France defends controversial law to combat Islamist radicalism
- Macron has pushed the legislation after a spate of attacks blamed on extremists, such as the beheading of a teacher who showed students cartoons of the Prophet
- The bill would tighten rules on issues such as religious-based education, virginity tests and polygamy, and has been slammed by critics in Muslim countries
The French government defended draft legislation clamping down on Islamist radicalism on Wednesday as a “law of freedom” after a torrent of criticism from Muslim countries and expressions of concern from the US.
President Emmanuel Macron has pushed the legislation – which would tighten rules on issues ranging from religious-based education to polygamy – after a spate of attacks blamed on extremists.
“This bill is not a text aimed against religions or against the Muslim religion in particular,” Prime Minister Jean Castex told reporters after the cabinet approved a text to present to parliament.
“It is the reverse – it is a law of freedom, it is a law of protection, it is a law of emancipation against religious fundamentalism.”
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Castex said the target of the bill “was the pernicious ideology that goes by the name of Islamist radicalism”.