30,000 refugees ‘will be welcomed’ in France
Syrians will be accepted over 2 years, undergo rigorous security checks
PARIS French President François Hollande declared on Wednesday that his country will not turn its back on refugees despite the terror attacks on the French capital last week.
Announced the decision at a gathering of mayors from French cities, where he received a standing ovation, Hollande said that “30,000 refugees will be welcomed over the next two years. Our country has the duty to respect this commitment.”
He indicated that resettled refugees would undergo rigorous security checks, adding there would be a 50-million euro investment fund used to support housing for refugees.
Hollande said “some people say the tragic events of the last few days have sown doubts in their minds,” referring to the cloud of suspicion that has fallen on the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who arrived at Europe’s borders this year. Hollande said it was France’s “humanitarian duty” to honour its commitments to refugees.
“We have to reinforce our borders while remaining true to our values,” the French president said.
The message flies in the face of recent statements by U.S. Republican presidential hopefuls and governors, who have all cited the security concerns surrounding the terror attacks as reasons to halt resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States. Some have proposed only allowing in Christian refugees, at the expense of Muslim ones.
Hollande urged his countrymen to defy terrorists by going back to their normal way of life, visiting cafés, museums and sports stadiums, and not caving in to fear and xenophobia.
“Terrorists steal the lives of innocent people and they also want to suspend ours,” Hollande said in the televised address. “France will remain a country of freedom, of movement, of culture, an active, brave, dynamic country that doesn’t surrender to fear.”
In a speech following a sevenhour police siege linked to the attacks, the president proclaimed that France is “at war” with terrorists, but also warned against overreactions.
France will remain a country of freedom, of movement, of culture, an active, brave, dynamic country that doesn’t surrender to fear.
“We must be implacable against all forms of violence. No xenophobic, anti-Semite, anti-Muslim act must be tolerated,” he said.