French Leaders Plan Debate on Role of Islam in the Country

Reuters and France 24 report that France's governing UMP party plans to lead a debate beginning in April on the role Islam in light of France's tradition of secularism-- an issue that promises to be a major focus in France's 2012 election campaign. Last week French president Nicolas Sarkozy said that multiculturalism in France had failed. After a meeting with UMP legislators on Wednesday, the new initiative was announced.  Jean-Francois Cope, secretary-general of the UMP party, said that the upcoming debate would focus on items such as the financing and building of mosques, contents of Friday sermons and the education of imams. Muslim prayer gatherings in French streets outside of overcrowded mosques have caused particular concern. In December, right wing National Front leader Marie Le Pen compared the street prayers to Nazi occupation of France in World War II. Sarkozy wants his party to lead to debate on the role of Islam in order to keep the discussion under control.