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Macron decries 'Islamic separatism,' defends blasphemy

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Send them back home and tell them to start their own damn country.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The Republic will never allow any separatist adventure.

Of course it won't. Neither will America ever allow any separatist adventure within its territory. Nor will England ever allow any separatist adventures within their territory. We already know it's the same with Spain, and surely every serious country, yet the International Media aka English language media in cahoot with the US government demands China not only allow a separatist adventure within its own territory, but also one that is funded by a foreign enemy.

It must be nice when the media gives the French State a chance to speak their side of the story, rather than interviewing and only covering the attacker's point of view. The privilege to be heard is not given to everyone. It's a very rare thing to have if you're not part of the Club.

Just your daily dose of double standards provided to you by AP, AFP and Reuters. Your trusty friends.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Of course it won't. Neither will America ever allow any separatist adventure within its territory. Nor will England ever allow any separatist adventures within their territory. We already know it's the same with Spain, and surely every serious country, yet the International Media aka English language media in cahoot with the US government demands China not only allow a separatist adventure within its own territory, but also one that is funded by a foreign enemy.

Are you aware Norway separated amicably from Sweden or the "Velvet Divorce" where Czechoslovakia separated peacefully into two new nations? Or how about Singapore's independence from the Malay Federation?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Send them back home and tell them to start their own damn country.

You could say that about red-neck white Americans

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Goodlucktoyou: "You could say that about red-neck Americans."

If I could send Trump and the red-necks who idolize him off to Russia, I would. That's where they belong. Maybe Putin could find a nice patch of land they can call their own somewhere in Siberia.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Friday what he called “Islamic separatism” in his country and those who seek French citizenship without accepting France’s “right to commit blasphemy.”

Lullababy Politics...If Islam sounds ugly to some, this shouldn't have given people a right to make a mockery of it. When you make fun of your friends' looks, 99% of the time they get offended by your comments and their reactions may vary from being sad to furious. In this regard, blasphemy is a crime and punishable by law in many countries including European ones:

In Germany, religious defamation is covered by Article 166 of the Strafgesetzbuch, the German criminal law. If a deed is capable of disturbing the public peace, defamation is actionable.

Articles 198, 199, and 201 of the Greek Penal Code create offences which involve blasphemy.

In Italy, under article 724 of the Penal Code, blasphemy in public is considered an "administrative offense" and punished with a fine ranging from €51 to €309. 

In Poland whoever offends religious feelings of other people by publicly insulting an object of religious cult or a place for public holding of religious ceremonies, is subject to a fine, restriction of liberty or loss of liberty for up to 2 years.

In Switzerland, Article 261 of the penal code titled "Attack on the freedom of faith and the freedom to worship" (Störung der Glaubens- und Kultusfreiheit) criminalizes public and malicious insult or mockery of religious convictions of others...

In England the blasphemy law is needed to uphold the national law, which is based on Christianity. Thus, targeting Christianity is targeting the very foundation of England.

So in the light of the above can France explain why they don't impose their rules/laws on other European nationals when they seek to become French citizens?

Also, I would like to know, if it is all about freedom of speech, why the Fourth Generation Turkish/French citizens are being prosecuted in France when they say they don't agree with the French politicians/historians who claim Turkey committed genocide back in 1915. Turkey indeed hadn't even existed as a country at the time and considering that the Spanish Flu (AKA Kansas Flu) killed millions at the time I don't understand why their views are silenced and they are fined or arrested...

What muslims are going through in France is no different than what black people are going through in the US. That said, any terror attack committed by war lords and missioners outside the muslim countries are immediately and misleadingly labelled as Islamic terror by western govs and often by terrorists /war lords themselves. However, such labelling of terror attacks not only creates the conditions for Islamphobia across the world, it also allows certain govs to use such terror attacks as a pretext for their military occupations and exploitations of oil and gold rich countries especially in the Middle East. And in this regard France has a lot of interest in both Iraqi oils and Eastern Mediterranean gas reserves...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Lullababy Politics...If Islam sounds ugly to some, this shouldn't have given people a right to make a mockery of it. 

You should have a right to make a mockery of any opinion regarding religion, politics, Art, sport, music etc.

Be the first to give us a good reason why religious opinions deserve exemption from mockery.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@stormcrow. Trumps family is from Bobenheim am Berg, a village in the Palatinate, Germany, NOT Russia. An area, apparently, popular with Neo Nazis.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

You should have a right to mak a mockery of any opinion regarding religion, politics, Art, sport, music etc.

