French Politician Royal Criticizes Teen at Center of Islam Controversy

Ségolène Royal does not want the young Mila, "a teenager who lacks respect," to be "erected as a paragon of freedom of expression". "There is a freedom to criticize religions, but I refuse to pose the debate on secularism from the declarations of a 15-year-old adolescent, because it is not from behaviors like these that we can seriously address the issue of secularism," Ségolène Royal said on the France 3 program "Dimanche en politique".

Several personalities, very involved on social networks since the start of the Mila affair, did not hesitate to react and criticize Ségolène Royal’s statements. "No, you are not Mila, Mrs. Ségolène Royal. You have no courage. Your contortions only inform about the direction of the wind," tweeted philosopher Raphaël Enthoven.

"I have always refrained from publicly criticizing Ségolène Royal, out of respect for the years spent campaigning in her wake. But the spectacle she has been offering for a few weeks now is truly distressing," said Amine El-Khatmi, president of the Printemps républicain.

Ségolène Royal is not the first politician to provoke controversy in reacting to Mila’s story. This week, Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet pleaded for a "mistake" after equating criticism of religions with "an attack on freedom of conscience".

It should be remembered that the public prosecutor’s office had even opened an investigation for "incitement to hatred against a group of people, on the grounds of their belonging to a particular race or religion" which will ultimately be dismissed.

Investigators are, however, continuing their investigations to find the authors of the death threats expressed against the young woman who filed a complaint.