violence and threats against the Muslim community have already been made. There have been

numerous instances in which Mosques were defaced, shot at or bombed. The question is, are

these isolated incidents or does France an issue with Islam?

Unfortunately, France does have a somewhat antagonistic relationship with it’s Muslim

population. France is a secular nation with strict laws designed to separate church and

state.

Some French policy-makers have used these secular beliefs to make things more difficult

for

France’s Muslim population. Practicing Islam demands physical expressions of belief from

most

of its followers. This includes wearing a hijab, or headscarf. In 2004, French policy-

makers were able to legally ban hijabs and other religious head coverings from public

schools.

Politicians responsible for the legislation said conspicuous religious symbols in public

schools

conflicted with the secular policies, or what the french call, “laïcite.”

Later, in 2011, veils that cover the face were officially outlawed from public places

on the

grounds of public safety. Lawmakers touted the ruling as a win for feminism and freedom

of

expression, but some Muslim women argue the opposite point. Muslim women who choose to

express their religious beliefs freely by wearing a veil are now unable to access public

places

without either being fined or jeopardizing their beliefs. If they followed the letter

of the law they

would be essentially trapped in their homes. And trapping woman in their homes is the opposite

of feminism.

The French Collective Against Islamophobia also says that since the new law, there has

been

“an explosion” in physical attacks against veiled women.

Adding to all of this is the fact that, one of the leading right-wing politicians, Marine

Le Pen

who obtained 18 percent of the votes in the first round of the 2012 presidential elections,

is

unabashedly anti-Islam. Her National Front party wants to drastically cut down on immigration

into the country. According to her Muslims "are advancing in the neighborhoods. They

are

putting pressure on the population. They are recruiting young boys [to train for jihad].”

In April

2014, Le Pen also announced that in towns won by National Front candidates, there would

no longer be pork-free lunch alternatives in some public schools, which obviously affects

both

Muslim and Jewish children.

All of these things contribute to some news organizations labeling France as Islamophobic.

And it’s hard to ignore the signs of disturbing intolerance in the region. Since the Charlie

Hebdo

shootings, there have reportedly been more than 50 separate attacks on the Muslim community.

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