(Al-Jazeera) On October 2 last year, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a law against what he called “Islamist separatism” aimed at tackling “radical” movements in the country.
He described Islam as a religion “in crisis” globally, as he sought to boost support for measures intended to regulate how the faith is practised in France.
Critics say the proposed law further stigmatises France’s 5.7 million-strong Muslim community — not only those individuals it supposedly targets — and forms part of a wider crackdown on civil liberties.
On February 4, the French lower house backed the bill. An anticipated vote by parliamentarians is expected to take place next week.
