May 3, 2012
In the presidential debate on May 3rd (prior to the final election of May 6, 2012) Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy appeared to take similar positions when it came to special treatment for France’s large Muslim community.
Hollande said he would not allow separate menus in public cafeterias or separate hours in swimming pools for men and women to satisfy Muslims’ demands, and also said he would firmly support France’s ban on the face-covering Islamic veils.
Sarkozy said there must be an Islam “of” France and not an Islam “in” France. He also vaunted his ban on the niqab in France.
