French Far Right Presidential Candidate Opposes "Islamization" of France

In France, right-wing politician Philippe de Villiers, head of the anti-immigrant Mouvement Pour La France party, began his 2007 presidential campaign on Sunday by denouncing the Islamisation of the country and contending that Islam is incompatible with France's secular values. He called for the government to stop all mosque construction, according to a Reuters report yesterday. He also proposed a citizen's charter that would require strict separation of religion and state, freedom to change religions, and respect for the equality of men and women.