France is facing few hard choices regarding its Muslim population. Yesterday, Five French nationals were kidnapped off the shores of Nigeria by Al-Qaeda wing in North Africa. The group claimed responsibility and expressed its clear intention of targeting France’s interest and French nationals. The group made no specific demands as of yet. This, while officials of the interior ministry voiced concerns regarding violent eminent threats inside the country. Threats from within and without, a level not seen since the 1990’s, when militant groups in Algeria claimed responsibility for a string of bombings in Paris.
The new law barring Muslim women from wearing niqab (Muslim veil) and the threats alluded to by the security officials, compounded by the latest kidnapping do suggest a possible direct causal effects and a conflict looming between the government of France and Al-Qaeda. France is in an unfortunate position. Its fear from the Muslim presence in the country runs contrary to its interests in Muslim land. Can France reconcile the two? Perhaps not when the recent law is directed at curbing La Liberté of Muslim women in wearing what they deem fit for themselves. Perhaps not when l’inégalité of representation is manifested by the Muslim’s under representation in the French parliament. Perhaps not when la Fraternité can exist only with Liberté and Égalité. If France wants to win its Muslim’s population support and cooperation in its possible “fight against terror”, it must uphold the revolution’s motto.
