Jean-Louis Bianco, president of the Observatory of secularism, in April 2017. -

Patrick KOVARIK / AFP

The president of the Observatory of Secularism, the former PS Minister Jean-Louis Bianco, defended his action against Islamism on Friday, firmly denying the accusations of appeasement launched by certain politicians, especially after the assassination of Samuel Paty.

Matignon announced on Tuesday that he wanted to "renew" the Observatory, accused in recent days by certain politicians and secular activists of not doing enough against Islamism, or even proximity to certain controversial movements.

An angry platform

His fate divides even in the majority and his detractors accuse him in particular of being close to the Committee against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) - threatened with dissolution by the government after the death of Samuel Paty - recalling that they signed together a platform after the attacks of November 2015.

This forum "does not emanate from the Observatory" and "was signed by nearly 15,000 people" including personalities such as "the current Defender of Rights Claire Hedon", "the secretary general of the CFDT Laurent Berger", " the Chief Rabbi of France Haïm Korsia ”,“ the director of CRIF Robert Ejnes ”,“ the secretary general of Catholic education Pascal Balmand… ”underlines Jean-Louis Bianco in a press release.

"Are these personalities" close to Islamism "or" close to the CCIF "which is also a signatory?

He wonders.

Recommendations included in the law

He also rejects the term “flexible secularism” sometimes used in connection with his body responsible for “assisting the government in its action” for the respect of secularism in France.

The Observatory "never admits secularism and very strictly recalls the law, that is to say that which derives from secular laws (law of 1905, law of 2004, etc.)", explains Jean-Louis Bianco.

He recalls that both the government and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) have regularly relied on its work to put in place or approve laws, in particular that of 2004 banning the veil at school.

The Observatory "is at the origin of the circular" against Islamism and for secularism "of February 2020", he adds, also recalling that several of its recommendations "were taken up in the speech of October 2 of the President of the Republic on the bill (on separatism) ”.

The Observatory has also trained "more than 350,000 actors in the field", adds Jean-Louis Bianco, who calls for "uniting" in "the fight against Islamism and against all fanaticisms".

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