"Stop Islamophobia" .. 4 questions about a march against Islamophobia in France

Hundreds of people in France have signed a call to protest against Islamophobia on Sunday and to condemn the stigmatization of Muslims, the French daily Le Parisien reported.

Nicolas Perot, who wrote the article in Le Parisien, said the call for a "halt to Islamophobia" scheduled for Sunday in Paris has caused much ado since it was announced by or close to left-wing figures in the context of the current tensions raised by the veil. .

What is the purpose of this march?
The writer said that the aim of this march, according to the signatories, is to denounce the "stigmatization" or rejection of Muslims in our country, as "Islamophobia in France is a reality, and we have to unite and fight so that Muslims and Muslims are not again subjected to such treatment."

The writer said that this call was launched after a wide debate on the Islamic religion, especially about wearing the veil for women accompanying students on school trips.

However, the general climate became more tense after the attack in which two people were injured on a mosque in Bayonne on 28 October.

"Many of the issues that stigmatize Muslims have appeared in a very short time in the news," said MP Ugo Bernalikis of the LFE (unaffiliated France) party, one of the signatories to the call.

"The climate has become much worse and must be stopped," she said in the European Parliament Esther Benpasa.

Who calls for protest?
The call was made via the Liberation on November 1 by some groups and personalities, including Majid Massoud, elected in the Saint-Denis region, and the Anti-Islamophobia Society in France.

It was signed by several hundred figures, including left-wing political leaders, associations and activists, including in particular the LFE deputies, feminist Caroline de Haas, former player Vikash Durasu, Secretary-General of the General Confederation of Labor Philippe Martnez, and Jerome Rodrigue. He is one of the "characters" of the yellow jackets, according to the author.

Some signatories are rejected .. Why?
The anti-Islamophobia in France is seen by some as close to the Muslim Brotherhood, extremist circles or political Islam, the writer said, noting that one of the signatories in particular draws attention, the imam of the Bourges mosque, Nader Abu Anas, who he described as controversial.

The writer explained that this imam, who retracted from his positions on the woman, which includes not to leave her home without the permission of her husband, has withdrawn from the list of signatories on Tuesday evening, saying on Twitter that he withdrew "to protect this unitary approach and because of the importance of this issue," and stressed "his understanding of the legitimate uproar Raised by his recordings on the conditions of women. "

Most of the signatories claim, according to the writer, that they were unaware that he was on the list. "I fell among the first and I did not wonder who would sign. I am happy that this imam has withdrawn," Benbasa said.

Did the text of the invitation arouse controversy?
Beyond the list of signatories, the author says, some of the terms used in the text have caused some controversy.

European MP Yannick Gado said in a televised speech that he "disagrees with the entire text", for example, retaining the existence of the phrase "state racism in our country".

The Socialist Party, which has not signed any of its voters, has reserved some slogans that "secular laws in force are lethal to freedoms."

The writer concluded that there was some tension aroused by the use of phrases such as Islamophobia and to consider the ban on headscarves in the school "liberation of Muslims."