French President Francois Hollande has admitted that “France has a problem with Islam”.
He has also expressed his concern over too many immigrants arriving in France.
Hollande’s controversial remarks are mentioned in a 660-page book titled “A President Should Not Say That: Secrets of Five Years in Office” which was released on Wednesday.
“It’s true that there’s a problem with Islam. No one doubts it,” Hollande told the two authors of the book, Gerard Davet and Fabrice Lhomme, in December 2015, a month after Islamist militant gunmen and bombers attacked Paris, killing 130 people.
“It’s not that Islam poses a problem in the sense that it is a dangerous religion, but in as far as it wants to affirm itself as a religion of the Republic,” he added.
The French President also suggested that today’s “veiled woman” could become a Marianne, the female symbol of the French republic.
When asked to comment on Hollande’s remarks, government spokesman Stephan Le Foll told a news agency, “There’s a problem with Islam today because Islam is politicised by some. There is a problem and at the same time we need to be able to overcome this problem.”
The opposition leaders of France have expressed concern over Hollande’s remarks and advised him to spend less time talking to journalists and focus more on governing.
