Europe

France falls far behind freedoms it defends, says rights activist

Thousands of people leaving France due to discrimination, racism, says leading figure in fight against Islamophobia

Alaattin Dogru and Esra Taskin  | 08.08.2022 - Update : 09.08.2022
France falls far behind freedoms it defends, says rights activist

ISTANBUL/ PARIS 

France falls behind the freedoms it defends in theory, said a leading figure in the fight against Islamophobia.

Marwan Mohammad, who was targeted on social media by French authorities over his opposition to the now-suspended move to deport imam and preacher Hassan Iquioussen, told Anadolu Agency what he thinks about the matter.

Mohammad, former director of the Collective against Islamophobia in France (CCIF), said that he was targeted by the government on a routine basis.

“The propaganda agency of the government or the interior minister, CIPDR, targets all Muslim organizations and persons that say ‘There is Islamophobia in France,’ or dare to criticize the country on issues of racism or discrimination,” he said.

France has been criticized on the issue by international human rights groups, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the UN, European Council and many others, he said, adding France falls far behind the freedoms it defends in theory.

Mohammad claimed that the terrible murder of the high school teacher, Samuel Paty, in 2020 is being used by the French government as an excuse to clamp down on CCIF upon allegations that the organization is connected with the incident.

However, he underscored that the government exploited the idea that “to say that there is Islamophobia in France is to fuel hatred against France.”


Outsider criticisms viewed as attack against France

“What the international community has a hard time understanding is that in France all criticism from outside is perceived as an attack on the country,” Mohammad stated.

The law “Principles Strengthening Respect for the Controversial Republican Values,” which came into force in 2021 in the European country and is called "Combating Islamic Separatism," specifically targets Muslims and frees the government from accountability, he noted.

The French government can make unjustified decisions thanks to this law, Mohammad underlined, adding that the mechanism is utilized particularly against Muslims, their associations, and even the ones defending Palestine.

“Criminalization mechanism against Muslims is in force now, and Muslims who fit the perception of a Muslim in the minds of the far-right extremists are 'non-Muslim' Muslims,” he said.

“Unfortunately, 75-85% of the Islamophobic actions in the country target women, especially the ones that wear head scarves, because they were shown as targets,” Mohammad stated.

Noting that there is an increase in the number of the French Muslims questioning whether to stay in the country or not, he said that France has been witnessing an exodus of educated Muslims who are tired of the racism they face.

“They say what is the point of striving if we are not treated like other citizens in our own country,” Mohammad stated.

“We see that Islamophobia in France has not only ideological or political influence, it affects people's lives, aggravates economic and social problems.”


Different France in both theory and real life

Legally there is no difference between Muslim French citizens and others, but the reality is far from ideal, he said.

In real life, Muslims are targeted based on their surnames in job applications, renting or buying houses, attending cultural activities, and other areas, he said.

Explaining the reason why he chose to fight Islamophobia, Mohammad said it is because he does not want his children to live in a country that discriminates them based on their religion or skin color.

The existence of Muslims in France is part of the cultural diversity and richness of the European country, Mohammad said, criticizing that the far-right extremists try to frighten and suppress Muslims.

He called on Muslims in the country to “live in a brave, an honorable and a determined way by revealing their presence in the society more, knowing their rights and helping each other.”

*Writing by Merve Berker

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