamist outside his school in October 2020, causing an outpouring of grief in France. The perpetrator, an 18 year-old man of Chechen origin, was shot dead by police. The Paris court is now examining the role of six others.

With tragic stories like this appearing in the news with alarming frequency, is there really any wonder that many people fear Islam and its growth in the West?

Many organizations chide people for being Islamophobic. But we should remember that a phobia is an irrational fear or aversion to something. But what is irrational about fearing, or having an aversion to, a religion whose adherents are sometimes, through fanatical beliefs, given to beheading innocent people? Indeed, it would be irrational NOT to fear such a religion.

If ‘Islamophobia’ is to be successfully combatted, it is up to Muslims living in the West to ensure that their co-religionists refrain from such barbaric behaviour. When Muslims stop beheading innocent people and start behaving in a civilized manner, people will have no reason to be Islamophobic. In short, the solution to this problem lies with Muslims themselves. Furthermore, if Muslims dislike our Western ways and our Western modes of living, it might be better if they returned to their countries of origin. Preferably voluntarily. – © Mark Alexander

France Takes On Islamist Extremism with New Bill

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The French government says draft legislation aimed at combating the extremist ideology that has taken many lives on French soil in recent years is a “law of freedom” necessary for peaceful coexistence.

PARIS — The French government, determined to combat an ideology it views as “the enemy of the Republic,” on Wednesday unveiled draft legislation to combat radical Islamism, calling the measure “a law of freedom” essential to peaceful coexistence in French society.

The law, which has been assailed by Turkey and other Muslim countries, and criticized as “heavy-handed” by the U.S. envoy on international religious freedom, reflects President Emmanuel Macron’s resolve to address a series of terror attacks that have left more than 260 people dead in France since 2015. Three such attacks in recent months, including the beheading of a history teacher, Samuel Paty, who had shown caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad to his class, have hardened positions around the legislation.

“This bill is not a text aimed against religions or against the Muslim religion in particular,” Prime Minister Jean Castex declared after the cabinet approved the draft law. “It is the reverse — it is a law of freedom, it is a law of protection, it is a law of emancipation against religious fundamentalism.” » | Roger Cohen | Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Can France Resolve Tensions with Muslim Community? - Inside Story

The French government is stepping up its crackdown on what it is calling religious separatism. 76 mosques face closure if they are found to be a security threat.

It is President Emmanuel Macron's latest response to recent attacks he has blamed on 'radical Islam'. His government denies it is deliberately targeting the Muslim community, but recent comments have triggered protests worldwide.

So how can this crisis be resolved?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Yasser Louati - Justice and Liberties For All Committee; Philippe Marliere - Professor of French and European Politics, University College of London; Nizar Messari - Associate Professor of International Studies, Al Akhawayn University

France Cracks Down on 76 Mosques Suspected of 'Separatism'

THE GUARDIAN: Interior minister says any found to be ‘breeding grounds of terrorism’ will be shut

France’s interior minister has announced a crackdown on 76 mosques that the government suspects of “separatism” and encouraging extremism.

Gérald Darmanin said the mosques would be inspected and any found to be “breeding grounds of terrorism” would be shut.

The move is part of the French government’s ongoing campaign to combat Islamist extremism after a series of terrorist attacks – including the recent beheading of a teacher and the killing of three people in a church in Nice – but has led to accusations it is unjustly targeting the wider Muslim community.

The president, Emmanuel Macron, has strenuously denied that new legislation to reinforce secularism that he outlined at the beginning of October was targeting Muslims. He said the law, under which France would train imams and impose a wider ban on home schooling and controls on religious, sporting and cultural associations, was aimed at tackling radical “Islamist separatism”. » | Kim Willsher in Paris | Thursday, December 3, 2020

France Knife Attack: Country in a Fierce Debate over Role of Islam

The attack in Nice comes as France grapples with the question of what role Islam should have in a traditionally secular society. The country has the largest Muslim community in Europe - but earlier this month some were made to feel unwelcome when President Emmanuel Macron declared a fight against what he called "Islamist separatism". Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports.

Macron Says Islam ‘In Crisis’, Prompting Backlash from Muslims

French President Emmanuel Macron has called "radical Islam" the biggest threat to French society. He also claimed, "Islam was in crisis around the world". Macron has outlined proposals for a new anti-separatism law aimed at improving integration and combatting religious divisions in the country. Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler reports.

The Debate: France and Muslims: What Will Macron's Declaration Change?

France is digesting the controversial recommendations made by President Emmanuel Macron. Essentially the president is calling to combat Islamist separation in France. The sense that a religion can separate a person from the lifestyle and values of France, where church and state are separated by law. But will Macron's words in Mulhouse, in eastern France, get to the heart of the matter?

