Breze said the participation of famed intellectuals and politicians in the conference was a sign of success

By Hadi Yahmid, IOL Correspondent

PARIS, April 14 (IslamOnline.net) - This year’s conference of the Union of French Islamic Organizations, Paris-le-Bourget, has attracted a cohort of France’s secular, political and cultural elite, who found it a podium of free speech.

The conference’s corridors were bursting at the seams with many prominent French secular intellectuals who were keen on attending the four-day event’s symposia to expound their views on several pressing issues.

Among the glitterati were Noel Mamer, the Greens’ representative in the French parliament, Francois Burgat, a researcher on Algeria and Islamic affairs and  Vincent Geisser, a researcher on Islamophobia.

Also showing up was Jean Bauberot, member of the Stasi commission, an ad hoc committee set up by French President Jacques Chirac last June to recommend on secularism and religion in the European country.

Bauberot was the only member who refused to endorse the commission’s report, which recommended last December banning hijab and religions insignia in state schools.

Leading French officials to the gala event were Claud Pernes, the head of the association of the municipalities of Paris suburbs and Gilles Poux, the head of the north Paris municipality of Courneuve.

Up to 50,000 veiled women sent their unmistakable message through the conference, concluded Monday, April 12, which also saw a fund-raising campaign to build private schools for Muslim students, who refuse to take off their hijabs.

Thami Breze, UOIF president, said the attendance of famed intellectuals and politicians in this year’s conference is, no doubt, a success to the union.

He added that the conference has gained a "political gain" last year after it had been held under the auspices of then interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy.

Islamophobia

The conference’s seminars have primarily focused on the problems facing the Muslim community in France and Europe, with Islamophobia taking central stage.

Geisser said that Islamophobia is real and not a mere "propaganda" as portrayed by some people.

Dabbling in the root causes of the phenomenon, the famed researcher said Islamophobia is nothing new but dates back to the colonial era.

Geisser stressed that the relation between Islam and the West has not been always tense.

There is a new Islamophobia related to the spread of Islam in Europe, added the expert.

Bauberot blamed "historical explanations" for bracketing Islam with terrorism, which dates back to the establishment of the French republic and the secular system in the country, which marginalizes religion.

Burgat, for his part, called on Europe to integrate Islam as a cultural and social component, saying Islam has already become a reality in Europe.

He said the enlightened readings of and research on Islam have proven it as a religion of co-existence and respect of the other.

The French politicians who participated in the conference vocalized opposition to any law restricting the freedom of worship.

Lawmaker Mamer recalled he was one of only 36 legislators who voted against the Hijab ban bill in parliament.

On Wednesday, March 3, the French Senate passed by a large majority the controversial law banning Hijab in public schools.