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The French government: Agents of Moral Courage (for now)

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Announcements on Feb 11, 2008

A message to all atheists: There really is a God. Read on.

I never thought I’d be able to call France’s government an Agent of Moral Courage, but today it’s taken a step in the right direction. Rama Yade, the French Secretary of State for Human Rights, has announced official support for the physical protection of dissident Muslims who are living under death threats.

Specifically, France will advocate a European fund to provide personal security for reformist Muslims.  Among the beneficiaries will be Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the former member of Dutch parliament and vocal ex-Muslim who has just appealed for citizenship in France. Minister Yade has suggested that Ayaan will get that, too.

What I deeply appreciate about this announcement is that  it’s not strictly about Ayaan.  Lesser known Muslim dissidents will also benefit. They need the help even more than Ayaan does, since they’re not empowered by boatloads of media coverage.

Consider, for example, Mohamed Sifaoui. Never heard of him, right?  Let’s fix that.  He’s  a documentary-maker who risks his life to enter radical mosques and chronicle what happens in them. For his pains, he’s received more than his share of death threats.

French police haven’t exactly helped, mouthing the old mantra that they can’t do anything until he’s killed.  At which point, what’s the point? Isn’t too late by then? I thought we went over this when feminists made the case about why police need to be pro-active in defending battered wives. Plus ςa change, plus c’est la même chose.

Yet it may be that things really are changing.  Last month, on a visit to Paris, I spoke with Minster Yade’s office about this issue.  Even then, I sensed their sympathy — but would it translate into action?

The pressure continued.  Thanks to non-Muslim intellectuals such as Bernard-Henri Levy and Caroline Fourest, who don’t fear being labeled “racists” for supporting progressive Muslims and ex-Muslims, along with organizations like the European Foundation for Democracy, which gives a platform to reform-minded Muslims (including me), the French government “got” it.

Starting tomorrow, our challenge is to ensure that European forces of denial don’t dilute today’s announcement with endless bureaucratic attrition. Europe does many things well. Red tape is one of them.

For now, félicitations to President Sarkozy who appears to be serious about his statement, made on the eve of his election, that France must stand by the tormented women of the world.  Add men to that list.  Anybody who challenges the silence of Muslim moderates is bound to be targeted, whatever their gender.  In an era of cultural relativism, it’s an act of moral courage to ally yourself with despised champions of universal values — rationality, humanity and individuality.

Please, Monsieur le Président, don’t make me retract this congratulatory note.  Just deliver on today’s announcement and let’s get on with building a better Europe.  Merci bien and give my regards to Carla.