French Assembly passes bill aiming to curb Islamism

Source:- newzee


France's National Assembly on Tuesday (February 16) approved legislation designed to counter a rise in Islamism in some French towns and cities which the government says threatens the unity of the republic.
The legislation is framed as a text that strengthens France's core values principles of liberty, equality and freedom without singling out any particular religion, cracking down on practices such as forced marriage and virginity tests.
Unveiled on the 115th anniversary of adoption of the law than enshrined the separation of state and religion in France, the legislation has been branded by some on the left as an attack on Islam and as too weak by the far right.
The bill passed by 347 votes to 151 in parliament's lower house, where President Emmanuel Macron's centrist ruling party and its allies hold a commanding majority. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where the centre-right opposition dominates.
France faced a wave of bloody Islamist attacks in the autumn. Tackling religious extremism, French identity and domestic security will be hot-button issues in next year's presidential election.
The debate around the law became more charged after the Oct. 16 beheading of Samuel Paty by a teenage Islamist who said he wanted to punish the schoolteacher for showing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in a class on free speech.
The bill includes tougher measures against online apologists for acts of violence, stricter surveillance of religious associations, and tighter restictions on educating children outside mainstream schools.