Hollande sees ‘problem with Islam’:

Europe

Hollande

French President Francois Hollande told the authors of a book just published that “France has a problem with Islam”, comments that risk dividing his party before next year’s presidential election.

Hollande made the remarks to the two authors of “A President Shouldn’t Say That .... ” in December 2015, a month after Islamist militant gunmen and bombers attacked Paris, killing 130 people. Their book was published on Wednesday.

“It’s true that there’s a problem with Islam. No one doubts it,” Hollande is quoted as saying.

“It’s not that Islam poses a problem in the sense that it is a dangerous religion, but in as far as it wants to affirm itself as a religion of the Republic.”

The comments echo similar statements by conservative politicians following a fresh wave of militant attacks this summer, though Hollande did not suggest the hard-line responses advocated by some right-wing opponents.

Among other proposals, former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is seeking a return to the Elysee palace, has promised a nationwide ban on burkinis and said France should detain or tag all individuals on an intelligence watchlist.

Since the late 1980s, successive Paris governments have tried but failed to nurture a liberal “Islam of France” that would help integrate the faith into secular society. In August, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the state must re-invent its relationship with the “Islam of France”.

Asked about Hollande’s comments, government spokesman Stephan Le Foll said: “There’s a problem with Islam today because Islam is politicised by some. There is a problem and at the same time we need to be able to overcome this problem.” (RTRS)