France Goes to War against Islamic Separatism

Back in the halcyon days of the Obama administration, the great Barack refused ever to pronounce the words-- radical Islam. When radical Islamists shot up a kosher supermarket in Paris, our pusillanimous president refused to declare it an anti-Semitic action.

If our media had a minimal command of the English language, they would have labeled this rank cowardice what it was: a phobia, a visceral fear of offending Muslims. It should have been called Islamophobia, but apparently the term had been already been used for other purposes.

Anyway, America has relatively few Muslims. And it has less of a Muslim terrorism problem than it had during the Obama administration. Remember the Boston Marathon bombing. Remember San Bernardino. Remember the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando. Remember Major Hasan at Ft. Hood. 

But never pronounce the term, radical Islam. It might hurt some delicate feelings.

Anyway, France has a very large Muslim population. For some reason, this group has failed to assimilate into the nation. French Muslims have their own communities, which are No-Go zones. They commit acts of terrorism against French citizens. They are a rogue culture trying to impose itself on the French.

One remarks in passing, that most Muslim terrorists in France are not brought to trial. They are shot on the streets. The French police have been anything but respectful of the rights of people who wage culture war on their citizens.

Now, however, France’s left-leaning president, Emmanuel Macron, has offered a new policy to outlaw what he called “Islamic separatism.” As you know the French are not afraid to call radical Islam by its name.

The Wall Street Journal has the story:

French President Emmanuel Macron took aim at radical Islam Friday, announcing plans to outlaw what he called “Islamic separatism” in communities where he said religious laws are taking precedence over civil ones.

Mr. Macron said the law, if passed, would empower authorities to shut down associations and schools that he said indoctrinate children, and monitor foreign investment in religious organizations in France. It would also improve public services in poor suburbs, he said.

The bill, which will go before Parliament early next year, risks escalating tensions between Muslim groups in France and authorities who enforce the country’s strict secularism.

No more indoctrination in the ideology of radical Islam. 

France began introducing bans on wearing Islamic dress such as face coverings in public areas years ago. Since then, the social and economic alienation of French Muslims has only deepened.

Groups that practice radical forms of Islam, Mr. Macron said, were trying to create a parallel society governed by different rules and values than those espoused by the Republic.

“What we need to take on is Islamic separatism,” Mr. Macron said, during a visit to Les Mureaux, a suburb northwest of Paris.

Some believe that it’s all politics:

The French leader is under pressure to harden his stance on radical Islam in France as the 2022 presidential election approaches. His advisers see the bill as a way for Mr. Macron to outflank Marine Le Pen, leader of the anti-immigrant party National Rally.

Islamist terrorists have been recruiting fighters in France’s suburbs. Perhaps now that the caliphate has been ground into dust, there will be less recruiting. And perhaps the Trump-led strategic realignment in the region will have a direct impact on Islamist culture in the French suburbs.

France’s banlieues—the working-class suburbs that ring its major cities—have become fertile recruiting grounds for Islamist groups. France was one of the West’s biggest sources of Islamic State militants when the terror group controlled swaths of Iraq and northern Syria. Hundreds of French nationals traveled to Islamic State territory, many bringing children. Others have mounted terrorist attacks in France that have killed more than 250 people over the past five years.

For rhetorical purposes, Macron suggested that the government had some responsibility for not providing services in the suburbs. He might have added that government employees cannot enter these No-Go zones. That’s what it means to have a No-Go zone:

Mr. Macron said the government was partly to blame for the growing influence of some religious groups in parts of France. Religious associations are filling a void left by the government in poor suburbs, providing services such as child care, homework help, cultural and sports activities.

Some associations use these activities solely as a pretext to preach radical Islam, Mr. Macron said. He said the bill, if passed, would severely restrict home schooling to prevent children from being enrolled in clandestine religious establishments.

Macron has also gained the support of French Muslim groups-- to his great credit:

Anouar Kbibech, president of one of the country’s largest Muslim organizations, Rassemblement des Musulmans de France, welcomed Mr. Macron’s speech. He said he worried, however, that decisions to close down an association might become arbitrary.

“This is a risk,” said Mr. Kbibech.

Mr. Macron said the bill doesn’t target France’s entire Muslim community, one of Europe’s largest.

The new program continues work that had already been started:

The government has been working on a plan for years to tackle radical Islam. It recently started rolling out pilot programs in 15 different areas.

Since February 2018, it has shut down 212 bars and restaurants, 15 mosques or prayer rooms, 13 associations, 11 children's homes and four schools.

Authorities now plan to extend the program to the entire country. The government said it would work closely with the French Council of the Muslim Faith, an elected body intended to provide national representation for the Muslim community.

Fair enough, this is not quite the same as the forced assimilation practiced in another country. I will not name the other country, but you know what it is. Clearly, the French program is far better, to our Western sensibilities, than the Asian policy. 

But, ask yourself this, if it fails, what next?