| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| France: Largest Muslim Group Slams Immigration Bill |
| 2006-05-08 |
| Ahead of the French parliament's Tuesday vote on an immigration bill that will make it harder for foreigners to work in France, the Union of Islamic Organisations in France (UOIF) vice-president, Fouad Alaoui, has slammed the legislation, claiming it targets "Muslims in general," rather than extremists. "Right up until the 2007 presidential election, things are just going to get worse for Muslims," Alauoi said, quoted by French daily Le Monde. He was attending UOIF's annual meeting. UOIF's leadership contends that after creating the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) - of which UOIF is one of the largest member organisations - as an official interlocutor for the government on Muslim issues, Sarkozy has turned his back on the body. "On the basis of studies it has carried out, the interior ministry is convinced there is no Muslim vote [for Sarkozy's ruling centre-right UMP party]... and so the stakes are non-existent," said Alaoui. "This is why Sarkozy is asking us to accept the publication of cartoons satirising the Prophet Mohammed, to pose bare-headed for photos for our identity cards and for a husband to allow his wife to be examined by a male doctor," Alaoui continued, emphasising that UOIF rejects all three demands. No French party currently represents French Muslims, the UOIF leadership said. "There have already been some important developments over the past ten years, " said UOIF president, Laj Thami Breze, who urged Muslims to "adapt their practices, to take more responsibility, and play the victim less, to avoid clashes with French society." UOIF, which groups some 300 organisations, is considered to present a progressive view of French Islam; some of its members are close to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood. Sarkozy's controversial blueprint for what he has termed "selected immigration" aims to attract skilled newcomers while keeping poorer ones and their families out. The bill has drawn criticsm from left-wing parties and religious leaders. It has also prompted France's far right - whose leader, Jean Marie Le Pen, last week announced he will in 2007 run against Sarkozy for the French presidency - to step up its stridently anti-immigrant line. MPs have filed more than 400 amendments to the bill, which also makes it harder for immigrants to bring their families to France and ends their automatic right to a long-term residence permit after ten years. Most of France's five million Muslims are immigrants from North Africa or their descendants. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #6 It has also prompted France's far right - whose leader, Jean Marie Le Pen, last week announced he will in 2007 run against Sarkozy for the French presidency - to step up its stridently anti-immigrant line. And probably win! I wish our own nitwit politicians here in Washington would awaken to that reality. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-05-08 15:57 |
| #5 Fouad Alaoui, has slammed the legislation, claiming it targets "Muslims in general," rather than extremists. Pardon my curiosity, but what is the difference? Beside modus operandi--some want sharia fast, some slower--that is... Payback is a bitch, innit, Foad? |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2006-05-08 15:54 |
| #4 Don't like it, don't move there you fuckwits. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-05-08 15:36 |
| #3 This is why Sarkozy is asking us to accept the publication of cartoons satirising the Prophet Mohammed, to pose bare-headed for photos for our identity cards and for a husband to allow his wife to be examined by a male doctor," Alaoui continued, emphasising that UOIF rejects all three demands. And these are the "progressive" Muslims, right? Ooookay... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-05-08 14:06 |
| #2 Then don't move to France, nitwit. |
| Posted by: Bigjim-ky 2006-05-08 13:59 |
| #1 Then it must be good. |
| Posted by: Jaque Throque7669 2006-05-08 13:59 |