French newspaper "Le Figaro" said that Muslims in France are closely watching the upcoming "separatism" bill, questioning its content, and condemning the ambiguity surrounding the concept of "separatism" itself.
The newspaper pointed out that the dean of the New Grand Mosque in Paris, professional lawyer Shams El Din Hafez, warned that the "separatism" bill was merely a matter of an electoral topic, not an important law that would make Muslims feel protected from violations under it.
The dean of the mosque refused to "confuse Islamists with political Islam and the group of Muslims in France who practice a peaceful Islam within a republican framework that is not subject to discussion." In a sectarian trap, which reinforces societal isolation. "
The newspaper pointed out that this Muslim official identified himself as "an opponent of those who seek to turn Muslims into a scapegoat" and at the same time "an ally of everyone who really wants to fight Islamic extremism."
Prime Minister Jean Castex asked about the separatism law, saying, "What law?", When he formally received the French Council of the Islamic Religion, and referred to the Ministry of the Interior, given that talking about the draft law was premature;
Because there was little discussion about it.
Heated debate
However, the Minister of the Interior announced in the Paris mosque that the bill would not start until September 26, based on "the main lines laid down by the President of the Republic," and that the consultations of religious bodies for a parliamentary debate would end at the end of 2021.
"Nothing has been drafted yet, and we have a full year of consultations," the minister explained reassuringly, which enables Muslims - according to the newspaper - to directly judge the draft law.
However, the president of the French Council of the Islamic Faith, Muhammad al-Musawi, remained cautious about the debate that is now raging, saying, "We cannot discuss a hypothetical matter ... We are waiting for the official text before we express ourselves." And he expressed his stand "against the pre-trial of Muslims by mixing religion with politics at the time. In which we practice our religion, respecting the laws of the Republic. "
And in Lyon, the dean of the mosque, Kamel Kabtan, said that he was "concerned about this climate of distrust .. This concept of separatism bothered me a lot, who is separating? Certainly not Muslims who seek integration ... They want to create a permanent conflict with Muslims, I am concerned about the consequences of the law." It talks more about coercion than inclusion. "