France's image crisis
Abdullah-al-Mujahid Dhaka University
France could not hold the balance of justice rightly emanated from its revolution mottos: Freedom, fraternity and equality. The flourished France is now groaning under its so called modern machinery. The recently occurred violence bears the testimony of a selfish France to its ethnic minority. The riots that have wracked France due to defying the rights of immigrant minority hailing from its former colony of north and central Africa are not negligible. France forgot that it had sucked the blood of the forefathers of these people. Besides, the administration alienated the Muslim people banning "Hizab", that is an innocuous custom, under the pretext of secularism and squeezed the religious freedom. But the irony is that she could not uphold the principle of secularism for all citizens irrespective of race, colour and creed. The humble-birth marginal people could not enter the door of high rank jobs. They could not even cross the path going through aristocratic residence. The cop would misbehave. These blatant example of class distinction fanned the fire pushing their back on the wall inciting them the spree of vandalism with a surge of car-burning, arson attacks and rioting. Their participation was spontaneous. The administration stumbled to check the riots as outpouring expression of public backlash that can perspire even strong government. Jacques Chirac, the president of France did not repudiate the charges. Time will say, whether France wipes out the tarnished image or be further torn in civil war? We hope to see France as prestigious in solving the untoward incidents dealing with public interest cautiously, not by using whimsical force.
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