"Rather than call for reform of the French secular and Catholic educational system, John Bowen suggests that France might stop the radicalization of its Muslim prison population through chaplaincy. While this is an important goal, Bowen’s own analysis shows that more urgently needed is an educational, political, and juridical effort targeting the majority of French Catholics and secularists, inside and outside the prison system, who, with relative impunity, express anti-Muslim racism, inflict legal and illegal discrimination, and commit violence against French Muslims.
Indeed the most important task today is to limit the radicalization of these French citizens and state agents, a large number of whom seem to have become, with the encouragement of the state and official discourse, anti-immigrant, right-wing bigots. Recent polls in France show that the National Front’s Marine Le Pen, the most vocal and vulgar opponent of French Muslims, would be elected president if elections were held today. The ongoing discrimination against Muslims; the “apartheid” system, as described by Prime Minister Valls, under which they live; the hysterical, racist public and private discourse about them in the media and in official pronouncements; and the limited legal remedies available to combat this state of affairs—these are the problems that demand immediate redress."
Indeed the most important task today is to limit the radicalization of these French citizens and state agents, a large number of whom seem to have become, with the encouragement of the state and official discourse, anti-immigrant, right-wing bigots. Recent polls in France show that the National Front’s Marine Le Pen, the most vocal and vulgar opponent of French Muslims, would be elected president if elections were held today. The ongoing discrimination against Muslims; the “apartheid” system, as described by Prime Minister Valls, under which they live; the hysterical, racist public and private discourse about them in the media and in official pronouncements; and the limited legal remedies available to combat this state of affairs—these are the problems that demand immediate redress."
