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| Macron warning on stigmatising Muslims amid France veil row | Macron warning on stigmatising Muslims amid France veil row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| French President Emmanuel Macron has warned against "stigmatising" Muslims or linking the Islamic religion with the fight against terrorism. | French President Emmanuel Macron has warned against "stigmatising" Muslims or linking the Islamic religion with the fight against terrorism. |
| "We have to stand together with all our fellow citizens," Mr Macron said during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday. | "We have to stand together with all our fellow citizens," Mr Macron said during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday. |
| It came as a French woman said she was taking legal action against far-right politicians who criticised her for wearing an Islamic headscarf in public. | It came as a French woman said she was taking legal action against far-right politicians who criticised her for wearing an Islamic headscarf in public. |
| France has about five million Muslims. | France has about five million Muslims. |
| It is the largest Muslim minority in Western Europe. | It is the largest Muslim minority in Western Europe. |
| Wearing the Muslim headscarf or veil - known as a hijab - is banned in French schools, government offices and some other public buildings. | Wearing the Muslim headscarf or veil - known as a hijab - is banned in French schools, government offices and some other public buildings. |
| France is officially a secular state and body-covering garments have been at the centre of a number of controversies in recent years. | France is officially a secular state and body-covering garments have been at the centre of a number of controversies in recent years. |
| Last week, a Muslim mother who wore a headscarf during a school trip with her son to the regional parliament in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France received verbal abuse from the chamber. | Last week, a Muslim mother who wore a headscarf during a school trip with her son to the regional parliament in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France received verbal abuse from the chamber. |
| An image of the woman - given the name Fatima - embracing her son was widely shared after footage of the incident was posted on social media. | |
| It also sparked street demonstrations in the area and has renewed a national debate over the Muslim veil. France currently has no law banning mothers from wearing the hijab on school trips. | It also sparked street demonstrations in the area and has renewed a national debate over the Muslim veil. France currently has no law banning mothers from wearing the hijab on school trips. |
| On Wednesday, Mr Macron called for a better understanding of the Muslim religion in France and condemned what he described as the "fatal shortcut" of linking Islam with terrorism. | On Wednesday, Mr Macron called for a better understanding of the Muslim religion in France and condemned what he described as the "fatal shortcut" of linking Islam with terrorism. |
| "There is a lot of irresponsibility among political commentators," he said, adding: "Communalism is not terrorism." | "There is a lot of irresponsibility among political commentators," he said, adding: "Communalism is not terrorism." |
| 'My son approached me crying' | 'My son approached me crying' |
| The incident at the regional parliament building in eastern France occurred during a school trip on Friday 11 October in which Fatima accompanied her young son. | The incident at the regional parliament building in eastern France occurred during a school trip on Friday 11 October in which Fatima accompanied her young son. |
| A politician from Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally - formerly known as the National Front - saw her during a debate and ordered her to remove her veil. | A politician from Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally - formerly known as the National Front - saw her during a debate and ordered her to remove her veil. |
| Julien Odoul posted his verbal exchange on Twitter along with a message citing a fatal knife attack on four police officers in Paris earlier this month which has been linked to Islamist radicalisation. | Julien Odoul posted his verbal exchange on Twitter along with a message citing a fatal knife attack on four police officers in Paris earlier this month which has been linked to Islamist radicalisation. |
| "After the murder of our four policemen, we cannot tolerate this [provocation]," he wrote. | "After the murder of our four policemen, we cannot tolerate this [provocation]," he wrote. |
| In an interview with the group Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF), Fatima said she was sitting quietly in a corner of the room when she heard someone shout "in the name of secularism". | In an interview with the group Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF), Fatima said she was sitting quietly in a corner of the room when she heard someone shout "in the name of secularism". |
| "People started screaming and getting upset," she told CCIF (in French), adding: "The only thing I saw was the distress of the children - they were really shocked and traumatised. | "People started screaming and getting upset," she told CCIF (in French), adding: "The only thing I saw was the distress of the children - they were really shocked and traumatised. |
| "I tried to reassure them... my son approached me and jumped on me, crying. I told them I could not stay." | "I tried to reassure them... my son approached me and jumped on me, crying. I told them I could not stay." |
| Her lawyer, Sana Ben Hadj, said her client felt "humiliated" after images of the incident were widely shared. | Her lawyer, Sana Ben Hadj, said her client felt "humiliated" after images of the incident were widely shared. |
| CCIF said Fatima was filing a complaint in the city of Dijon over "violence of a racial nature committed... by persons with public authority", adding that a further complaint would be filed in Paris for "incitement of racial hatred". | CCIF said Fatima was filing a complaint in the city of Dijon over "violence of a racial nature committed... by persons with public authority", adding that a further complaint would be filed in Paris for "incitement of racial hatred". |
| Headscarf part of wider debate | Headscarf part of wider debate |
| The incident has also sparked a debate over mothers wearing a headscarf going on school trips, when teachers are not allowed to. | The incident has also sparked a debate over mothers wearing a headscarf going on school trips, when teachers are not allowed to. |
| Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer was widely criticised for suggesting the veil was "not desirable" in French society, and Marine Le Pen has called for it to be banned on school trips. | Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer was widely criticised for suggesting the veil was "not desirable" in French society, and Marine Le Pen has called for it to be banned on school trips. |
| A ban on Muslim headscarves and other "conspicuous" religious symbols at state schools in France was introduced in 2004. | A ban on Muslim headscarves and other "conspicuous" religious symbols at state schools in France was introduced in 2004. |
| It received overwhelming political and public support in a country where the separation of state and religion is enshrined in law. | It received overwhelming political and public support in a country where the separation of state and religion is enshrined in law. |
| In 2011, France became the first European country to ban the full-face Islamic veil in public places, while alternatives such as hijabs, which cover the head and hair, remained legal. | In 2011, France became the first European country to ban the full-face Islamic veil in public places, while alternatives such as hijabs, which cover the head and hair, remained legal. |
| Under the ban no woman, French or foreign, is able to leave their home with their face hidden behind a veil without running the risk of a fine. | Under the ban no woman, French or foreign, is able to leave their home with their face hidden behind a veil without running the risk of a fine. |
| Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose administration introduced the ban, said veils oppressed women and were "not welcome" in France. | Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose administration introduced the ban, said veils oppressed women and were "not welcome" in France. |
| More on Muslim women and the veil: | More on Muslim women and the veil: |