DescentBB

In an alarming twist, a French secularist organization is championing the "free exercise of religion" for Muslims praying on the street in a Paris suburb, right after the same group cheered the removal of a cross from a monument to Pope John Paul II. The secularist group condemned a large protest against street prayers as a secretly racist attack on Muslims.

"It is the Union of Muslim Associations of Clichy which respects secularism," the National Federation of Free Thought (FNLP) declared in a press release. The group defended street prayers as a necessary protest against the Paris suburb of Clichy la Garenne, which is "calling into question the free exercise of religion."

The Union of Muslim Clichy Associations (UAMC) started the street prayers after the closing of a prayer room, which the UAMC claimed hosted daily meetings with "between 3,000 and 5,000 faithful," according to the French paper Le Monde. UAMC rented the premises from the town hall since 2013, when Socialist Mayor Gilles Catoire turned the location into a place of worship.

The lease expired in July 2016, and Republican Mayor Rémi Muzeau (elected in 2015) decided not to renew it. He repurposed the location for a media library. AUMC refused to remove the premises, despite a decision to expel them in August 2016, confirmed by a higher court in November 2016.

Police cleared the Muslims from the premises on March 21. Ever since, the UAMC has organized street prayers every Friday in front of the town hall.

Earlier this month, a hundred protesters — including elected officials, members of the Republican Party (not to be confused with America's Republican Party), the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI), and National Front — marched behind a banner reading, "Stop the illegal street prayers." Protesters chanted, "No cult, France is secular!"

Ironically, the National Federation of Free Thought took the side of the Muslims praying in the street, denouncing Mayor Muzeau's actions as "contrary to secularism."

callmeslick wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2017 10:16 am Thanksgiving Day, and THREE freaking hate posts out of the fascist corner of the DBB. Lovely. The rest of you, the normal types, have a great Thanksgiving. Back to cooking, here!

callmeslick wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2017 10:16 amhate posts out of the fascist corner of the DBB.

A fascist is a follower of a political philosophy characterized by authoritarian views and a strong central government — and no tolerance for opposing opinions.

Xfing wrote: ↑Fri Nov 24, 2017 12:19 pm AFAIK France still legally prohibits outward wearing of conspicuous religious symbols in schools, so they're being pretty consistent. There was never a law against public prayers. A religious symbol is something everyone has to see at all times, while prayer is an activity - hardly comparable IMO.

vision wrote: ↑Wed Nov 22, 2017 3:53 pm Are you qualified to discuss the legal workings of France's government?