France to overhaul secularism teaching to help stop radicalisation

Image (1) Eiffel-tower-at-night-e1360396514264.jpg for post 162693

Eifel tower the most well known landmark of Paris. Built in 1887-1889

Source: The Guardian

By Angelique Chrisafis in Paris

Education minister says pupils should be taught that separation of church and state is there to protect them, accusing rightwing politicians of twisting principle

The French principle of secularism has been twisted by politicians and so often wrongly used to attack Islam that school children have been left baffled, the French education minister has warned.

Najat Vallaud-Belkacem told the Guardian that after last year’s devastating jihadi attacks in Paris, France was overhauling the teaching of secularism and civic values as part of the country’s drive against terrorism and radicalisation.

“We have to reappropriate the concept of laïcité [secularism] so we can explain to our young pupils that whatever their faith, they belong to this idea and they’re not excluded. Secularism is not something against them; it protects them,” she said.

rose

A woman holds out a white rose in Toulouse following the Charlie Hebdo attacks. A woman holds out a white rose in Toulouse following the Charlie Hebdo attacks. Photograph: Remy Gabalda/AFP

Since last January’s attacks on the satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Paris kosher supermarket, when 17 people were killed, and November’s attacks that killed 130, French schools have taken centre-ground in the nation’s soul-searching on how young French men could take up guns against their fellow citizens.

Much of the soul-searching has been painful. There were more than 200 incidents of disruption in schools during the minute’s silence after the attack on Charlie Hebdo, a magazine that published the Muhammed cartoons. In turn, the government launched an action plan against inequality and what the prime minister called France’s “territorial, social and ethnic apartheid”. Since then, more than 800 children have been flagged up by schools over potential radicalisation.

In an interview with the Guardian as she travelled to London to look at how UK schools tackle social inequalities and to discuss digital education, Vallaud-Belkacem said the principle of secularism was central to the anti-radicalisation struggle in France.

France is a secular republic built on a clear separation of church and state, intended to foster equality for all private beliefs. The state remains neutral in terms of religion but must safeguard everyone’s freedom to practise their own faith. In 2004, France banned girls from wearing Islamic headscarves in state schools – along with banning all other religious symbols such as crosses or turbans – arguing schools must be free of all religion.

More:

Suggested Reading

Shariah and Constitution: A Personal Journey

 

1 reply

  1. What is meant by ‘Integration’.??

    From my prospective.

    For example’
    If you visit your family or friend, and stay few days there, you should respect the rule of your friend; such as how do they eat, how do they drink etc
    It means you can not force them not to drink Alcohol or pork when you come to their house. You can not make the rule at their house.

    If you do not like them to drink Alcohol, do not visit them.

    My suggestion to American, Europe Muslims, you can not create Islamic law in America, or Europe. You can not create Islamic bank, Islamic schools, Islamic Airline, Islamic foods etc.

    As you know that Islamic Bank do not allow non Muslim to become employee.

    Islamic Airline do not allow non Muslim to become employee and do not allow non Muslim to drink alcohol and eat pork.

    This is the act of discrimination against non Muslim.

    Whereas the true Islamic teaching is that;
    Islam is the religion of justice for all.
    Islam is the religion of tolerance.
    Islam is the religion of freedom and Liberty.
    Islam is the religion of peace and mercy
    Islam is the religion of love, compassion.
    Islam is against discrimination.

    These messages should be taught to our children and grand children at home and school.

    Was Salam

Leave a Reply