PARIS – The French government, determined to fight an ideology it considers “the enemy of the republic,” on Wednesday released a draft law to combat radical Islam, calling the move “the law of freedom” necessary for peaceful coexistence in French society, as well as international religious freedom attacked by Turkey and other Muslim countries. The law, criticized by the US ambassador as a “tough hand”, reflects President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to address a series of terrorist attacks that have killed more than 260 people. Three such attacks in recent months have exacerbated the situation surrounding the law, including the beheading of Samuel Grandmother, a historian who showed his classmates caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. “This bill is not a text against religions or especially against Muslims,” Prime Minister Jean Costex announced after the cabinet approved the draft law. “It’s the opposite – it’s the law of freedom, it’s the law of defense, it’s the law of liberation against religious fundamentalism.” Earlier, Mr. Costex told the French daily Le Monde that “the enemy of the republic is an ideology that calls itself radical Islam, with the aim of dividing the French people from each other.” The law would block the online hate speech that led to the murder of Mr. Grandmother; Restrict homeschooling for more children; stay in community associations by forcing them to sign declarations loyal to “Republican values” while at the same time imposing strict restrictions on their finances. The terms “Islamic” or “Islamist” do not appear in law, but the purpose of government legislation is clear: Gaining the roots of the separate culture of extremist groups that hold higher than its opponents, the draft law risks defeating itself. The danger of conflict between themselves and Islam is clear. The bill may sharpen the sense of alienation felt by some, but far from all, French Muslims make up 8 percent of the population. The ghettoization of Muslim immigrants, mainly of North African descent, is one of the worst projects in the suburbs of the big cities, and successive governments have pledged to address it with limited success. The bill transcends three name changes, reflecting its sensitivity, and begins with the end of life as an “anti-separatist” law and a law to “strengthen Republican policies.” It will be presented to the House under the National Assembly or Parliament in January. Two months ago Mr. In his speech, Macron pledged to defeat “Islamic separatism” and to uphold French secularism. That religion is a matter of the individual who has no place in politics. The speech was condemned by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a “provocation” that was rejected by many French people, who have been the victims of a series of attacks. U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback said this week that he was concerned about the events in France. Referring to the draft law, he said, “When you practice hard, the situation can get worse.” France is unlikely to care much about this view from a representative of the outgoing Trump administration. President Trump’s so-called “Muslim ban” has been widely condemned in France and around the world, with the exception of foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries. Mr. Macron, who has been facing elections for 18 months now, has been a stumbling block to the political right, where, with the left, the center of gravity in French politics appears to lie. The introduction of his tough line on Islam and the highly competitive defense bill is part of this strategic evolution. Mr. In his October speech, Macron acknowledged that the French government was suffering from “separatism of its own kind.” The marginalization of some Muslims in France. He vowed to correct this mistake, but the follow-up is minimal. Prime Minister Costex told reporters that France “will create more community houses that are better distributed in the region in order to break the logic of the ghettos.” This promises to be a lengthy process with an uncertain end, similar to the attempt to legalize the seeds of radical Islam.
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