Isolated Islamists

While the French air raids on cities in the North of Mali continue, further north, along the Algerian border, groups of armed jihadists stormed an oil field run by the British company BP. In Algeria efforts aim at identifying the exact number of hostages killed in the final blitz that allowed liberating 685 local employees and 107 foreigners last Saturday. The provisional death toll includes 12 Japanese citizens, 10 Philippines, 7 British, 1 US and 1 French citizen and two Romanians. Added to 32 kidnappers the balance reaches 80 dead. Maria Chiara Biagioni, for SIR Europe, has asked Msgr. Michel Dubost, bishop of Evry-Corbeil-Essonnes, president of the Council for Interreligious Relations of the French Bishops’ Conference, how the French troops in Mali have impacted the Muslim population in the French territories as well as the relations between Christian and Muslim communities in France. After Germany, France is the country with the highest number of Muslim immigrants in Europe: 3.5 million people, amounting to 5.7% of the overall population. The presence of French troops in Mali and the attack on the BP oil field in Algeria: how is the Muslim community in France reacting to all of this? "Muslim friends here in France know that the difference between Islam and Islamism is clearly understood. In fact, in France there is a community of moderate Muslims from Mali who are in a state of deep suffering over what is happening in their country. What is happening in Mali brings us closer rather than dividing us. It is undeniable that globalization, economic difficulties, and problems of the suburbs may prompt some people to withdraw into themselves and spread a climate of mutual fear. But what is really happening at the moment is rather a tendency to draw closer to one another. The vast majority of Muslims are very afraid of Islamists". Islamists in Algeria have, however, held foreign hostages, a clear sign that there is a growing hatred of the stranger and of Westerners in general. What is your opinion?"Yes, it’s true. However Islamists are to Islam as a form of total perversion of Islam itself. They are trying to win over the sympathy of the Muslims but they will never succeed". What is the role of the community of believers in the fight on all forms of Islamophobia and Christianophobia?"The role that religious leaders can play is to continue to promote mutual understanding. Of course we are different, and these differences must be acknowledged. As the Pope said, we must at the same time be proud of being Christian, but we also must believe that Christ became Word for everyone. All believers are called to become word with us. When we delve into this, when we encounter a human being, of whatever culture, religion, country he/she belongs to, we are strengthened by the humanity of that person. But this requires going beyond the encounter with the other, overcoming formalisms, fears, prejudices. And when we succeed, we marvel to see how God speaks to the hearts of every man". Is war always necessary?"I have learned to hate war. I find, therefore, that we should do everything possible to avoid it. I realize, however, that you need to show raging Islamists that they are not allowed to gain ground, and that when faced with categorical positions, there is no room for negotiations. The issue therefore lies in the difficult balance between the strong reaffirmation of our democracy and our Christian respect for each other. But it also means being able to say no".Do you wish to send a message of peace to your country, in the light of the death of the hostages and of what France is currently experiencing?"It is clear that Western countries are marked, in the minds of the peoples of the South of the world, by past colonization, that was a policy in the past and today is economic in nature. It is therefore necessary that Western countries show that Jews, Christians and Muslims can live together, that every person is a citizens with the same rights. We must jointly strive for the realization of justice, for mutual understanding and mutual love".