“The Minister of Justice will issue a criminal circular so that, when you are attacked because you do not respect religious principles, (an aggravating circumstance will be considered, as is the case when someone is attacked because they has a particular religion,” added the head of government.
Gabriel Attal went in the morning to Viry-Châtillon (Essone), a large suburban town south of Paris marked by the death two weeks ago of Shemseddine, 15 years old, severely beaten near her school for a dispute linked to the sister of two of his attackers.
“Attack evil at the root”
Four young men, three minors and one adult, were indicted for murder and placed in pre-trial detention. During this trip, the Prime Minister promised a rapid response from his government, before the summer, to the “addiction to violence” of part of the youth.
“To attack evil at the root means to continue our merciless fight against separatism, and in particular Islamist separatism. Increasingly, youth violence takes place against a backdrop of contestation of republican values, of contestation of secularism and violence is taking place on this ground. This is not acceptable,” he said, refusing “that a religious ideology comes to challenge the law in neighborhoods.”
“No question that a young girl is not free to walk there without a veil if she wishes. No question that a young boy cannot eat what he wants, when he wants. Everywhere in France, the only law that applies is that of the Republic,” he added.
Sharia, or Islamic law, is defined as various doctrinal, social or religious norms and rules. It is the main source of law in many Muslim countries.