Sarkozy refuses enforcement of Shariah Law in France

AMMAN- French President Nicolas Sarkozy refused the adoption of the Islamic Shariah law in France.

“There is no space in France for circumcision, polygamy or hijab in schools,” he said.

«Whoever wants to stay in France should respect our culture, values and our laws,» he told an immigrant-heavy crowd of close to 1,000 guests at the Elysee Palace, the presidential residence where he unveiled an ambitious plan to revitalize the country>s riot-scarred suburban slums with new housing, education, jobs programmes and stricter policing.

«We will decide on the number of foreigners who will be given the chance for integration every year,» Sarkozy said. However, he pointed out that France would continue receiving foreigners but “we will know how many can be accepted with dignity, a job opportunity and a proper home and everybody will know what the French government is doing».

Sarkozy pledged more police and more investments for neglected housing projects nationwide in a plan to help neighbourhoods that exploded in riots in 2005 and late last year. 

African and Arab immigrants complain that they face systematic discrimination in France, even though many are citizens. Unemployment among youths in their suburban neighbourhoods often approaches 40 percent. Their anger bubbled over in three weeks of rioting in 2005 that left more than 8,000 cars torched