Treatment Of Muslims By French Army Criticized

World Bulletin yesterday reported that the France's Defense Ministry is exerting additional control over Muslim officers in the French army by arranging their travel this year for the Hajj. The Ministry will provide a plane to fly them to Saudi Arabia and will organize their stay. In another attempt to influence Muslims in the military, last year the French army sent two of its imams to a government-sponsored class on citizenship and secular values. Another six imams will attend the course this year. Some French Muslim leaders have criticized this as an inappropriate attempt by the state to train imams. At the same time, Muslims in the Army have complained that no accommodation was made for their meals during Ramadan this year.