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WORLD NEWS Monday 2 noveMber 2020

AP Explains: Why France sparks such anger in Muslim world

By ANGELA CHARLTON million in a nation of 67 mil- While recent Islamist ex-
Associated Press lion, a legacy of its colonial tremist attacks in France
PARIS (AP) — Many coun- domination of large swaths were carried out by those
tries, especially in the dem- of Africa and the Middle born abroad, French-born
ocratic West, champion East. youth were behind much
freedom of expression and But the country's efforts of the worst bloodshed in
allow publications that to integrate Muslim immi- recent years, many of them
lampoon Islam's prophet. grants have faltered. The linked to the Islamic State
So why is France singled official French doctrine of group.
out for protests and calls for colorblindness is intended MILITARY FOOTPRINT
boycotts across the Mus- to ignore ethnic and re- France maintains a more
lim world, and so often the ligious backgrounds and hands-on role than Britain
target of deadly violence to have all French citizens does in their former colo-
from the extremist margins? seen as equally French. In nies, notably via economic
Its brutal colonial past, reality, the ideal often fu- and cultural ties — and
staunch secular policies els discrimination against that's also visible in how Indonesian Muslims pray during an anti-France rally outside Al
and tough-talking presi- those who look, dress or France deploys troops Mashun Great Mosque in Medan, North
dent who is seen as insensi- pray differently from the abroad. Sumatra, Indonesia, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020.
tive toward the Muslim faith historically Catholic major- French forces intervened in Associated Press
all play a role. ity, instead of preventing it. recent years against Islamic forces. lished in Denmark in 2005,
As France steps up security Muslims are dispropor- extremists in Mali and Syria, STRICT SECULARISM and similar images have
and mourns three people tionately represented in both former French hold- Much of the current anger been published in other
killed in a knife attack at a France's poorest, most ings. Thousands of French stems from the recent re- countries that hold free-
church on Thursday – the alienated neighborhoods, soldiers are now stationed publication by French sa- dom of expression dear.
latest of many attributed as well as its prisons. That in former colonies in the Sa- tirical newspaper weekly While French officials often
to Islamic extremists in re- has bred angry outcasts hel region of Africa with the Charlie Hebdo of carica- say their country is targeted
cent years -- here's a look who see their homeland as same mission. tures depicting the Prophet because of its reputation
at some of the reasons the sinful and disrespectful to- A French military presence Muhammad. The cartoon as the cradle of human
country is under fire. ward Islamic traditions, or fuels routine online appeals images of Islam's founder rights and a rampart of
HISTORY simply racist against Arab from IS, Al-Qaida and other deeply offended many global democracy, what
France has the largest pop- and other immigrants from extremists for retaliation on Muslims, who see them as distinguishes France most
ulation of Muslims in West- lands that once enriched French soil, in hopes of forc- sacrilegious. But the car- is its unusual attachment to
ern Europe, more than 5 the French empire. ing France to withdraw its toons were originally pub- secularism.q