A collective of mosques and Muslim associations in Île-de-France has warned Emmanuel Macron against “the deleterious escalation of the treatment of Islam and Muslims” in France, calling it “vague”. concept of “separatism”.

“For several months, Muslims in France have increasingly been the target of the worst stigmatizations and invective from political figures and certain media who have made Islamophobia a goodwill, thus promoting amalgamation and suspicion from a whole section of French society. ” In an open letter unveiled this Thursday, October 8, a collective of mosques and Muslim associations warned Emmanuel Macron against “the deleterious escalation in the treatment of Islam and Muslims”.

This collective claims to represent around fifty mosques or associations in eastern Paris or the Ile-de-France region (Rosny-sous-Bois, Aulnay-sous-Bois, Chelles, La Courneuve, Sevran, Neuilly-sur-Marne, Bussy-Saint-Georges, Sarcelles …), As well as the Les Musulmans platform (close to the Collectif contre l’islamophobie en France).

For a “constructive dialogue, far from any suspicion”

“What we need is a constructive dialogue, far from any suspicion, and not a continuous blacklisting through the use of vague general concepts like ‘radical Islam’, ‘political Islam’, or more recently still separatism “, adds the collective, six days after Emmanuel Macron’s speech at Les Mureaux aimed at attacking” Islamist separatism “.

He denounces in particular a “desire to put Muslim organizations under control with systematically unannounced checks in our mosques, prayer rooms, Muslim schools. […] with police means worthy of an era that we thought was over. […] Muslims, in their overwhelming majority, live in peace and harmony in French society and respect the secular framework and the laws of the Republic, “he assures us.

Against the “harassment” of Muslim women with a headscarf

For this group too, “the stigmatization and harassment suffered by Muslim women who have decided to wear a headscarf to live their faith freely has become unbearable”. “This pressure is no longer acceptable and must end immediately,” he said.

According to the collective, his initiative is supported by federations such as the RMF (close to Morocco) of Anouar Kbibech, former president of the French Council of Muslim Worship, the Turkish Milli Görüs, or the association Foi et Pratique (ultra- rigorists of the Tabligh).