France May Expel Islamic Extremists

yahoo News! ^ | Wed Apr 16 | KIM HOUSEGO

[nickcarraway]

PARIS - Worried by the growth of Islamic fundamentalism in France, the country's interior minister has threatened to expel any foreign Muslim religious leader who disseminates extremist propaganda.

Nicolas Sarkozy issued the warning after the unexpectedly strong showing of a Muslim fundamentalist party in weekend elections for a new council to represent France's various Islamic factions.

The Union of Islamic Organizations of France — inspired by Egypt's banned fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood — won 19 of the council's 58 seats. The moderate, Algerian-backed Mosque of Paris, which was considered a favorite, won just 15 seats.

"We want to say very simply: imams who propagate views that run counter to French values will be expelled," Sarkozy told Europe-1 radio on Tuesday.

A majority of Muslim leaders in France are of foreign nationality, according to the Interior Ministry.

Sarkozy, who was instrumental in creating the council, said he was determined to curb the influence of extremism on one of Europe's largest Muslim communities.

He said he would not allow the council to be used as a vehicle for spreading extremist views, notably sharia, or Islamic law.

"Islamic law will be applied nowhere because it is not the law of the (French) Republic," he said.

The council, a major step in France's effort to address the concerns of its 5 million Muslims, will serve as a link to government.

Unlike Roman Catholicism or Judaism, Islam has no hierarchical structure in France and, therefore, no leadership that can directly communicate concerns or grievances to the government.

The lack of structure has forced thousands of Muslims around France to practice their faith in makeshift underground prayer rooms simply because there are not enough mosques.

"If fundamentalism or extremism has spread so much, it is because we condoned an Islam of cellars and garages," Sarkozy said.

Part of the council's purpose is to oversee the building of more mosques and encourage foreign imams to learn French.

But Sarkozy also made clear the government will keep a close watch on the new council's activities and expects it to abide by French law.

"It is precisely because we recognize the right of Islam to sit at the table of the (French) Republic that we will not accept any misconduct," he said.

Under a pre-election agreement hammered out by Sarkozy, the head of the Mosque of Paris, moderate Dalil Boubakeur, will preside over the council initially.

[yonif]

After that is done, there will be no one left in the country.

[rj45mis]

France's effort to address the concerns of its 5 million Muslims

and then there were 10 million...15 million etc.

[isrul]

I bet France backs off on this with a clarification real soon.

[SwinneySwitch]

The french are foqued!

[xm177e2]

ROFL! I'd like to see France try this. So many of the Muslims in France are unemployed, on welfare, committing petty crimes--not out of necessity, but boredom--terrorizing girls who won't dress properly, and terrorizing everyone who won't conform to their radical politics and are too stupid to keep quiet. And every now and then, when they get bored with the petty stuff, they beat up a Jew who's stupid enough to live in France, or they steal a car, take it for a joyride, pour gasoline on top, and light the thing on fire (it's called a "rodeo").

And the French police do nothing. They aren't interested in actual police work, they don't like filling out all of the paperwork that comes with an arrest. Especially when they see the criminals spat back out onto the streets by a left-wing judge. It's not like arresting people helps them get promotions--the opposite is true. If they make fewer arrests, the crime statistics in their district are lower (making them look good) and the police face political pressure not to make arrests.

The entire French system is screwed up, in a major way. France is going to burn to the ground. Karma is a bitch that way. I, for one, won't miss it.

[Conservative4Ever]

I would say...to little to late.

Red

[Conspiracy Guy]

Does EXPELL mean, "ask someone to leave very nicely in a non-threatening manner," in France?

[JoeSixPack1]

This is so ironically rich it's hard to figure out where to start insulting them!

[Consort]

They will need the permission of Islamic Extremists before that can attempt this.

[joesnuffy]

Given France's values...muslims who havent raped (aka revolved) any Christian girls in the last 6 months will be deported to make room for some serious ones..

[Charles Martel]

Nicolas Sarkozy issued the warning after the unexpectedly strong showing of a Muslim fundamentalist party in weekend elections for a new council to represent France's various Islamic factions.

France has been building mosques with state funds, and now they've formed a council to give Islam some "structure" within the country. Then, they're "...shocked, shocked I tell you!" to find that the extremists are gaining the upper hand.

The French have set the stage for the eventual implementation of Sharia law, but the blind fools don't yet realize it. Well, maybe some are now seeing the problem, but it's too late to do anything about it.

[jdege]

Actualluy, I don't consider the Napoleonic Code much better than the Sharia, as a legal system protective of individual rights.

[jdege]

Actually, I don't consider the Napoleonic Code much better than the Sharia, as a legal system protective of individual rights.

[xJones]

They didn't just let the camel's nose into the tent, they invited the whole camel in, provide welfare and medicine for it, and are wondering why the camel is tearing around the place.

[Republicus2001]

why that'd be discriminatory - France should keep them

[D Rider]

Well Charles, get your butt to Paris!,... and take Vlad with you!

[b4its2late]

Yep, they are way past the "b4its2late" threshhold.

[Cicero]

Lots of luck. Yesterday's results in the elections to a new Muslim council seem to indicate that the "extremists" have the support of roughly two-thirds of the Muslims in France.

Jean le Pen has been calling for the expulsion of these people, but most French politicians regard le Pen as a racist Hitler.

Do the French have the resolve to deport 3 million Muslims? Obviously not. After a bit of shuffling they will solve the problem in the usual French way--by redefining the word "extremist."