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France May Expel Islamic Extremists
EFLWorried by the growth of Islamic fundamentalism in France, the country's interior minister has threatened to expel any foreign Muslim religious leader who disseminates extremist propaganda. That would be all of them. Nicolas Sarkozy issued the warning after the unexpectedly strong showing of a Muslim fundamentalist party in weekend elections for a new council to represent France's various Islamic factions. The Union of Islamic Organizations of France â inspired by Egypt's banned fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood â won 19 of the council's 58 seats. The moderate, Algerian-backed Mosque of Paris, which was considered a favorite, won just 15 seats. It's the "Vote for us or die!" platform the extremists run on that makes them so attractive to voters. "We want to say very simply: imams who propagate views that run counter to French values will be expelled," Sarkozy told Europe-1 radio on Tuesday. Sarkozy, who was instrumental in creating the council, said he was determined to curb the influence of extremism on one of Europe's largest Muslim communities. He said he would not allow the council to be used as a vehicle for spreading extremist views, notably sharia, or Islamic law. "Islamic law will be applied nowhere because it is not the law of the (French) Republic," he said. That's the first thing the extremists want to change. Unlike Roman Catholicism or Judaism, Islam has no hierarchical structure in France and, therefore, no leadership that can directly communicate concerns or grievances to the government. The lack of structure has forced thousands of Muslims around France to practice their faith in makeshift underground prayer rooms simply because there are not enough mosques. "If fundamentalism or extremism has spread so much, it is because we condoned an Islam of cellars and garages," Sarkozy said. Part of the council's purpose is to oversee the building of more mosques and encourage foreign imams to learn French. Oh yeah, that'll stop it. But Sarkozy also made clear the government will keep a close watch on the new council's activities and expects it to abide by French law. "It is precisely because we recognize the right of Islam to sit at the table of the (French) Republic that we will not accept any misconduct," he said. "Ali, if you want to sit at the table, quit kicking your brother. And put that knife down, you'll poke your sister's eye out!" Posted by: Steve 2003-04-16 |
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