“Faced with the rise of the RN and its divisive speeches”, an appeal signed by 80 Muslim personalities
How to react after such a political disaster? The French, steeped in humanism and universalism, are not racists. How then can we understand that more than 10 million of our fellow citizens were able to cast a far-right ballot in the ballot box? Among these French people, neither rich nor poor, the fear of being downgraded and a hostility, or at least an enmity towards Arabs and Africans (immigrants, who became Muslims before being considered fundamentalist Islamists), transformed into scapegoats, can be a convenient outlet.
But this game of toss-up is a “lose-everyone”: the French opposed to the RN, those “from diverse backgrounds” and finally Marine Le Pen’s voters themselves. Now, if some of our fellow citizens can be accused of xenophobia, we are not a racist country, in any case, not before being manipulated by a rhetoric of fear and division.
The RN was not elected by emotion but by more than twenty years of work, with a long process of de-demonization, which gradually positioned it as an eligible, normalized party, despite a discourse of hate and insecurity.
It has progressed inexorably, like its equivalents in Western democratic societies, by replacing the class struggle with fear of the other, gathering around it more and more French people who are annoyed, downgraded, worried about the consequences of globalization and globalization, joined by farmers who can no longer cope and former yellow vests or red caps. All that was left was for the cynics, sensing a good political calculation, to follow suit and “go to the soup”.
A referendum for or against the RN
With the European elections, what was initially a referendum “for or against diversity” was transformed, over the course of normalization, into a referendum for or against the RN, or rather a referendum to know if the RN was a party like the others, once the process of “Mitterrandization” of Marine Le Pen was completed. From then on, the excesses of Reconquête (which is only that in name) even allowed the RN to appear more reasonable.
In 2017, the President of the Republic was elected on the promise of overcoming the right-left divide, wanting to better reflect the realities of the world. However, the difficulty of this discourse, combined with a weak local presence without a popular base, led to a loss of reference points for what made society between us, in favor of increasingly divergent forces. This is the famous rise of the extremes, the radicalism of some stimulating the radicalism of others. In fact, at the Ministry of the Interior in 2018, Gérard Collomb had this premonitory sentence: “Today, welives side by side and I say it, I fear that tomorrow we will live face to face”. Here we are.
Worried Muslims
And what about our Muslim fellow citizens in all this? Compared to a national participation rate of 66.7% (47.5% in 2022), participation in Seine-Saint-Denis was 60.6% (compared to 38.9% in 2022). This in itself represents a remarkable figure, demonstrating an awareness of the issues at stake. If the far right were to win the legislative elections, these populations, among the poorest, most vulnerable and discriminated against, understand well that we risk seeing our most fundamental values jeopardized.
His takeover will lead to an erosion of civil rights, a rise in xenophobia, with an even deeper fracture in our society vis-à-vis all those to whom racist speech asks to “go to the doghouse” … The horrible discriminatory policies and hate speech that we see resurging will grow, against some, against others, threatening the cohesion and unity of our nation. The reign of “every man for himself”, with the war of “all against all” replacing the idea of national community.
Scapegoats
We cannot accept that a part of us, French people, is singled out, falsely responsible for the ills of society, made scapegoats. The diversity of our country is a strength, and the Republic can only prosper if each citizen, respecting the rules of the Republic, is respected and protected in return.
Faced with the rise of the RN and its divisive rhetoric, the children of immigrants, the descendants of those who worked tirelessly to build our country and find a better life, recognize the need and the power they hold in their hands – the power to vote. Every citizen must stand up and make their voice heard, not through anger or violence, but through the power of the ballot.
Every voice counts
In the face of racists who deny the power of the vote (we remember the racially discriminatory laws in the United States), we must all see, whatever our convictions, that voting is a sacred act, shaping the future and influencing the course of history. Voting is not only a right, but an eminent duty towards our Republic. Let us protect this country that protects us.
