A global coalition of 25 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has asked the European Commission to investigate France for its state-sponsored support to Islamophobia.
In a petition to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, these NGOs representing 11 countries have asked her to try the French government at the European Court of Justice for imposing discriminatory practices.
“France has implemented numerous laws designed to limit freedom of belief and punish the manifestation of religion, “said the petition.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Samira Sabir from Sabir’s Legal Services who submitted the petition to the European Commission on behalf of the alliance said Islamophobia has become ingrained and mainstreamed in the European societies.
“Islamophobia is not only a widespread and serious phenomenon in right-wing circles, but it is also ingrained in the mainstream of European societies,” she said.
The legal activist said that France provided an example of how state actors have institutionalized and legitimized Islamophobia through hate speech targeting Muslims.
Among the organizations who have signed the petition included Representative Council of France’s Black Associations, Muslim Rights Watch Netherlands, the Islamic Central Council Switzerland, and Muslim Association for Human Rights from Spain.
“There is a widespread failure to implement EU legislation and in particular human rights related to religious integrity and the freedom to express political beliefs in France,” the petition said.
It has also highlighted that French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan “against separatism”, which according to these NGOs merely focuses on tightening “political, ideological, theological and financial control on Muslim communities”.
“There is no real or effective remedy within the French legal system to stop the continuation of structural and systemic Islamophobia by the French government within the meanings established by European case law,” said these NGOs, while explaining the reason of approaching the European Commission.
