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More Arabic will be taught in French schools and extra resources will be directed at studying the Muslim civilization, the country's leader Emmanuel Macron said. The measures are part of the strategy to fight Islamic radicalism.As with most of Macron's manoeuvres it's likely that these laws will be used to target all kinds of groups and introduce various oppressive measures. And it seems that homeschooling is the first victim.
In his speech on Friday, the president highlighted the importance of preventing radicalization in the country's Muslim communities. He said that "more Arabic language will be taught in schools or as part of extended day programs." Macron explained that authorities must put an end to young people learning the language "from groups that offer them the worst and manipulate them."
"Arabic, just like many other languages, is a treasure of our children, of their families," Macron said, stressing that the state must support "the emergence of a better understanding of Islam."
The president announced that the government will create the "Scientific Institute of Islamology" along with new positions in higher education to conduct research on "the Muslim civilization, the Mediterranean Sea region and Africa." On top of that, more funding will go to the Foundation of Islam for France, which was established in 2016 to promote "progressive Islam," according to its mission statement.
Aside from various outreach initiatives, Macron vowed to continue defending secularism as one of the key principles of modern France. He said that the government would prepare a bill that would strengthen a 1905 law that officially separated the church from the state.
"We, some countries more than others, gave up on our strategic independence by depending too much on American weapons systems. We cannot accept to live in a bipolar world made up of the US and China."Macron has shown repeated signs of wanting to lead an effort to reject global models that are now as outdated as the Berlin Wall. And that includes Europe's role in the world as a third major pole in this multipolar world now divided primarily into East and West. But it has been an uphill battle. Old institutions that depend on outdated paradigms have shown that they're willing to sacrifice peace, prosperity, and progress, rather than be forced to take a hard look in the mirror.
Comment: Armenia says it shot down an Azeri drone over its capital, and a man reportedly died from an airstrike inside Armenia, suggesting the Azeris might be taking the fight from NKR into Armenia itself. After shelling on the capital, Armenia put its national army units on full combat alert. Two French journalists for Le Monde were seriously injured in an Azeri airstrike while covering the war. RT captured footage of aftermath of an attack on the NKR capital.
Macron, citing 'credible information', asserted that Syrian jihadists are indeed fighting in NKR.
According to Turkey's FM Cagusoglu, Azerbaijan has not requested assistance, but Turkey "would not hesitate to do so" if asked. One of the sole leaders NOT calling for peace, Erdogan expressed his hope that Azerbaijan will press on with the offensive until NKR region is free from "Armenian occupation."