Dhimmitude is a total commitment, you see. It isn’t enough to accomodate in all other matters and then deviate on this little problem of the headscarf. From AFP, with thanks to Ali Dashti:
DUBAI (AFP) – The Islamic Army of Iraq, which is holding two French journalists hostage, said that France is an “enemy of Muslims,” in a statement on a website that gave no details on the fate of the captives.
The statement, carried on http://iaminiraq.tripod.com, cited France with a list of “crimes” that France had allegedly carried out against numerous Muslim countries.
“France has distinguished itself for its war against Islam and Muslims and has committed butchery against the nation,” said the statement, whose authenticity could not be verified.
“France’s history with Muslims is a black one, blemished by hatred and malice and blood. Its modern history is no less so that in the past,” the statement added, calling on the “Islamic nation to unite against its enemies,” such as France.
It accused France of “playing a principle role in blocking Muslims from taking power in Algeria after their victory” in 1992 legislative elections.
It said French prisons are “full of Muslims” being held in the name of the fight against terrorism, while denoucing continuing French support for the “Zionist entity” (Israel) and its “war against the symbols of Islam, such as the headscarf” for women.
The French journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, along with their Syrian driver, were kidnapped on August 20.
The hostage-takers initially demanded that Paris rescind its ban on the wearing of Islamic headscarves and other “conspicuous” religious insignia in state schools, but the law went into effect on September 2 as planned.