What President Macron really means

Olivier Chambard

Jakarta

The terrorist attack that took place in Conflans Sainte-Honorine on Oct. 16, in which a teacher
was beheaded when leaving school, aroused strong emotion in France. A national tribute was
paid to him. France has suffered repeated terrorist acts on its territory for several years, like
Indonesia. President Emmanuel Macron has therefore presented a strategy which aims to
isolate and fight against this terrorism, which takes the form of radical Islamism.

In the light of certain declarations and calls for a boycott of French products in recent days, it
is my duty to denounce the erroneous or biased interpretations of President Macron’s speech.
I will summarize the main points of his strategy, but above all I invite everyone to read this
speech.

First, it is radical Islamism that is targeted. President Macron clearly identified the target of
this strategy, an ideology – radical Islamism. All democracies and almost all member states of
the Organization of the Islamic Conference are fighting this radical Islamism, which is often
an incubator for terrorism. This has been the case in France for several years, like in Indonesia.

Second, reaffirming secularism as the guarantor of freedom of conscience and of religion. The
President recalled the importance of secularism, the cement of society in the Republic, which
is the foundation of the freedom to believe or not to believe, the possibility to exercise one’s
religion, and the neutrality of the state. Secularism is in no way means erasing religions from
the public sphere.

Third, a clear refusal of generalizations. The President clearly indicated that he would be
intransigent concerning any generalization, distinguishing the vast majority of French citizens
of Muslim faith from the militant and separatist minority who are hostile to the values of the
Republic. I want to say it again clearly: the first victims of radical Islamism are the Muslims
themselves.

Fourth, support of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM). Main interlocutor of the
state in France, the CFCM stated that “the values on which (…) our secular, indivisible,
democratic and social Republic with its triptyque motto, ‘Liberty, equality, fraternity’ is built,
allow us, Muslims of France, like all our fellow citizens, to practice freely our religion or not
to practice any religion, to build our mosques and to fully enjoy our rights.” Finally, the CFCM
states that “No! We, Muslims, are not persecuted in France. We are full citizens in our country.
Like all our fellow citizens, we have guaranteed rights and duties to fulfill.” The fight against
terrorism is a complex and global issue which can only be fought through long-term work,
requiring increased cooperation.

To conclude, I would like to reiterate that France's position has always been to protect
fundamental freedoms, reject hatred and fight against terrorism, just like its strategic partner,
Indonesia.

The writer is French Ambassador to Indonesia.