Macron against Erdogan: French president has developed a "big plan" for Islam

Yelena Ivanova

Commentators' opinions on Macron's new policy of intolerance towards Islamic radicalism are not as polar as they were even 5 years ago. Macron defends Western values, writes the German Tagesspiegel. All the events after the demonstrative murder of the French teacher Samuel Pati by an 18-year-old Chechen immigrant because of cartoons - a kind of déjà vu for Europeans. Muslim countries are calling for a boycott of French goods due to Macron's unambiguous statements about freedom and Islam. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry calls the French ambassador, Erdogan insults Macron. As in 2005-2006, after the publication of the caricatures of the Prophet Magomed in the Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten, we have to admit that 15 years later nothing has changed in the Muslim world, and cartoons are still able to easily mobilize entire groups of the population. And even if Macron overstepped his mandate by calling Islam "the problem of today," he must be given credit for his courage, because radical tendencies in Islam in France and elsewhere are a problem. Stories about loners who don't know what they are doing no longer work. The murder of Samuel Pati clearly demonstrates that it could not have been accomplished if it were not for this wide ideological environment. The father, who, with the support of an Islamist known throughout France, is demanding the dismissal of the teacher, is organizing a campaign of persecution against Party, although his daughter was not even at this lesson. The radical imam posts a video calling for bullying on his Facebook. The killer watches this video and prepares murder. The student ardently supports the murder, for which she receives a suspended sentence. It looks like a systemic phenomenon.

Macron cannot be blamed for his desire to protect post-Enlightenment French society and its values, Guardian writes. This is a united secular republic of equal opportunities. But his actions not only revived Muslim public opinion against him, but also inspired radicals of all stripes. Front National, Alternative for Germany, 5 stars and other Islamophobic, anti-migranian populist parties, which have lost their ratings and influence everywhere in recent months, are now rubbing their hands together. Muslim leaders such as Pakistani Imran Khan raise the banner against the French to channel popular anger over mistakes in the fight against covid. Marcon wants to make Europe an independent strong player, competing with the United States, China and Islam. But the price of his neo-Gaullist aspirations is high. This was instantly seen by players like Erdogan.

Erdogan is a deeply obnoxious authoritarian Islamic nationalist. But there is something in common between him and Macron: like Macron, Erdogan sees his role far beyond the borders of his country. The Turkish leader takes on the role of teacher and protector of all Sunnis. The symbol of his transformation was the Hagia Sophia, which Erdogan again made a mosque.

The fact remains - after the Islamist attack on Charlie Hebdo in 2015, 265 people died at the hands of Islamic extremists. But for Macron, it is not only about murders, but also about the growing segregation of the Muslim population, writes Focus. These are Muslim men who refuse to shake hands with women; about swimming pools open separately to Muslims and non-Muslims; about teachers of religion who came to France from abroad and paid for by the Arab countries and Turkey. Homeschooling in Muslim communities will be prohibited. Arabic will be taught at the school by French teachers. Financing of imams from abroad, primarily from Turkey, will be stopped. Foreign imams will not be allowed to serve in mosques.

The slogan “I / we are Party” is no longer enough to express solidarity, writes Tagesspiegel. Yes, calls for the observance of the secular state are fetishistic in nature, but this is not bad for a political discussion. All legal means must be used to combat Islamist ideology. Now the slogan “I / we are Macron” should be more relevant, as it protects the values of those countries in which they habitually turn away from these problems.

There are 5.4 million Muslims in France. This is the largest community in Europe, but the second largest Muslim community is in Germany, recalls "Focus". The reforms that Macron proclaimed are necessary not only in France, but also in Germany. Essentially, Emmanuel Macron demanded new rules for Islam. For Germany, such a demand could not have come from either Angela Merkel or President Steinmeier. For German politics, this topic is taboo.