The Debate: Macron and Islam: French President Weighs In on New Headscarf Row

France is on again, off again row over the Muslim headscarf is on again. This time, was it the president who started it? With March municipal elections on the way, Emmanuel Macron telling MPs from his own party not to let the far-right own the conversation on secularism, radicalisation and sectarianism. But his own camp emerged divided from a parliamentary debate and when a far-right regional councilor baited a mother who had accompanied children on a school outing, all bets were off. We ask what the law says and what the French want.

Was France Right to Ban the Burqa? (2010)

The Burqa Battle (2010): Sarkozy's ban on burqa's has stirred up a lot of controversy in France, but what do Muslims actually think of it?

French Muslims Apprehensive and Alienated

The Crisis In French Multiculturalism (2015)

French Connection (2002): How tension over immigration has put French multiculturalism on the ropes.

Islam in the Heart of England and France

GATESTONE INSTITUTE: "There are plenty of private Muslim schools and madrasas in this city. They pretend that they all preach tolerance, love and peace, but that isn't true. Behind their walls, they force-feed us with repetitive verses of the Qur'an, about hate and intolerance." — Ali, an 18-year-old of French origin, whose father was radicalized. / "In England, they are free to speak. They speak only of prohibitions, they impose on one their rigid vision of Islam but, on the other hand, they listen to no-one, most of all those who disagree with them." — Yasmina, speaking of extremist Muslims in the UK. / "Birmingham is worse than Molenbeek" -- the Brussels borough that The Guardian described as "becoming known as Europe's jihadi central." — French commentator, republishing an article by Rachida Samouri.

The city of Birmingham in the West Midlands, the heart of England, the place where the Industrial Revolution began, the second city of the UK and the eighth-largest in Europe, today is Britain's most dangerous city. With a large and growing Muslim population, five of its electoral wards have the highest levels of radicalization and terrorism in the country. » | Denis MacEoin | Sunday, April 23, 2017

France's Fatal Attraction to Islam

GATESTONE INSTITUTE: Instead of fighting to save what is savable, French opinion-makers are already writing the terms of surrender. / By hybridizing cultures and rejecting Christianity, France will soon end up not even teaching also Arabic, but only Arabic, and marking Ramadan instead of Easter. / Instead of wasting their time trying to organize an "Islam of France", French political leaders, opinion makers and think tanks should look for ways to counter the creeping Islamization of their country. Otherwise, we may soon be seeing not only a "Grand Imam de France", but also lashes and stonings on the Champs Élysées.

Two years ago, the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, Dalil Boubakeur, suggested converting empty churches into mosques, to accommodate the growing Muslim community in abandoned Christian sites. Now, many people in France seem to have taken the idea so seriously that a report released by the foundation Terra Nova, France's main think tank that provides ideas to the governing Socialist Party, suggests that in order to integrate Muslims better, French authorities should replace the two Catholic holidays -- Easter Monday and Pentecost -- with Islamic holidays. To be ecumenical, they also included a Jewish holiday. » | Giulio Meotti | Saturday, March 4, 2017

France: The Battle against Gender Segregation in French Suburbs

Related »

Ces quartiers où les femmes sont indésirables (caméra cachée - France 2)

Reportage diffusé au 20h de France 2 le 08/12/16. Ces quartiers où les femmes sont indésirables : cafés interdits, harcèlement de rue, censure vestimentaire. Caméra cachée réalisée avec la Brigade des Mères de Sevran.

THE TELEGRAPH: 'This isn't Paris. It's only men here' - Inside the French Muslim no-go zones where women aren't welcome » | David Chazan, Paris | Sunday, December 18, 2016

Bellica : Femmes entières »

Islam in France - BBC Documentary

A fascinating look at the problems surrounding Muslims and Islamic extremism in France, as well as the rise of the National Front.

France Envoy: 'Minority' of Muslims 'Testing Us' – UpFront

France must find "reasonable accommodation" for Islam, but "there will be mistakes, there will be backlash", says Araud.

‘Problem with Islam’: Tell-all Book Reveals Hollande’s Views from Migrants to Sarkozy

French President Francois Hollande admitted there is a “problem with Islam,” according to a new book based on recorded talks with the leader. He also believes there are too many immigrants in the country, and accused Nicolas Sarkozy of “always fussing.”

Hollande Admits France “Has a Problem with Islam”

Ezra Levant of TheRebel.media reports that after getting into power courting the Muslim vote, the French president admits his nation has "a problem with Islam."

Islam Can Co-exist with French Values: Hollande

President François Hollande says that Islam could co-exist with secularism, warning in a key speech seen as preparing the ground for a re-election bid that the anti-terror fight should not undermine French values .