French PM Defends Use of ’Islamophobia’ Term After Mosque Killing

"I can see that there are many debates," the Prime Minister noted in the columns of the Journal du dimanche (New window), admitting "not understanding some of these controversies." For him, "we cannot fight what we do not want to name." On April 25, Aboubakar Cissé, a 22-year-old Malian, was killed in the mosque of La Grand-Combe (Gard). "Here, the facts are clear: a 22-year-old boy, murdered in a mosque while praying. And his attacker films his death while uttering insults against Allah," François Bayrou recalled.

The Prime Minister says he "stands by" the choice of the term "Islamophobic ignominy" that he used to describe the murder of this Muslim worshipper. "I ask the question: if this is not hatred directed against Islam, what is it? Why refuse the right words?" he adds. According to him, it was necessary "to have the courage to say things as they are." When asked about the term "Islamophobia" which did not exist in French law, the head of government replied that he had only "made a tweet." "It’s a human, political, moral reaction," he insisted. "What matters to me is not the word, it’s what is happening: a form of chain explosion of French society."

Bayrou says he sees "a danger: that of no longer looking at one’s fellow citizens except through their origin, skin color or religion. I see the hatred of Muslims and Islam, the hatred of Jews and Judaism. And the hatred of Christians. With crimes in all three cases." And he concludes: "The hatred of a fellow citizen for what he is, for his origin, for his faith, for his philosophy, I will never accept it."