French MPs vote for law targeting Muslims

SANAA, Feb. 16 (YPA) – French lawmakers on Tuesday to vote  in a first reading on a controversial anti-secessionist bill, which critics say is aimed at Muslims, not the enemies of the republic.

The National Assembly is scheduled to vote Tuesday afternoon on the text that “strengthens Republican principles,” a move that comes 15 months before the presidential election.

The vote follows extensive debate on the bill in a private committee and in a plenary session, during which 313 amendments were adopted and will be debated in the Senate in April.

The authorities want to establish new mechanisms to finance the activities of religious communities and urge them to stop receiving “foreign funding”.

The bill strictly controls the activities of religious and cultural associations and enshrines the principle of neutrality (religious) for public sector employees.

E.M