WHAT have I got to do to be heard? I have to put my fingers to the keyboard on this issue that now infuriates Muslims the world over. I have seen and read the over 9,000-word speech by French President Emmanuel Macron titled “Fight against separatism” released on October 2.

The aim was to define the problems that endangered the French people’s ability to live together and share in decisions taken. The issue is not laïcité (secularism) since France is cemented by it.

The problem is the ideology of Islamist separatism or radical Islamism to create a parallel order. In other words, deviations from the Republic’s values and laws, which include children being taken out of schools and the development of separate community sporting and cultural activities.

The ELCO system in schools provides for the teaching of languages and cultures of origin with teachers who were not proficient in French. This is against a single system where schools must first and foremost instil the values of the country. It negates the principles of gender equality, the right to blaspheme and freedom of expression.

France is worried about things like the recent events near the premises of Charlie Hebdo and the January 2015 attacks. What created the uproar is the statement that says Islam is a religion that is currently experiencing a crisis all over the world, including in countries where Islam is the majority religion. But the last part says “which is being infected by radical manifestations”.

There were admissions that France have built its own separatism and created abject poverty and difficulties, and that it hasn’t been able to rebuild sufficient integration. The promise of the Republic was not kept and has sometimes gone backwards.

Battles against discrimination, racism and anti-Semitism may have also gradually encouraged this development. 

It must admit, too, its unresolved colonial past. I am encouraged by the words “let’s not fall into the trap of conflating issues, set by polemicists and extremists, which consists in denouncing all Muslims. That trap is what the enemies of the country set us” and “but we must help this religion to structure itself in our country so that it is a partner of the Republic”.

Mr President, while you take responsibility for counter-radicalization plans, please keep in mind freedom of expression. Preventing seven-year-old girls from wearing full-face veils infringes on a person rights and respect for their private life. Such a thing is not irresponsible behaviour nor encouraging racial or religious hatred.

You may want to revisit the findings by the ombudsman on children’s rights. Protest laws that risk undermining the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, harassment by the police in some regions, people facing trial and conviction for their humanitarian work, discriminatory and illegal orders at a police station that target “black people and north Africans” and “homeless and Roma people”, and threats to press freedom.

Hopefully, the above is done before December 9 when a bill will be presented to the Council of Ministers to strengthen laïcité and consolidate republican principles.

I am amazed and respect your efforts in tackling the above issue and trust politicians in Malaysia can follow your example.

In the new awakening to regain control, winning people back and getting them to love the country again, my only wish is that you can say sorry for fourteen (14) words, namely, “Islam is a religion that is currently experiencing a crisis all over the world”.

It certainly will resolve the uproar with a sense of calm, respect and pragmatism and also unite the country and not divide it.

I respect France as a nation of citizens and not a society of individuals. – November 1, 2020.

*Saleh Mohammed reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.