The French authorities are planning to tighten control over mosques and religious schools to eradicate radicalism. Voting on the relevant bill will be held in the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, February 16, reports Associated Press.
In particular, the document is aimed at combating polygamy and forced marriage. The bill is expected to be passed by the lower house of parliament, where President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party has a majority. The document is unlikely to face resistance in the conservative-dominated Senate.
The bill has caused discontent among Muslims living in the country. They believe that the document restricts freedom of religion, and in France there are already enough laws to fight terrorism. Opponents of the bill also argue that this is only Macron’s attempt to earn political points among conservative and far-right voters ahead of next year’s presidential elections.
In October 2020, Macron promised to step up the fight against radical Islamists in the country after the murder of teacher Samuel Pati in the suburbs of Paris. According to Macron, the country has taken concrete action against associations that spread ideas of radical Islamism and destroy the country’s principles.