France mulls proposal banning hijab for minors in public places
In a rare move, Macron has also decided to make the report public by the end of the week. AFP obtained a copy of the report on Tuesday. The Elysee Palace has said that some measures will be announced, while others will be classified. The report into the movement, which was founded in Egypt in 1928, was commissioned by the government and prepared by two senior civil servants. It "clearly establishes the anti-republican and subversive nature of the Muslim Brotherhood" and "proposes ways to address this threat", the presidency said ahead of the meeting.
France and Germany have the biggest Muslim populations among European Union countries. Authorities are eager to prevent any spread of extremist Islamist ideas in a country that has been rocked by a string of deadly jihadist attacks. Religious radicalization has become a hot-button issue as the far-right is becoming increasingly popular in France.
The hijab ban proposed by the Renaissance party would forbid "minors under 15 from wearing the veil in public spaces," phrasing that in France generally means places outside the home like the street, cafes, parks and stores. It added the hijab "seriously undermines gender equality and the protection of children". The party, led by former prime minister Gabriel Attal, also wants to introduce a "criminal offence for coercion against parents who force their underage daughters to wear the veil".
Rise of Islamophobia
The report sparked heated reactions. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused the government of inaction, saying on X that she has long proposed measures to "eradicate Islamist fundamentalism". Jordan Bardella, the leader of her National Rally party, said on France Inter radio: "If we come to power tomorrow, we will ban the Muslim Brotherhood." But critics have condemned what they call the rise of Islamophobia in France. "Islamophobia has crossed a line," hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon said on X.
He accused officials of endorsing "the delusional theories" of Le Pen and France's hardline Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau. The report pointed to the spread of Islamism "from the bottom up", adding the phenomenon constituted "a threat in the short to medium term". At the same time, the presidency stressed, "we are all perfectly aligned in saying that we must not lump all Muslims together". "We are fighting against Islamism and its radical excesses." The report zeroed in on the role of Muslims of France (Musulmans de France), which it identified as "the national branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in France."
The Federation of Muslims of France denounced "unfounded accusations" and warned against "dangerous" conflation between Islam and radicalism. "We firmly reject any allegation that attempts to associate us with a foreign political project or an 'entryism' strategy," said Muslims of France, warning against "a stigmatization of Islam and Muslims." The "constant accusation shapes minds, fuels fears and, sadly, contributes to violent acts," it added, pointing to the death of Aboubakar Cisse, a 22-year-old Malian who was stabbed dozens of times while praying in a mosque in southern France. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
UK, France unveil migrants deal as Macron ends visit
NORTHWOOD, United Kingdom: London and Paris unveiled a 'pilot' program on Thursday to return to France some of the migrants arriving in the UK on small boats across the Channel, as President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up his state visit. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the deal, hammered out during the French leader's three-day visit, 'groundbreaking' and capable of stemming the record numbers of people who have embarked on the perilous journey so far this year. 'This is groundbreaking, because this is a scheme intended to break the model, and to make it clear that if you cross in a small boat, then you'll end up where you started,' he said in a joint press conference with Macron. 'In exchange for every return, a different individual will be allowed to come here' in a safe manner, Starmer said, adding that the scheme would start within 'the coming weeks'. Although Starmer did not say how many people might be returned to France, media reports suggest it could initially total around 50 people a week. In comments likely to infuriate pro-Brexit groups, Macron said Britain's 2020 departure from the EU had worsened the situation in the Channel, cutting off legal migration routes and access to the bloc's own returns agreements. 'So for people wanting to cross, there is no legal way, nor a way of sending people back after a crossing,' Macron said. 'This is a pull factor to attempt the crossing — exactly the inverse effect of what Brexit promised.' Meanwhile, Macron urged joint UK-France recognition of a Palestinian state, calling such moves 'the only hope for peace' in the conflict-ridden region. Alongside migration, the two leaders used the visit to work on a raft of initiatives and shared concerns over defense, trade and culture. They included addressing the volatile situation in the Middle East, continued support for Ukraine and a 'reboot' of defense ties, including joint missile development and nuclear cooperation. Among the announcements was a commitment to increase from 10,000 to 50,000 troops a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) established more than a decade ago. The cross-Channel allies also said they would order more Storm Shadow cruise missiles — long-range, air-launched weapons jointly developed by the allies — while stepping up work on a replacement system. The missiles have been shipped to Ukraine in significant numbers to help Kyiv in its war with Russia following Moscow's full-scale 2022 invasion. Starmer and Macron dialed into a meeting Thursday of the so-called 'coalition of the willing' on Ukraine, announcing that new headquarters for the European-led, 30-nation grouping had opened in Paris. Britain and France are spearheading talks among the coalition on how to support a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, including potentially deploying peacekeeping forces. The visit also saw the typical British pomp and pageantry of such occasions, with King Charles III and Queen Camilla welcoming Macron and his wife Brigitte to Windsor Castle on Tuesday. The entourage enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage procession, a 41-gun salute and a banquet at Windsor Castle, west of London, where the Francophile king and French leader toasted a new 'entente amicale'. However, much of the attention over the three-day visit focused on the vexing issue of cross-Channel migration. It has become a major headache for Starmer's year-old Labour government, as support for the upstart anti-immigrant Reform UK party soars. More than 21,000 migrants have made the Channel crossing in rudimentary vessels this year alone. As the leaders met Thursday, the UK Coastguard said a number of the small boats headed to southeast England had been sighted in the Channel. Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage reacted to the returns deal, branding it 'a humiliation for Brexit Britain'. 'We have acted today as an EU member and bowed down to an arrogant French President,' Farage said on X. The main opposition Conservative Party also criticized the plan, accusing Starmer of 'weak and ineffective gimmicks'. The mooted migrant-exchange scheme has also sparked 'serious concerns' among some other European nations. – AFP
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Syria rejects federalism, urges Kurds to join army
DAMASCUS: Syria reiterated its rejection of federalism on Wednesday following a meeting with a Kurdish military official, calling on Kurdish forces to join the ranks of government forces. Mazloum Abdi of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) -- the Kurdish administration's de facto army—and interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa first struck an accord for integration in March with US backing, but its implementation has been held up by differences between the two parties. Abdi met with Syria's leader in Damascus on Wednesday in the presence of a US envoy to discuss stalled efforts to integrate the country's autonomous Kurdish administration into the Syrian state. The Kurds, who control vast swathes of territory in Syria's north, including oil and gas fields, have demanded a decentralized system of governance, which the new Islamist authorities in Damascus have rejected. A Kurdish Syrian official said, on condition of anonymity, that a meeting took place on Wednesday between Abdi and Sharaa. The official added that Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, also attended. The delegations were expected to discuss 'the relationship between the autonomous (Kurdish) administration and the government in Damascus, as well as economic and military issues', the official said. A Syrian government source told the official Alekhbariah television channel on Wednesday that Damascus remained committed to 'the principle of 'One Syria, One Army, One Government', and categorically rejects any form of division or federalization'. 'The Syrian army is the national institution that unites all children of the homeland, and the state welcomes the integration of Syrian fighters from the SDF into its ranks within the approved constitutional and legal frameworks,' the source said. The source also warned that any delays in implementing integration risked hindering efforts to 'restore security and stability to all regions'. The US-backed SDF spearheaded the offensive that ultimately led to the territorial defeat of the Islamic State group in Syria. In an interview with Kurdish channel Kurdistan 24, Barrack said that while he recognized the SDF's role in the fight against the IS group, it had to accept the 'reality' that 'the only future path for them is Damascus'. Sharaa, whose forces led the offensive that toppled former Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad after more than 13 years of civil war, has called for the dissolution of all armed groups in Syria. In an interview in May, Abdi emphasized the need for a 'decentralized Syria where all its components live with their full rights', an outcome he accused Syria's new authorities of opposing. The same month, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani warned that delaying the integration of the autonomous Kurdish administration could 'open the door to foreign interference, and fuel separatist tendencies'.— AFP
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Kuwait Times
Indonesia signs energy, grain deals with US
JAKARTA: A worker uses his smartphone as he waits for customers' orders at the main rice market in Jakarta on July 9, 2025, as high tariffs make Indonesian products, including agricultural commodities, less competitive in the US market. -- AFP JAKARTA: Indonesia's state oil company and agricultural firms have signed deals to increase their purchases of US goods, the country's chief economic minister told AFP on Wednesday, as Jakarta lays the groundwork to avoid the worst of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Southeast Asia's biggest economy has pledged to step up agriculture, energy and merchandise imports to close the trade gap with Washington and earlier this week struck a $1.25 billion deal to buy more US wheat. Trump has threatened Jakarta with a 32 percent tariff on top of a base 10 percent if it does not strike a new trade agreement by August 1. Chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto, who has travelled to Washington for trade talks, said Wednesday that state oil firm Pertamina signed a memorandum of understanding pledging more US energy purchases, without providing more details. Agriculture firms Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo, a member of Indonesia's Corn Mill Association, and FKS Group also signed memorandums of understanding to up their purchases. He did not disclose the value of the deals signed in Washington but last week he told reporters that Indonesian businesses would make a total spending commitment worth $34 billion. The Indonesian embassy in Washington said the agreements were struck at meetings in Washington on Tuesday. 'The meetings resulted in several commercial deals, as reflected in the signing of various memorandums of understanding, paving the way for new cooperation opportunities and deepening bilateral economic ties,' it said. US food corporation Cargill in a statement confirmed the slate of deals included an MoU for corn purchases. Data from the US trade representative office shows Washington's goods trade deficit with Jakarta was $17.9 billion in 2024, up 5.4 percent from the year before. – AFP
