No special allowances for Ramadan

A court in northern France has postponed a trial against a burglar because it was due to take place during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. The daily Le Figaro considers this the wrong approach: "It is to be hoped that the decision of the court presidency in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine will trigger a wave of protest. For it represents a threat to the very fundaments of united secular France. ... No one would dispute that the judicial system should also show a humane face. But it should not take account of individual cases or the religious, communitarian or personal demands of the accused. ... The practice of Islam is often criticised. Forbidding its public display is not anti-Islamist but rather eases the integration of millions of Muslims from other countries that live here."

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Integration, » France
All available articles from » Yves Thréard

» To the complete press review of Monday, September 8, 2008