FRANCE: A far-right French MEP, Philippe de Villiers, yesterday lashed out at Muslims, saying: "It is not up to France to adapt to Islam; it is up to Islam to adapt to France."
Mr de Villiers, a presidential candidate and founder of the Movement for France (MPF), responded to a question on Europe 1 radio about protests against caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.
"In Europe and in France, there is a rule: freedom combined with justice," Mr de Villiers said. "With the Islamists, it seems there is another rule: freedom combined with ritual murder, threats and blackmail. This is unacceptable."
Mr de Villiers was far more outspoken than his rival for the leadership of the far right, Jean-Marie Le Pen. Mr Le Pen has criticised those "who advocate respect for believers, but only when they're Muslims, in the name of the fight against Islamophobia".
He says it is legitimate to condemn "the hurtful caricatures of the Prophet of the Muslims", but that mockery of the Christian God should also be condemned.
A CSA opinion poll in the magazine Marianne this week indicated Mr Le Pen would win 9 per cent of the vote in next year's presidential election, with Mr de Villiers on 7 per cent. Political scientists predict that three weeks of rioting last November and the controversy over the drawings will help the far right.
Mr de Villiers spoke repeatedly of what he calls "the progressive Islamisation of French society, including through fear". He said his friends warn him that he is taking risks by criticising Muslims. "I call on all politicians to stop being cowards, to stop being afraid," he added.
The government "must impose our French way of life", Mr de Villiers said. "In canteens [where Muslims are given meals without pork], in swimming pools [where Muslims have asked for segregation of men and women], in hospitals, in history classes. No to polygamy. No to forced marriage."
Permits to build mosques should be conditional on adherence to a "republican charter", including acceptance of secularism, equality between men and women, freedom to change one's religion and a ban on foreign financing, Mr de Villiers said. French officials believe Saudi funding has helped fundamentalism take root in the country. "It's Sharia [Islamic law] or the republic, but not both," he said.
"Popular patriotism" was the only way to prevent France sliding into sectarianism, Mr de Villiers said.