Macron accuses his rival Le Pen of pushing for a "civil war" by wanting to ban the headscarf
Outgoing French President Emmanuel Macron has accused his far-right rival Marine Le Pen of risking a "civil war" in France if she is elected president and fulfills her pledge to ban the Islamic headscarf in public.
During a televised presidential debate, Le Pen affirmed her adherence to her controversial idea of banning the headscarf, which she considers "a uniform imposed by Islamists," according to her opinion, but she stressed that she "does not fight Islam."
Macron replied, “You will spark a civil war.
I say that honestly.”
"You are pushing millions of our citizens out of public space," Macron said, considering that this would be a "law of ostracism", but Le Pen responded, saying it would be "a law in defense of freedom."
"France, the home of enlightenment and universalism, will become the first country in the world to ban religious symbols in public places," he added.
This is what you are proposing, and it is illogical.”
He added, mocking his opponent, "How many policemen do you suggest to pursue someone who wears the hijab, the kippah, or any religious symbol?"
After seeming to have withdrawn in recent days from this project, Marine Le Pen returned and confirmed Wednesday evening that she "is with the ban on the veil in public places."
The far-right candidate considered it "related to the liberation of women," and added, "I am not against Islam, a religion that has its place" in France.
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