The future of the charter is now uncertain
AFP
January 21, 2021
French President Emmanuel Macron, tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), is seen on a TV screen as he attends by video conference a roundtable for the National Humanitarian Conference (NHC) at the Foreign Ministry in Paris, France, December 17, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
PARIS:
Three Muslim groups refused on Wednesday to back an anti-extremism charter pushed by French officials following a spate of jihadist-inspired attacks, dealing a blow to a flagship initiative of President Emmanuel Macron s government.
The charter rejects instrumentalising Islam for political ends and affirms equality between men and women, while denouncing practices such as female circumcisions, forced marriages or virginity certificates for brides.