FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron is facing renewed criticism in the Muslim world and abroad over his latest plans to tackle what he calls radical Islam, including asking Muslim leaders in his country to agree to a “charter of republican values”. Politicians and activists likened the new measures proposed by the French government, especially a move towards giving children an “identification number” to ensure they are attending school, with policies employed by the Nazis against the Jews.
The French President sparked protests and condemnation across the Muslim world because of his blasphemous remarks and policies and it was expected that he would mend his ways as his actions were injuring feelings of over 1.5 billion Muslims but it seems he is unrepentant. He also pledged a crackdown on what he called “Islamist separatism” to defend France’s secular values and argued that controversial cartoons should be defended on free speech grounds. Quite recently, the French President took steps to impose a “charter of republican values” on the Muslim community and gave a 15-day deadline to the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) to accept the charter. The French government also unveiled a wide-ranging bill aimed at preventing so-called radicalization apparently targeting Muslims and their children. It includes measures such as restrictions on home-schooling and giving children an identification number under the law that would be used to ensure they are attending school. Parents who break the law could face up to six months in jail as well as hefty fines. Curbs on home schooling are particularly worrisome as Muslim children normally acquire religious education at home. As Macron is scaling up his anti-Muslim approach, it is time for leaders of the Muslim world to give collective practical shape to popular demands for counter-measures against the French Government.
