Macron, and France’s complex relationship with Islam

After the reprinting of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad and a series of isolated and brutal attacks, French President Emmanuel Macron has become embroiled in controversy. He proposed a new bill to defend France’s secular values against what he called “Islamist radicalism” and said the religion was “in crisis” all over the world. The backlash he received after his declaration included anti-French demonstrations in Muslim countries and the boycott of French goods. But French Muslims are concerned Macron’s words are aimed at sympathising with the country’s far right ahead of the 2022 presidential elections.

In this episode:

Rim-Sarah Alouane, French researcher, legal scholar and PhD candidate at the University of Toulouse.

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The team:

Ney Alvarez produced this episode with Priyanka Tilve, Dina Kesbeh, Negin Owliaei, Abigail Ony Nwaohuocha, Alexandra Locke, Amy Walters, and Malika Bilal.

Alex Roldan is The Take’s sound designer. Steve Lack designed this episode. Natalia Aldana is the engagement producer. Stacey Samuel is The Take’s executive producer and Graelyn Brashear is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.