World

French govt admonishes 'Christian refugees only' policy of some mayors

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said they must take in all those who are persecuted regardless of religion

Afp September 08, 2015

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve delivers a speech flanked by religious representatives after a round table talks in Paris on September 8, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

PARIS: French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve condemned on Tuesday mayors in France who have said they are only prepared to allow Christian refugees to settle in their towns.

"I really don't understand this distinction. I condemn it and I think it's dreadful," Cazeneuve told France 2 television.

"A whole series of minorities are being persecuted in the situation in Syria," he said.

"Christians from the Middle East must be welcomed but there are also Muslims and other minorities who are persecuted with the same degree of barbarity."

Read: France will take in 24,000 refugees over next two years: Hollande

France, he said, "must be prepared to take in all those who are persecuted regardless of their religion and their background".

The mayor of the central town of Roanne, Yves Nicolin, said Monday he was prepared to resettle "a dozen families, providing they are Christian refugees who are persecuted in Syria by Daesh (the Islamic State group) for being Christians".

Read: France to prepare air strikes against IS in Syria: Hollande

Damien Meslot, the mayor of Belfort in eastern France, said he would only consider taking in Christian families from Iraq and Syria because "they are the most persecuted".

Both mayors are from the centre-right, which is in opposition nationally.

Under pressure to respond to Europe's biggest migrant crisis since World War II, French President Francois Hollande said Monday that France was prepared to take in 24,000 people over two years.

The decision as to how the asylum-seekers are distributed around the country is taken by a separate government office, and not by individual town halls, the interior ministry said.

The French mayors' comments recall remarks from Slovakia in August which said it would only accept Christians when it takes in Syrian refugees because Muslims would not feel at home there.

COMMENTS (4)

Naren | 9 years ago | Reply Apriciate the kind of clarity in a civilized world, where this kind of thought is condemned. Can you expect this from UMMAH. No, because it is in its cacoon only, with its limited thinking (if any).

James | 9 years ago | Reply What's wrong in this statement.......after the Charlie Hebdo attack, you can't blame French people for thinking like that....

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The Book Says | 9 years ago | Reply @ajeet: You should pray that day does not come. If congress or leftist rule, that will come even with Hindus not in majority. We have seen what happened to Lebanon and what is happening in Nigeria with power tussles. We know how it will end. That's way many Hindus appreciates nations which take tough stand against people who believe their religion is superior and its their right to put others down in short - its their way or the highway.

ajeet | 9 years ago | Reply Looking at what religion of peace does to minorities, I'm worried for India too as the Muslim population growth might make Hindus minorities in their own land.

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