Alcohol & Drugs

Israel blasts French ruling keeping Sarah Halimi’s killer from trial Calling the murder ‘despicable,’ Foreign Ministry says court judgment fails to convey attitude of zero tolerance toward anti-Semitism

(Times of Israel) Israel blasted on Tuesday the ruling by France’s highest court that the murderer of Sarah Halimi was not criminally responsible because he had smoked marijuana before the crime. “Sarah Halimi was murdered for clearly anti-Semitic motivations, for the sole […]

Academics & Education

French Senate OKs proposal to ban prayers at universities Senate approves adding proposal to ban religious practices in university corridors to bill against 'Islamist separatism'

(Anadolu) France’s Senate approved the addition of a ban on religious practices in university corridors to a controversial bill to fight “Islamist separatism” late Wednesday. Discussing the draft bill, which has been criticized for alienating Muslims, the center-right Republicans (LR) party proposed […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

French ‘separatism’ bill risks discriminating Muslims: Amnesty Rights group says ‘many problematic provisions’ of the draft law, which heads to the Senate on Tuesday, should be scrapped or amended.

(Al-Jazeera) As the French Senate prepares to debate the so-called “anti-separatism” bill, human rights group Amnesty International has made a last-minute appeal for “many problematic provisions” of the draft law to be scrapped or amended. The Senate debate on Tuesday comes after […]

Government & Politics

Turkey decries Macron’s ‘unacceptable’ remarks Foreign Ministry says ‘unjust, inconsistent' statements made about Turkey, Turkish president during TV program

(Anadolu) Ankara on Wednesday denounced recent remarks by the French president about Turkey and its leader, calling them “unacceptable.” “We find the statements by French President [Emmanuel] Macron, which he gave in response to the deliberate questions asked in the program and […]

Demonstrations

France: Protests against controversial bill continue 'Separatist' bill slammed because it targets Muslim community, imposes restrictions on almost every aspect of their lives

(Anadolu) Protests continued across France on Sunday against Islamophobia and a controversial bill that has been criticized for targeting Muslims. Demonstrators took to streets in the capital Paris, Marseille, Lille, Strasbourg, Bordeaux and Lyon. Chanting slogans against Islamophobia, the crowd marched from […]

Clerics & Preachers

France: European Commission urged to investigate Paris over ‘imam charter’ Civil society groups say a number of French laws disproportionally discriminate against Muslims, violating their fundamental human rights

(Middle East Eye) A coalition of civil society organisations on Monday urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to investigate France at the European Court of Justice over its controversial “imam charter,” saying that it violates Muslims’ right to free speech […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

‘French Muslims will suffer’ under separatism rules, critics say Civil rights groups, academics and experts raise alarm ahead of key vote on controversial bill.

(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 […]