Because each voice counts; every vote is an act of faith in democracy, an act of faith in justice, an act of faith in a better future. A hope…
We cannot let fear and intolerance determine our future. History has shown us time and time again the disastrous consequences of inaction in the face of the extreme right. Today, we have the opportunity to prove that our principles of equality, fraternity and liberty, which form the foundation of our nation, can triumph over hatred and division. We, citizens united in our diversity, make our voices heard. Our future is being organized today, starting with this election. For tomorrow, for our children, for everyday life, for France.
Find, as soon as they are officially published, the results of the 2nd round of the 2024 legislative elections, municipality by municipality.
Chems-eddine Hafiz, rector of the Great Mosque of Paris
Kamel Kabtane, rector of the Grand Mosque of Lyon, president of the Council of Mosques of the Rhône
Najat Benali, President of the Coordination of Muslim Associations of Paris
Azzedine Gaci, rector of the Villeurbanne mosque
Sadek Beloucif, professor of medicine, member of Forif
Assani Fassassi, Secretary General of the FFAIACA
Bassirou Camara, civil society actor, president of the association for the defense against discrimination and anti-Muslim acts
Mohamed Salah Ben Ammar, doctor – head of department, former Tunisian minister
Myriam Edjlali, professor of medicine
Omar Belkhodja, emergency physician
Jean Jacques Bedu, president of the literary prize
Antar Boudiaf, teacher-consultant – President Awassir
Jean-Marie Saugey, retired
Abdenour Bastianelli, president of the Union of Muslim Associations of the Alpes de Haute-Provence
Karima Khatim, municipal councilor and president of the Franco-Algerian Federation association
Abdelaziz Abderrahmane, President of the Muslim Religious Council 77
Zaiha Nedjar, deputy mayor
Sofien Gherbaoui, journalist
Nadir Saifi, parliamentary advisor
Noura Dali, Deputy Mayor, City of Trappes
Ribale Chebib, engineer
Douraied Ben Salem, Professor of Medicine
Anissa Belbachir, Rea anesthesiologist
Amel Ghermaoui, business engineer
Hamide Kermani, Deputy Mayor, City of Orly
Baghdad Abderrahmane, doctor
Dalila Benrabah, consulting It
Amine Koriche, engineer
Hassem Meguenni-Tani, director of a medical-social establishment
Madjid Si Hocine, doctor and facilitator of Equality First
Brahim Ait Maamar Brahim, financial executive
Asma Seghouane, CEO of training organization
Lila Amiar, executive assistant
Myriam Ferouse, Merabet, office/travel manager
Zoubida Groudka, doctor
Abdelghani Benali, President of the French Institute of Civilizations
Walid Zenad, entrepreneur
Moez Karoui, executive, associate director of medical software
Abdelkader Larbi Daouadji, trainer
Karim Benaissa, president RAM94
Athanase Benetos, university professor, hospital practitioner
Naima Sellam, elected city councilor of Clichy sur Seine – strategic monitoring consultant
Saad Benachi, IT engineer
Salem Chouaib, research director
Samia Ben Ammar, retired
Mansour Mansour, editor
Rabha Ghenim, driving instructor
Chakir Merabet, entrepreneur
Bakhta Chemame, director
Rafik Belhadj Amara, president
Mona Krichen, expert in hospital strategies and organizations
Lotfi Larouchi, cardiologist
Saliha Chennaf, unemployed
Yamina Amara, Deputy Mayor in charge of Budget, Finance and Evaluation of Public Policies
Leila Khenas, President
Agodjro Koffi, trader
Wissam Mansour, business leader
Malika Touaf, childminder
Fatima Kadouci, Bagneux municipal councilor and head of security
Jihade Belamri, entrepreneur
Dominique Mimoun, manager
Sihem Baccouche, accountant
Mohamed Benali, customer relations manager
Chaima Mehnana, HR Manager
Abdelhak Hadjemi, Vice President of Awassir
Hafsa Loumassine, chaplain/association manager
Hasni Abidi, director of CERMAM
Christophe Maloizel, training project manager
Ahmed Waqar, Pakistani mosque leader
Karima Rouabah, civil servant
Severin Oulie, home hairdresser
Karima Benali Kerroumi, project manager
Faiza Bazini, financial advisor
Diop Abobikrine, retirement
Fouad Miloudi, engineer, SG Awassir