Said Alla: Islamophobia reached alarming levels in France in recent years

Islamophobia has reached alarming levels in France in recent years, Said Alla, president of the Great Mosque of Strasbourg, told a panel discussion organized within the framework of the international scientific conference "Islamophobia in Focus: Unveiling Bias, Shattering Stigmas" held in Baku.

Report quotes him as saying aggression against Muslims has become the rhetoric of right-wing forces in France:

"Political figures were not left out of this either, and they did so under the guise of freedom of speech. In 2017, during the presidential elections in France, the word 'separatism' entered the vocabulary of right-wing parties. This marked a beginning of a new phase."

Alla said that Muslims are constantly viewed with suspicion, no matter where they are or what they do:

"In France, a law has been passed against separatism in schools. Wearing headscarves was banned in colleges and high schools, and parents who come to pick their children up were prohibited to wear headscarves. Some places banned Muslims from entering. In France, aggression against Muslims has increased, especially after the well-known September 11 incident. There is an obsessive attitude towards Muslims. The headscarf has been banned in universities and public places. Police pressure is observed against Muslims in the process of integrating them into society."