He
said that the several Arabic-language radios, which broadcast in
France, have failed to appeal to young French Muslims.
"They
no longer satisfy the spiritual and cultural needs of the Muslim
youths, and are not independent," he said.
Estimates
indicate there are some six million Muslims living in France, mostly
from north African countries and Turkey, making the largest Muslim
minority in Europe.
Independent
SaphirNet
projects itself as an independent Web site run by students and
professors of the second and third Muslim generations in France.
"We
are trying our best to strike the right balance between our Islamic
identity and our French and European culture," Colin said.
On
the controversial issue of hijab ban, Colin said they deal with the
issue as a case of personal freedoms.
"Why
do they defend the rights of gays as a personal freedom and we cant
not defend the right of Muslim women to take on the Islamic
headscarf?"
The
French parliament adopted in 2004 a controversial bill with an
overwhelming majority banning hijab in state-run schools.
Shortly
afterwards, other European countries, chiefly Germany, followed the
French lead.
The
Web site is also critical of the policy of imam expulsion.
"The
French judiciary should have the final say over this issue,"
Colin maintained.
Following
the July 7 attacks in London, where four British Muslim bombers killed
52 people, the French Interior Ministry threatened mass expulsion of
"radical" imams.
However,
it later backtracked on the plans and opted for a case-by-case
evaluation thanks to Muslim action.
On
the Web site’s stance on bombings claimed by Muslims, Colin said
their editorial policy is to clearly draw the line between the actions
of a handful of Muslims and Islam as a faith.
"The
overwhelming majority of Muslims distance themselves from the acts of
those people," he said emphatically.
