Paris : A demonstration against the ban on girls wearing the abaya in French schools

Teachers and workers at the "Mauris et Trillo" school, located in a suburb of Paris, organized a strike and a demonstration against the authorities' decision to ban the wearing of the abaya for female students in schools. Students and parents participated in the demonstration in front of the school.

A group of teachers and workers at a French school protested (Wednesday) against the government's decision to ban female students from wearing the abaya in schools.

Teachers and workers at the Maurice and Trillo school, located in a suburb of Paris, organized a strike and protest against the ban, and students and parents also joined the demonstration in front of the school.

The protesting teachers read a statement in which they said that the French school system is one of the systems that most perpetuates inequality, when compared to the corresponding systems in other OECD countries.

The statement stated that instead of addressing inequality (in the school system), the government resorted to banning the wearing of the abaya on girls and the robe known as the shirt on boys.

Myriam, a member of the "Abaya does not harm society" movement, said that the ban on wearing the abaya "oppresses" Muslim girls and violates freedoms, describing it as discriminatory and anti-Islam.

Myriam added to "Anatolia" that "Muslim girls today are required to be invisible and treated as second-class citizens."

French Education Minister Gabriel Attal announced last week that students wearing traditional clothing, including the abaya for girls, will not be able to attend classes when the new academic year begins, Monday.

The controversial move sparked a backlash against the government, which has been criticized for "targeting Muslims" through a number of policies and measures in recent years, including raids on mosques and Islamic charities, and an "anti-separatism" law that imposes wide-ranging restrictions on society.

Paris : French parliamentarian,when will it be possible to consider the African coups “Africans’ affair” and therefore their “failure”?

Natalie Loiseau, Chair of the Security and Defense Subcommittee in the European Parliament, and former Minister for European Affairs (2017-2019), published an article in the French newspaper “Le Monde”, in which she refuted the criticism of French policy in Africa, saying that “Françafrique” had died, and expressed her regret for taking European Union countries separate procedures.

The article stated that, through a series of military coups, which began in Mali and then struck Niger and Gabon, French-speaking Africa is unfortunately returning to the forefront of the news. Sadly, the debate in many of these countries, and also in France, is about France's responsibility.

The author of the article considered that making the coups from France a scapegoat was expected; Because they needed legitimacy through inciting a spirit of conquest that would fuel anti-French sentiment among citizens dissatisfied with their fate. But she criticized what she described as some French and European commentators crying wolves, which, according to her, raises questions after more than six decades have passed since independence.

In this regard, I raised a set of questions: “How can we continue to criminalize the former colonial power in good faith for political mistakes committed by sovereign states? With what kind of unconscious intellectual neo-colonialism do we think we are responsible for the political unrest in French-speaking Africa? How could the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum, although painful, mean a French failure, while international forces are also stationed in Niger? Should we have inserted ourselves between the democratically elected and well-respected head of state and the power-hungry military that brought about his downfall, risking the meddling for which we have long been criticized and which we have fortunately renounced?

And the French representative in the European Parliament, former Minister of European Affairs in the government of Edouard Philippe, and a leader in the Horizons party, continued, saying: “It is no less surprising to hear the justification of military coups in the name of so-called popular aspirations. Are we so at a loss as to believe the stereotypical language of unscrupulous officers who seize power for its advantages, without caring what their fellow citizens bear? How can the military council in Mali guarantee the security of its citizens, after it expelled France and even the United Nations, and colluded with a Russian militia whose brutality no one can ignore anymore? What does the current coup in Niamey tell us, except that the jihadist threat is not a priority for those who carried it out, as is the fight against human trafficking? How do Libreville's soldiers in Gabon, who have served the regime for decades, intend to embody renewal?

The people are not fooled

For Nathalie Loiseau, another mistake made by French commentators is to talk too much about "Africa", ignoring the specifics of each situation, and in complete ignorance of what is happening outside our supposed "pre-box". But what is the common denominator between the democratic experiment taking place in Niger before August, and the long rule of the Bongo family in Gabon? Nothing but that French is spoken there, unlike Sudan, which is going through a civil war, for example, or Zimbabwe, which witnessed elections that were the subject of much controversy. Do we measure the level of intellectual laziness and unconscious contempt it takes to see Africa only from our own perspective, including judging ourselves responsible for its current failures on the grounds that we contributed to the dark hours of its past?

