Daily US Times: Following a recent series of attacks by extremists, the French cabinet has approved a bill aimed at tackling radical Islam.
The draft law, part of a long-term drive by President Emmanuel Macron to uphold secular values in the country, tightens rules on hate speech and home-schooling.
Some critics from both in France and abroad have accused Mr Macron’s government using it to target religion.
But the French Prime Minister Jean Castex called it “a law of protection” that would free Muslims from the grip of radicals.
Mr Castex insisted that the text was not “aimed against religions or against the Muslim religion in particular”.
The bill “supporting Republican principles” would ban the use of the internet to maliciously reveal personal details about other people and tighten restrictions on online hate speech.
The action against radical Islam is seen as a response to the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty, 47, in October. The teacher was killed by a lone attacker after showing pupils cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
The investigation on his murder has revealed an online campaign had been launched against him.
The law also tightens rules on home-schooling and bans “clandestine” schools which promote Islamist ideology.
It would also reinforce the ban on polygamy by refusing residency to polygamous applicants. Doctors could be banned or fined for performing virginity tests on girls.
There are new rules on financial transparency for Muslim associations and a requirement that they sign up to France’s Republican values in return for funding.
A ban on officials wearing religious attire at work is being extended to staff at swimming pools, transport workers and markets.
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