Introduction
France, which is renowned for its strong commitment to secularism and the strict separation of church and state, has recently found itself in the midst of a controversy that has captured global attention. Images depicting approximately 30 Muslim travelers engaging in a collective prayer session in the departure area of Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris have ignited debates about how much freedom of religion is too much.
The Incident
The incident at Charles de Gaulle Airport involved a group of Muslim travelers who gathered to pray together before embarking on their journey to Jordan. This heartfelt religious act took place in terminal 2B and lasted approximately 10 minutes. While many airports worldwide have designated areas to accommodate individuals of all faiths for private prayers, France's stringent secularism laws categorically prohibit public displays of religious belief in various public structures, including airports.
France’s commendable commitment to Secularism
France boasts a profound history of secularism, a guiding principle encapsulated in a law known as "laicite." Enacted in 1905, this law aimed to curtail the influence of the Catholic Church and clergy, while firmly establishing a clear separation between religious identity and the public domain. Within the public sphere, individuals are acknowledged solely as citizens of the Republic, devoid of any religious affiliations.
Significantly, "laicite" does not expressly target any specific religious symbols, but Muslims still demand special treatment. Just because Muslims practice doesn’t mean that they’ll now follow the laws of the country they are in. France is saving itself from a very big headache by not allowing any relaxation in its strict secular laws. Even when there are designated areas where an individual can pray inside the airport, the group decided to offer their prayers in the middle of the airport. One concession leads to another and the day won’t be far away when Muslims start demanding that they be allowed to be in a polygamous marriage or even prohibit women from driving cars all in the name of not being Islamophobhic.
The Debate
The incident at the airport has ignited fervent debates on social media and within society at large. While some perceive it as an "attack on the West," others accuse critics of fostering 'Islamophobia.' French MP Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet has underlined the presence of dedicated places of worship at the airport and called for the stringent enforcement of prevailing rules in France, including those at airports.
The Government’s Response
The French government, under the leadership of President Emmanuel Macron, has adopted a firm stance against what they perceive as "political Islam." This position was further bolstered following significant incidents such as the Charlie Hebdo attacks and the tragic beheading of Samuel Paty, a teacher who chose to display controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad as part of a free-speech lesson.
In February 2021, the French parliament's lower house resoundingly passed a bill aimed at strengthening oversight of mosques, schools, and sports clubs to safeguard France from the influence of radical Islamists and to uphold respect for French values. Since France is a truly secular nation, it bears no obligation to respect Islamic Laws or Christian laws for that matter, what matters most are French laws and their strict enforcement inside French borders. Attempts to change this liberty and absolute secularity shouldn’t be made inside France but in nationals that would tolerate favoring one religion over all others.
The Past Incidents
The incident at Charles de Gaulle Airport is not isolated but unfolds within a broader context of controversies surrounding religious expression in France. One of the notable incidents was the use of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a lesson on free speech, which led to the killing of members of the Charlie Hebdo magazine.
President Macron's call for action against "political Islam" has underscored the government's commitment to addressing issues related to religious extremism and radicalization. In February 2021, the French lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approved a bill aimed at enhancing supervision of mosques, schools, and sports clubs to protect France from radical Islamists and uphold respect for French values.
Conclusion
It is clear from these incidents that certain individuals from the Muslim societies are unable to digest the absolute freedom that is available in France.
This has become a cycle. First they criticize the authorities if they do not allow them to migrate illegally using boats and routes used by drug smugglers. Legal migration is one of the greatest boons of the Western civilization. Migrants from India and China assimilate in Western societies sharing their practices and learning the practices in the societies they have now joined.
Globalism is all about this mix of practices. What globalism is not about is forcing one religious practice over every nation on Earth. It is high time that the Muslims learn that France is only their home for as long as they treat it as their home and not a Madarsaa.
Beheading people for criticizing their practices, praying in public wearing veils in public might be allowed in an Islamic country and in order to practice that they must emigrate there. France is liberty and liberty is France, without one the other loses its meaning.
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