French Authorities Plan To Close Seven Mosques And Muslim Associations By End Of 2021

Paris' Grand Mosque. (Wikimedia Commons/LPLT)

JAKARTA - French authorities plan to resume closing mosques and Muslim associations by the end of 2021, according to an announcement made by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.

Darmanin said that mosques and associations, which will be closed by the end of the year, were suspected of promoting radical Islamism in his announcement last Tuesday.

In addition, Gerald Darmanin also welcomed the decision to close a mosque in the city of Allonnes for six months on the grounds of defending radical Islam, with the bank account managing the mosque also confiscated.

He further explained that 13 associations have been closed in the country since Emmanuel Macron took office as President. In total, 92 of the country's 2.500 mosques were closed due to inspections carried out by the relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, around 36.000 foreign residence permits have been canceled since September 2020, on the grounds that these people are suspected of threatening public order.

Last August, France's highest constitutional authority approved a controversial "anti-separatism" law that drew criticism for cornering Muslims and removing only two articles.

The bill was passed by the National Assembly in July, despite strong opposition from far-right and left-wing lawmakers.

However, the government claims the law is meant to strengthen France's secular system. Meanwhile, critics believe the law limits religious freedom and marginalizes Muslims.

The bill was also criticized for targeting France's largest Muslim community in Europe, with 3.35 million members, as well as imposing restrictions on many aspects of their lives.

The law allows officials to intervene in mosques and associations responsible for their administration, as well as control the finances of Muslim-affiliated associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The law also limits Muslim education options by making homeschooling subject to official permission.

Not only that, under the same law, patients are prohibited from choosing their doctor based on gender for religious or other reasons, and "secularism education" has been made mandatory for all civil servants.

To note, France has been criticized by international organizations and NGOs, especially the United Nations, for targeting and marginalizing Muslims by law.