“France will always protect its Muslim communities”, declares Minister

Manuel Valls, the current government’s Minister for Internal Affairs, declares during the visit of the  mosque of Ozoir-la-Ferrière (Seine-et-Marne) which has been subject to racist inscriptions that ‘France never tolerated any acts or words directed against Muslims. France will always protect the Muslims of France”. The ministers speech was part of a set of speeches made in mosques during the holy month of Ramadan. The minister called the slogans depicted on the mosque’s walls in February as ‘despicable’ and ‘unacceptable’.

While the actions and threats against Muslims increased by 35% during the first six months of the year compared to 2012, the minister said: “I will never let anyone say, nor believe that the authorities […] would favour anti-Semitic acts over anti-Muslim or anti-Christian acts. We know of this kind of rhetoric. It is false. It is shameful. This is one of division of hatred which is often guided towards another. ” He continued to speak against radicalization as a response to an increase in Islamophobia by saying that ” the Republic will always oppose those who would make France a land of conquest, which would, in the name of a misguided belief, impose laws other than the law for all.” Referring to the riots in Trappes (Yvelines), Valls stated that “the law banning the wearing of  the niqab in public places should be applied firmly […] Those who continue to advocate for wearing the niqab challenge our institutions.”

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