This epitomizes the dilemma France faces today. French authorities want to welcome Muslims in large numbers, and not require them to assimilate. But they also want to uphold secularism and the freedom of speech. These two impulses are on a collision course.
More on this story. “Police interrogated French teacher over Mohammed cartoons four days before his murder following complaint – as it emerges bribed pupils waited two hours with killer to point out victim,” by Ross Ibbetson and Tim Stickings, Mailonline, October 21, 2020:
Police interrogated French schoolteacher Samuel Paty over Mohammed cartoons just four days before his murder after complaints were made by the father of a schoolgirl.
Paty was beheaded by 18-year-old Chechen Aboulakh Anzorov who lay in wait for two hours outside the Bois-d’Aulne school with two boys who identified the teacher in exchange for £300.
The 47-year-old history and geography teacher will today be awarded France’s highest order of merit, the Legion d’Honneur, in recognition of his efforts in trying to explain the importance of freedom of speech.
The allegation put to Paty by police ten days ago – that he showed his class images of Charlie Hebdo cartoons – is the very action for which he will be honoured at a national ceremony at the Sorbonne this evening….
Just days before his murder it was Paty who was questioned at a police station, telling officers: ‘I did not commit any offence.’…
While ISIS has not claimed responsibility for Paty’s killing, the magazine has previously urged people to emulate the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris which was also seen as revenge for blasphemy against Mohammed.
The Charlie Hebdo attackers were ‘leaving a clear path for others to follow’ because Western governments would not ‘carry out the punishment for the blasphemy prescribed by Islam’, the ISIS magazine said….
Michael Copeland says
“If someone offends the Prophet no problem, we can kill him” –
Kouachi, killer of Charlie Hebdo staff.
This is Sharia. Sharia is at variance, and incompatible, with democratic free speech.
Will democracy prevail? Or will Sharia prevail?
“We are at war”, said the London 7/7 killer. This is the war that Europe has not recognised, but is being brought to it.
Rufolino says
“Will democracy or sharia prevail ?” That is the question.
We do not yet know the answer.
But in Europe we can be almost certain that this is going to mean EITHER submission to sharia, OR civil war.
In both cases, an unprecedented catastrophe in W Europe.
James Lincoln says
Yes, Rufolino.
And this unprecedented catastrophe in Western Europe could have been totally prevented…
Lookmann says
The French seem to have lost patience with Islamists, and know appeasing wont stop terror:-
Charlie Hebdo’s mohammed caricatures appear on French city government building
https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/prophet-mohammed-giant-images-on-french-government-building-659288
mortimer says
Robert Spencer has rightly identified the coming clash of civilizations in France: “These two impulses are on a collision course.”
It’s either 1) freedom of expression or 2) Islamic censorship … not both.
Muslims claim that Sharia law overrides ‘manmade’ laws.
Peter35 says
“….and not require them to assimilate”.
Lucky there, because moslems have NO intention of assimilating; in France or anywhere else.
Nor have they ever assimilated–anywhere. Why oh why, are western ‘leaders’ so terminally (and knowingly) slow to learn?
Michael Copeland says
Petrodollars?
Jon Sobieski says
Not just petro. Corporations sell tons of stuff to Muslim countries- jets, appliances,cosmetics, medical, food, luxury goods, cars, buses,home furnishings. . The Question is whether the Muslims can do without our stuff by banning it. or can we do without their money (petro or otherwise)
Art says
Only in France…
I wish. This is absurd, France must make a decision, either endorse Muslims and the actions that has led to numerous deaths over a political cartoon OR round up all the non-assimilating Muslims and send them back to Africa or the Middle East.
Uma Maheswar Nakka says
Latest News on Love Jihad
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ballabgarh-faridabad-video-shows-haryana-womans-murder-outside-her-college-accused-arrested-2316362
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/forced-to-convert-and-marry-family-of-nikita-tomar-who-was-shot-dead-in-faridabad-alleges-love-jihad/673303
gravenimage says
Horrible.
Alexandra Thrift says
Maybe things have changed ? In the past it was France which had the policy of “integration” for all French Citizens and the United Kingdom which encouraged a ” multi-racial ” society.
Monsieur Paty and France, who try to do the right thing, don’t deserve these horrors.
RichardL says
Macron is a scumbag just like Mehrkill, Kurz, etc. I think this time a high enough Frenchies will see through the globalist propaganda and vote for Le Pen. And if Italy votes for sanity too, they have a fighting chance. The Germans will elect Mehrkill again.
James Lincoln says
RichardL,
“Mehrkill” – spot on!
Would make a great campaign sign for the opposition…
OLD GUY says
Welcoming islamic/muslims into your country is like surrendering your country to an invading army of soldiers who hate you and want to destroy you and your society. The idea of Globalism sounds wonderful until you realize that their are people in this world who want what you have and will kill you to get it. The only thing keeping them out is your locked doors or borders.
gravenimage says
France: Beheaded teacher gets Legion d’Honneur for the same thing for which police interrogated him
……………..
Yes–bizarre. But this could be even worse–at least France is making anti-Jihad noises now.