France takes an important step against Muslim extremism

The law was speeded up after the beheading of Professor Samuel Paty last October by a Muslim extremist. Paty had shown caricatures of Mohammed in his class in a lesson on free speech.

The murder of the teacher sparked outrage. Sun 81 percent of French people say it is important that stricter measures be taken against extremists, as required by law.

‘Samuel Paty-article’

The plans, which have now been approved by the House, will punish radical Muslims more harshly and control them more strictly.

Someone could soon be jailed for three years if they put someone’s private information online, putting that person in danger. This legal article is called the “Samuel Paty article”. Social media mentioned the professor’s school, which enabled the killer to track down Paty.

Threats against officials are also punished more severely. Doctors are no longer allowed to issue “virginity certificates”. And polygamy, marriages with several partners at the same time, is approached more harshly.

Restricted homeschooling

The law also wants to put Islamic organizations and mosques under the microscope. Mosques need to better justify why and when they receive money from abroad. Cultural organizations must adhere to French standards and values ​​before being eligible for grants.

Home schooling is reduced. According to the government, parents with extremist ideas sometimes keep their children at home to teach them themselves. The possibilities for this are limited.

Hundreds of amendments

Analysts say President Emmanuel Macron’s new law primarily concerns right-wing voters wants to reassure you in view of the presidential elections which will take place next year.

Macron expects to face right-wing populist Marine Le Pen again in 2022, as he did in the last elections in 2017. By proposing a law against Muslim extremism, he wants to cut him off from his feet.

By the way, the law was not passed without a struggle. There is 135 hours of debate and various parties have proposed hundreds of amendments. The leftist opposition has said it fears Muslims will be stigmatized. The right-wing opposition called for tougher measures.

Now that the House of Representatives has approved the law, the House will have the floor from the end of next month. President Macron will encounter problems there. His own LREM party has a majority in the lower house, but the right-wing opposition holds the most seats in the Senate. So there will be an attempt to further tighten the law.

The final version of the law then returns to the House of Representatives for a final vote.