Macron: "I Will Fight Against Islamic Separatism"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] French President Emmanuel Macron announced on the 18th (local time) that he will take measures to strengthen control over Islam in France, vowing to fight against Islamic separatism.

According to AP News and others, President Macron said during a visit to a police station in Mulhouse, eastern France, "We will win the war against Muslims who promote separatism within France." He added, "We will utilize education and the economy." President Macron emphasized, "Some forces, under the name of religion, want to separate themselves from the Republic (France) and do not abide by the law," adding, "We must fight this separatism."

President Macron plans to terminate the teacher dispatch program conducted with nine countries. Since 1977, France has operated a program accepting teachers from nine countries, including Algeria and Tunisia, to introduce foreign languages and cultures to French students. These foreign teachers can conduct classes in French schools without supervision from the French government, with about 80,000 students attending classes annually.

President Macron pointed out, "Many teachers who do not speak French or consider French culture become important channels for separatism." Given that many Muslim countries such as Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Turkey participate among the nine countries, this is interpreted as an effort to control the program.

Instead, he added that through individual agreements between countries, the French government will have the authority to control and allow classes to be conducted starting this September.

Along with this, President Macron said he will strengthen transparency regarding foreign assets of mosques and gradually abolish the dispatch of clergy from Algeria, Morocco, Turkey, and other countries. For clergy, education in French language and French law will be further enhanced.

Mulhouse is an area where many immigrant groups and right-wing residents coexist. President Macron visited here after being elected in 2017. One foreign media outlet analyzed that President Macron’s remarks this time aim to gain support from conservative voters by promoting order restoration ahead of next month’s local elections.

Also, the ongoing blasphemy debate against Islam in France is cited as a background for the remarks. Last month, a French teenager posted a video criticizing Islam on social networking services (SNS) and received death threats. In response, President Macron stated, "We have the right to blaspheme and the right to satirize and ridicule religion," adding, "It is a crime to incite hatred and violate dignity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.