Be the first to give us a good reason why religious opinions deserve exemptions from mockery

@Jimizo, the reasons are obvious and I've already mentioned some of them in my comment. You don't discriminate people on the basis of their race and religion. IHowever, in France Muslims are being discriminated on the basis of their faith: the pro-blasphemy law/rule that Macron is referring to is not being imposed on non-Muslims who want to become French citizens. Also, when blasphemy is NOT condoned by at least 80% of Christians in France, what gives the minority the right to pass such a law/rule and use it against Muslims?

I note that laws are a set of rules based on opinions...and you seem to believe that any opinion can be made mockery of it. So why don't you visit your nearest local court and make a mockery of judge's decision or the law and see what happens.

Muslims don't make mockery of any faith but you seem to think it is OK to make mockery of Islam since you believe people have a right to make a mockery of art, sports, music etc. First of all religions are different to those you compared it to. Art, sports, music etc are not defined by our beliefs but our opinions. That's why you don't hear people say I believe in pop but pop is is my favourite music. Also, you don't make mockery of arts, music, sports etc but you criticise them in a civilised manner without hurting people's feelings or causing any financial or emotional damage- in that regard it is not OK to make monkey chants in football stadiums, it is not OK to make it very difficult for certain people to follow their religion, vote, have a job etc...Mockery of Islam is just another form for covert racism and a production of far right supremacist ideology.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@John

Let’s try again. Please tell us why religious opinions or beliefs should be treated with greater respect than other opinions or beliefs. You haven’t dealt with this.

Please don’t conflate mockery of religion with racism. It’s disingenuous. Muslims come from all races. Monkey chants are attacks on people because of the way they were born, not because of what they choose to be.

Islam, like some other religions, makes extraordinary claims. If you make extraordinary claims without extraordinary evidence, you should expect mockery. This is no different to someone claiming he was abducted by aliens or saw Bigfoot.

Look at societies where mockery of those with power and influence is not allowed. China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran etc. Not healthy societies.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Political French President Emmanuel Macron is akin to Pandora’s box with the lid half off.

Macron cannot differentiate between blasphemy and defending the right to express one's opinions.

Macron posturing petulant grand-standing, look at me inflammatory attitude will politically disenfranchise moderate French Muslims.  

The art is to focus on freedom of speech. Religions of any denomination must respect that right.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Even if one has the right to mock another person’s religious beliefs, to do so is hateful and low class.

Can we mock hateful religious beliefs?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I am by faith a devote Catholic.

One of my favorite series, gone but not forgotten is Father Ted, a lampooning, satirical, ironic, wonderfully articulate comic masterpiece.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Can we mock hateful religious beliefs?

If you lie and incite hatred toward a religion using worn out stereotypes, is that funny?

If you mock the beliefs that see apostates, gays, atheists, free speech advocates and others executed, whipped, imprisoned and ostracized in Muslim majority countries, are you hateful and low?

These very low and very hateful real world disgraces are sadly not ‘worn out’.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

One of my favorite series, gone but not forgotten is Father Ted, a lampooning, satirical, ironic, wonderfully articulate comic masterpiece.

Every hear a song called the "Vatican Rag"? The Muslims need to lighten up and get a sense of humor.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Macron decries 'Islamic separatism,' defends blasphemy

A bit late for Macaron to discover his spine. And quite pointless too, as long as he sticks to EUs unlimited migration program and seeing that the EU high court has already capitulated to blasphemy laws.

Still I hope he means it and it is not just more empty rethoric.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Zaphod, that's a good way to put it. From my own agnostic perspective, I don't give a hoot what people believe. It's when they channel their beliefs into violence that I tend to ignore my (deeply-ingrained) sense of civility and wish the same violence upon them. It's only human nature to hate the hateful, but that said I'll stick to just plain disgust. Sadly, though, we can't just sweep all those hateful people under the proverbial rug. Like cockroaches, they'll be back.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Farmboy

Umm okay. I think hateful, pompous bigots predate any current religions

Err, no. There are plenty of religions that do not have their own laws that they try to impose on others with violence. In fact, all religions should be like that. The problem with Sharia in France are real.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

In England the blasphemy law is needed to uphold the national law, which is based on Christianity. 

I believe the blasphemy law in England was abolished in 2008.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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