Radical Islamic Clerics To Be Deported From France

France is taking a hard stance on radical Islam leaders, stating that deportation of radical religious clerics who have attempted to manipulate culture and education will begin shortly. The French Interior Minister has said that they will not allow imams who degrade women, and believe they must rise up against France. This is part of France’s movement against “global jihadism,” and comes after other movements to ban radical tendencies such as banning burqas or religious garb used by traditional Muslims.

Although historically Catholic, the state of France does not recognize an official religion, merely the freedom of religious institutions- if not considered to be a threat to the people(certain groups have been deemed dangerous or cult-like and also banned from practicing.) Similarly to other western European countries, France has been at the forefront of secularism, taking measures against any overtly religious practice or symbols, while still allowing the practice of a person’s beliefs in regards to worship.

The French government have been adamant about banning any aspect that makes a group(religious or gender) subservient to another. Fundamentalists and human rights advocates believe that this is an act against what should be considered “religious freedom,” but so far has found to be constitutional as it does not provide disproportionate penalty and does not extend towards places of worship.

By:Courtney Kidd, LMSW
SJS Staff Writer