French Parliament Approves New ’Separatism’ Law Targeting Radical Islamism

By 130 votes in favor and 4 abstentions, the deputies adopted, on Thursday, Article 4 of the text aimed at radical Islamism, presented in the Council of Ministers on December 9 last by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, and the Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior, in charge of Citizenship, Marlène Schiappa.

Despite the sustained controversy, the creation of the "offense of separatism", representing a pillar of the draft law on "separatisms", is now a reality. This draft law, which is to be examined by the Senate, provides for a penalty of "five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros" against "any person threatening, assaulting or intimidating an elected official or a public service agent in order to totally or partially evade the rules of public services". In addition, "if the offense is committed by a foreigner, a ban on entering French territory may be pronounced".

According to the government, the draft law "strengthening respect for the principles of the Republic", the examination of which began on Monday, February 1 at the National Assembly, aims to "fight against separatism and attacks on citizenship". It also aims to provide answers to "community withdrawal and the development of radical Islamism, by strengthening respect for republican principles and by amending the laws on cults".

The deputies also validated the creation of an offense of obstruction to the function of a teacher, aimed at pressures and insults, a measure that had been added in committee at the initiative of a deputy (LR). Last October, Samuel Paty, a history and geography teacher, had been murdered after being threatened for showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad as part of a course on freedom of expression.