Changes In France – What’s Going On

By: Khadija Nadeem Gr 9
France is making big changes and they are directly affecting the Muslim community. It all starts with the French president, Emmanuel Macron. On October 2, 2020, President Macron announced his plan to combat “Islamic separatism”. First he declared he planned to train the new generation of imams, who are people in Islam who are in leadership positions, within the country so that they align with the republic’s values. He added that the French Council of Muslim Religion will formalize the new training and suggests that French Muslims prioritize the country’s beliefs over their religious beliefs. This action stigmatizes Muslims but he didn’t just stop there.
Next, the president targeted the estimated 50, 000 children in France who are home-schooled. Macron once again preached “anti-separatism” and claimed that children should be educated at school on the basis that children are more likely to be radicalized at home. Macron is taking away an essential freedom of people in their country but wait there’s more.
In the week of April 1st, after a reading of Macron’s “anti-separatism” law, the French Senate moved to approve the amendment on banning Muslim women under 18 from wearing hijabs in public, another amendment would ban parents from participating in school trips with religious clothing on. Both amendments still need to pass through the National Assembly but if passed, police would effectively be given the right to harass and arrest Muslim youth, and virtually anyone wearing clothing that they deemed inappropriate under the language of the bill.
Normal parts of Muslim lifestyles are now being labeled as examples of ‘separatism’ and the Muslim community is openly being targeted. Muslims everywhere are outraged and protesting these unfair and cruel changes.