Emmanuel Macron

Building an Islam of the Enlightenment

Getty images

What is it that today, in our society, endangers our Republic, our ability to live together, and inform you of the decisions taken as a result which are the result of methodical work carried out for nearly three years?

The problem is not secularism. Secularism in the French Republic is the freedom to believe or not to believe, the possibility of exercising one’s worship from the moment public order is ensured. Secularism is the neutrality of the State and in no case the erasure of religions in society in the public space. Secularism is the glue of a united France. If spirituality is everyone’s domain, secularism is everyone’s business. And therefore, sincere Republicans must never give in to those who, in the name of the principle of secularism, try to arouse divisions, confrontations from multiple subjects which, very often, are the essence of our discussions, but not the main one.

In this area, we have rules, we must enforce them firmly and fairly. Everywhere, without concessions. Likewise, let us not let ourselves be drawn into the trap of amalgamation set by polemicists and extremes which would consist in stigmatising all Muslims. This trap is the one set for us by the enemies of the Republic, which would consist in making each citizen of the Muslim faith an objective ally because he would be the victim of a well-organised system. Too easy.

What we need to tackle is Islamist separatism. It is a conscious, theorised, politico-religious project, which materialises by repeated deviations from the values of the Republic, which often results in the constitution of a counter-society and whose manifestations are the dropping out of schooling of children, the development of sporting and cultural community practices which are the pretext for teaching principles which are not in conformity with the laws of the Republic.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in