Pak slams France’s anti-radicalism bill, warns of ‘serious repercussions’

In remarks that may worsen the already-strained ties between Islamabad and Paris, Pakistan President Arif Alvi on Sunday asked the political leadership of France “not to entrench the discriminatory attitudes against Muslims into laws”, warning that such steps would lead to serious repercussions in the shape of hatred and conflict.

The president’s statement came in reference to an anti-radicalism bill passed by the French parliament’s lower house on Tuesday with an overwhelming majority that would strengthen oversight of mosques, Radio Pakistan tweeted.

“You [France] need to bring people together and not to stamp a religion in a certain manner to create disharmony and bias,” Alvi told an international conference on religious freedom and minorities rights, according to The Express Tribune.

Alvi also stated that the French le gislation was not in line with the United Nations Charter and contradicted the spirit of social har mony that Europe previously instilled in its society.

“Let there not be a retrogressive step for situations which arise out of animosity and for situations which are carried forward by the people who do not know about the real Islam,” he said. He warned that such a move would ultimately end up in a terrible scenario of hatred and hostility, The Express Tribune reported.

To label the entire religion in a different manner and to start taking precautions against an entire community sparks fears that will have very bad repercussions in the next 10 years, if not now, the Pakistan president said.

The Bill titled: “Supporting respect for the principles of the Republic” was passed by the French lower house on Tuesday. It aims to strengthen oversight of mosques, schools and sports clubs to safeguard France from radical Islamists and to promote respect for French values.