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In a bold move, eighteen Muslim religious leaders in France have penned an open letter to Senate President Gérard Larcher, voicing strong opposition to proposals put forth by senators from the Les Républicains (LR) party aimed at combating Islamism. The Eustache-Brinio report, unveiled last Monday, outlines 17 measures to tackle what is termed «Islamist infiltration». The letter's authors criticize these recommendations, accusing them of being a «systematic political instrumentalization» of religious practices.
The contentious report suggests measures such as «banning fasting and the wearing of the veil in public spaces for those under 16», while also reinforcing «religious neutrality in sports activities». As reported by BFM TV, the signatories challenge this «yet another report» that exacerbates the «stigmatization» of Muslims in France. They argue that it is part of a pattern that has become «sadly familiar for the millions of French citizens of Muslim faith».
The leaders express their «weariness of being the subject of debates» to which they are «rarely invited» and caution against a climate that «instills fear of the other». They also question measures they see as «completely disconnected from the real phenomena of radicalization», viewing them as «direct attacks» on the «fundamental freedom» of Muslims and «their place in society».
Among the signatories, Bassirou Camara, a member of the Defense Against Discrimination and Anti-Muslim Acts Association (DDAM France), tells BFM TV that the focus should be on collaborating with Muslims to find «the most appropriate and effective way to fight against Islamism».
Highlighting what they describe as «a serious drift from our republican principles», the signatories lament the scarcity of truly competent religious or institutional actors in these debates. They urge the President of the Senate to engage with «field actors» who are directly involved in the issue.
