Increasing majority of French eye Islam as threat

[Kajoyan Gevork]

Increasing majority of French eye Islam as threat

October 27, 2012 - 12:45 AMT


PanARMENIAN.Net - An increasing majority of people in France believe
Islam plays too influential a role in their society and almost half
see Muslims as a threat to their national identity, according to a
poll.

Reuters reported that the survey by pollster Ifop in Le Figaro
newspaper showed that 60 percent of people believed that Islam was
`too important' in France in terms of its influence and visibility, up
from 55 percent two years ago.

It found that 43 percent of respondents considered the presence of the
Muslim community as a threat to their national identity, compared with
just 17 percent who said it enriched society. Forty percent of those
questioned were indifferent to the presence of Islam, Le Figaro said.

The survey, carried out Oct 15-18 among 1,736 people, showed a growing
resistance to the symbols of the Islamic faith. Some 43 percent of
those questioned were opposed to more mosque building, up from 39
percent in 2010.

Sixty-three percent opposed Muslim women wearing the veil or Islamic
headscarves in public, compared with 59 percent two years ago.
Sarkozy's previous conservative banned the wearing of full-face veils.