Macron Defends France’s Stance on Islamist Extremism, Rejects Claims of Anti-Muslim Bias

In a long right of reply addressed to the British daily on Thursday, November 5, 2020, the President of the French Republic recalled his remarks made last month during the tribute ceremony for the beheaded professor, which were misinterpreted. According to Emmanuel Macron, "France is fighting against Islamist separatism, never against Islam." "I will not let anyone say that France, its State, cultivates racism towards Muslims," he specified.

For the President of the Republic, his fight against "Islamist separatism" is anything but a battle against Islam. In his op-ed in the British media, the French president also mentioned the multiple attacks that have targeted France since the terrorist act of Charlie Hebdo in 2015 and which have left 300 dead and several injured. According to President Macron, "France is being attacked for its values, secularism, freedom of expression, and that it ’will not give in’ to anything."

The Head of State recalled cases of Islamist "separatism". "In some neighborhoods as well as on the Internet, groups linked to radical Islam teach the children of France to hate the Republic, call for not respecting the laws. Go visit the neighborhoods where 3 or 4 year old girls wear the full veil" and "are raised in a project of hatred of the values of France," he argued before adding that France intends to fight these scourges and not against Islam.