France’s lower house of parliament has passed an anti-Islamic law.
The French National Assembly passed a controversial bill called anti-Islamic, despite much opposition.
The French National Assembly on Friday evening approved a controversial anti-Islamic bill that the government of Emmanuel Macron deems necessary to preserve France’s secular foundations.
France24 reports that the French National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, which is one of the two parliaments of the country, approved the plan despite opposition from left-wing and right-wing parliamentarians.
The French government has previously said that approval of the plan is necessary to preserve the country’s secular foundations, but opponents of the plan see it as opposed to religious freedom.
The bill was approved after 49 months of deliberation and the exchange of its text between the lower house and the French Senate with 49 votes in favor, 19 against and 5 abstentions.
Jean-Luc Mellenco, a left-wing member of the French parliament, strongly opposed the law, calling it “anti-Islamic”. Opposition parties, including the Socialist Party, the Republican Party and the French Communist Party, each opposed the plan for different reasons.
Only three parties, including France’s ruling party and its two allies, voted in favor of the plan. The National Front party, led by Marine Le Pen, abstained.
The plan was introduced by French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and includes clauses on alleged anti-hatred issues on the Internet and the protection of government employees and teachers.