And she adds: “When will it be possible to consider that African coups are primarily the concern of Africans, and therefore their failure? France intervened militarily in Mali at the request of the Malian authorities, and 59 of its soldiers paid with their lives for the war against the terrorists that they led for the sake of the Malians. It would be very difficult to say the same about Wagner's butchers.. The Russian flags and the pro-Putin fantasies raised by a few wage-earners should not fool anyone, considering that Africans are not stupid and cannot be fooled. When they are forced to leave their country in search of a better future elsewhere, they walk towards Europe, not towards Russia, recalls Nathalie Loiseau.

Resist remorse

Nathalie Loiseau continued: “Were mistakes made? Yes, without a doubt. We complained a lot about being alone militarily in the Sahel region, but we did too little, and too late. The countries of our continent still often play with a dispersed system in Africa, as if it were possible to compete there, and as if the active presence of Russia, China or Turkey was not enough to raise our concerns about the risks that these authoritarian regimes pose to the future of African countries that find... There is a place for a foot in it.”

Nathalie Loiseau explained that the Europeans, as a whole, are the main investors and the main donors to most African countries, and that, by their division, they are giving way to powers less generous, less interested in the future of the continent, eager to exploit the current wealth for their own benefit. The work of Europeans in favor of African citizens is often invisible although it is very real, she said, adding that choosing Europeans to help improve governance, and fight corruption, trafficking and terrorism, has undoubtedly thwarted personal interests, or even encouraged pointing fingers at them. . However, Europeans have nothing to be ashamed of, saying: “It is up to us to resist the remorse that the coup plotters, whom we wait to see what they will do for their people, and the authoritarian powers that do not hide colonial lusts, would like to impose on us. “Our work in Africa deserves neither excessive honor nor excessive humiliation.”

Turky : Muslims in the West are struggling against terrorism and hate crimes

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his concern about the increasing spread of anti-Islamism in the West, noting that Muslims are struggling at the same time against several problems, including hate crimes, stressing the importance of uniting the Islamic nation against anti-Islamism, fanaticism and discrimination.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Muslims in the West are struggling against several problems at the same time, including terrorism and hate crimes, expressing his concern about the spread of the phenomenon of anti-Islam, day after day.

This came during his meeting with the Secretary-General of the American Council of Islamic Organizations, Osama Jamal, and his accompanying delegation, on Wednesday, at the presidential complex in the capital, Ankara.

During the meeting, Erdogan praised the efforts made by the Council to make the voices of Muslims heard, stressing the importance of uniting the Islamic nation against Islamophobia, fanaticism and discrimination, in order to combat this threat.

Erdogan stressed the importance of the Council's mission in conveying an understanding of authentic Islam based on tolerance and brotherhood, and continued: "Your strength in the United States as a Muslim community constitutes a model and a source of strength and inspiration for the entire Islamic world."

Erdogan once again expressed his refusal to allow the attack on the Holy Qur’an in Europe under the guise of “freedom of expression,” stressing: “This is a hate crime and clear brutality.”

He added, "The repeated attacks in Sweden and the Netherlands, and especially in Denmark, show that democracy and human rights are unstable in this geographical area."

Erdogan stressed that the issuance of resolutions in the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council deeming all acts of violence against the holy books a violation of international law is an "important development."

He stressed the clear need to ensure that these decisions are reflected in practice, noting that Turkey continues to call on the countries concerned to take the necessary measures against those who commit such hate crimes.

He continued: "We remain determined to keep this issue on the agenda of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Many of you play important roles in reaching political circles in America. You have representatives in local and federal politics."

He added: "I look forward to you effectively explaining to all political circles, especially the US Congress, that attacks on the Qur’an cannot be defended under the pretext of freedom of expression, and that they target peace and social stability."

He explained, "I believe that your support will be useful in thwarting the smear campaigns carried out by the anti-Turkish pressure groups."

The Council's solidarity with Türkiye in the earthquake disaster

Erdogan thanked the Council for its efforts and solidarity with Turkey during the earthquake disaster that struck the south of the country on February 6.

He said, "The in-kind and cash assistance that you collected for our citizens in the disaster area, which amounted to $100 million, showed that our hearts are united."

Erdogan expressed his thanks to the members of the Council for their attendance at the Turkish Presidential Complex, adding: “I ask God that our meeting will be useful, and we hope to travel to the United States next week at the head of a large delegation.”

For his part, the Secretary-General of the Council, Osama Jamal, expressed his happiness and satisfaction at the meeting with Erdogan.

He added, "We are confident that you are doing your best to continue supporting Muslims around the world, and we ask God to help you."

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Senior Adviser to the President for Foreign Policy and Security Affairs Ambassador Akif Chagatay Kilic, Head of Religious Affairs Ali Arbaş, and other officials.