AP correspondent Angela Charlton's scolding tone remained:
AP blamed French imperialism, and not immigration. That would sound too Trumpy.
France has the largest population of Muslims in Western Europe, more than 5 million in a nation of 67 million, a legacy of its colonial domination of large swaths of Africa and the Middle East.
But the country’s efforts to integrate Muslim immigrants have faltered. The official French doctrine of colorblindness is intended to ignore ethnic and religious backgrounds and to have all French citizens seen as equally French. In reality, the ideal often fuels discrimination against those who look, dress or pray differently from the historically Catholic majority, instead of preventing it.
AP blamed French president Emmanuel Macron for being too bold in opposing violent extremists. Notice how Muslim radicals are merely "seen as" undermining religious freedom. Charlton even cited Turkey's president Erdogan, who has squashed religious freedom for the Christians in...
Many countries, especially in the democratic West, champion freedom of expression and allow publications that lampoon Islam’s prophet. So why is France singled out for protests and calls for boycotts across the Muslim world, and so often the target of deadly violence from the extremist margins?AP tried another tweet, though, to play down the "France incites" tone...even if it still carries the curious tone of "freedom of expression is dangerous."
Its brutal colonial past, staunch secular policies and tough-talking president who is seen as insensitive toward the Muslim faith all play a role.
France has the largest population of Muslims in Western Europe, more than 5 million in a nation of 67 million, a legacy of its colonial domination of large swaths of Africa and the Middle East.
But the country’s efforts to integrate Muslim immigrants have faltered. The official French doctrine of colorblindness is intended to ignore ethnic and religious backgrounds and to have all French citizens seen as equally French. In reality, the ideal often fuels discrimination against those who look, dress or pray differently from the historically Catholic majority, instead of preventing it.
"Historically Catholic" is kinda funny, since Charlton acknowledges that France established secularism in 1905, and "Crucifixes were at one point torn from classroom walls in France amid painful public debate."As the number of Muslim in France grew, the state imposed secular rules on their practices. A 2004 banning Muslim headscarves and other ostentatious religious symbols in schools remains divisive, if not shocking to many outside France. A 2011 law banning face veils made Muslims feel stigmatized anew.
A century later, polls suggest France is among the least-religious countries in the world, with a minority attending services regularly. Secularism is broadly supported by those on both left and right.
AP blamed French president Emmanuel Macron for being too bold in opposing violent extremists. Notice how Muslim radicals are merely "seen as" undermining religious freedom. Charlton even cited Turkey's president Erdogan, who has squashed religious freedom for the Christians in...