In February, France's President Emmanuel Macron pledged a crackdown on Islamic separatism, also vowing to end a system that stipulates foreign countries sending imams to preach in French mosques.
In a communique released on Thursday, president of the French party National Rally, Marine Le Pen, called for more practical steps to resolve the threat of “Islamist radicalisation” in the country.
She recalled a recent parliamentary report that expressed concern over “the reality” of such radicalisation, also pointing out that “a minority of the French population of Muslim faith tends” to accept “intransigent” behaviour under the guise of religion.
In an apparent criticism of Emmanuel Macron's handling of the issue, the National Rally head noted that she wonders how many Salafist mosques have been closed since the French president's promise in February to fight Islamic separatism in the country.
She emphasised that the time is ripe to take “decisive steps” in the face of spreading “Islamist totalitarianism, an ideology which does not recognise the separation of religion and the state, a great principle of democratic and pluralist societies”.
She also highlighted the need to “stop a massive and anarchic immigration which only reinforces the communitarianism, paving the way for spreading radical Islamism”.
Macron Vows to Grapple With Islamist Separatism
The remarks followed Macron pledging in mid-February to restrict other countries from sending…
