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Macron warning on stigmatising Muslims amid France veil row | Macron warning on stigmatising Muslims amid France veil row |
(about 1 month 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, and for public servants at their place of work. | |
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. | 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." |
Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer made clear that the law did not ban women accompanying children from wearing headscarves, although he then said his personal opinion was that wearing a headscarf was "not desirable in our society". | |
'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. |
The education minister was widely criticised for suggesting the veil was "not desirable", 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: |
Correction 20 November 2019: This article has since been updated to make clear that the ban on headscarves in public relates to public servants in their place of work. |