Status: 23.07.2021 9:25 p.m.
In France, the Parliament and National Assembly have passed the law “Strengthening the Principles of the Republic”. This should enable mosques, for example, to be closed more quickly if hatred is preached in them.
After a series of attacks, France is cracking down on Islamists: the French parliament passed an amendment to the law. After the decapitation of the teacher Samuel Paty in autumn, hate calls on the Internet are to be punished more severely. In addition, the government wants to limit the influence of Turkey and other countries on French mosques. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin emphasized: “We give ourselves the means to fight against those who misuse religion in order to question the values of the republic.”
The bill “to strengthen the principles of the republic” was finally approved by the Paris National Assembly. It should enable mosques or religious associations to be closed even faster if hatred and violence are preached in them. The amendment also provides for up to three years imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros against anyone who “puts the life of another person in danger by disseminating information about his or her private and family life or his job”.
Violent protests in Muslim countries
History teacher Paty had been severely threatened after showing Mohammed cartoons in class. His name and school were also published on the Internet. When the plans were presented in October, President Emmanuel Macron attested that Islam had a “problem” with radical currents. This led to protests, some of which were violent, in Muslim countries. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attacked Macron personally.
The law is also likely to reduce the influence of the Turkish umbrella organization Ditib in France, which supports mosques financially and sends imams. Ditib is also criticized in Germany because of its proximity to Erdogan. Amnesty International fears discrimination in the face of the law.
France’s conservatives and right-wing populists, however, do not go far enough. Among other things, they had called for a headscarf ban in public spaces.