International   

Tanker issue adds to tension in France

By Vaiju Naravane

Paris Oct. 7. A suspected terrorist attack on a French super tanker off the coast of Yemen, a racially motivated fatal shooting spree, the homophobic knifing of Paris' openly gay Mayor, Bertrand Delanoe, and a warning against Islamic fundamentalism issued by French Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, all in the space of a week-end, have added up to make the social climate in France heavy with tension and unease.

Yemeni authorities say the explosion on board the French tanker the Limberg was probably caused by a fire in the engine room reported by the captain.

But the ship's owners say a boat loaded with explosives could have rammed into the double-hulled vessel in an attack similar to the one launched against the U.S. destroyer, the USS Cole, in the port of Aden in October 2000.

The French government has said it is investigating the fire and the Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin, said an attack "was not ruled out''.

France is home to Europe's largest Muslim community, over 4 million, mainly from former French colonies in black Africa and the Maghreb. They make up the second largest religious community after the Roman Catholics and vastly outnumber the country's Jews and Protestants. Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Morocco have financed many of the mosques that have mushroomed across France, importing Imams from these countries because there were not enough qualified Islamic scholars and spiritual leaders in France.

But with them has arrived a fiery brand of Wahabi fundamentalism that has taken root in several underprivileged ghettos, an ideal recruiting ground for disaffected Arab youths, fuelling fears of possible attacks in France or against French interests abroad.

These fears have been highlighted by the trial of the French terrorist, Zacarias Moussaoui, suspected of being the 20th September 11 hijacker, and the arrest of eight French nationals of Arab origin who were captured fighting for the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Mr. Sarkozy has warned Muslims that France will come down hard on Islamic fundamentalism. "We cannot accept that speech full of hate, violence and fundamentalism takes hold of our republic. Only those foreign Imams who respect our laws and share our social consensus will be allowed into France,'' Mr. Sarkozy said during a visit to the Paris Mosque. He said he had already adopted the policy of denying visas to Imams who did not speak French.

Polls indicate that the French see young Arabs as potential troublemakers and delinquents and the prevalent attitude towards them is one of suspicion.

On Friday, a drunken trucker went on a shooting spree in Dunkirk killing one Arab youth and injuring several others targeting Arabs from his car. He has now admitted his "motivations were racist''.

There is such fear of insecurity, tied in the minds of most to young Arab youths from the suburban ghettos of large French cities like Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg or Toulouse, that there is tremendous support for new police powers and repressive measures proposed by Mr. Sarkozy.

The man who attacked Mr. Delanoe at an all night street party in Paris late Saturday is also of North African Arab origin. He has described himself as a staunch Muslim and a hater of politicians and homosexuals.

The fact that Azedine Berkane belongs to and Arab dominated ghetto from a Paris suburb is likely to further reinforce the suspicion towards Arabs. Youngsters in the housing estate near Bobigny where he lives describe him as "kind, knowledgeable, calm and reserved''. Police say he has served several prison sentences for drugs possession and theft and that he has had psychiatric treatment.

France appears to be experiencing a phase of social and economic unrest.

Thousands of workers protested last Thursday against government plans to sell of several public sector companies including France Telecom and Electricite de France and there is a palpable climate of uncertainty.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Bush seeks to silence criticism
• Malaysia to deport terror suspect
• Pak. planning another missile test?
• Boy shot at as serial sniper eludes police
• We cannot abandon Kashmir: Pakistan
• Tanker issue adds to tension in France
• Russia, Georgia strike deal
• Back to Thatcherism call unnerves Britain
• Modi's charges absurd: Pak.
• India and Oman to expand defence ties
• Centre not doing enough to stop attacks on minorities: U.S. report
• Kashmiris are not for Pak.: PM

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu