One of the world’s most secular countries, France strongly separates religion and public life.
A string of southern French beach towns near Nice banned the burkini full body swimsuit over the summer, but the bans by municipal decree were struck down by the country’s highest constitutional court.
The big controversy about the poor innocent Muslim woman being forced to remove her burkini on the beach, under intimidation from four policemen, that led to the lifting of the burkini ban, turned out to be a set-up. No matter how France or any Western nation tries to separate “religion and public life,” only Islamic symbols somehow manage to slip through, due to the raving success of charges of “Islamophobia” and/or because of the success of endeavors to “cast terror into the hearts of unbelievers” (Quran 3: 151).
“French town ordered to remove Virgin Mary statue to respect secularism”, by Henry Samuel, Telegraph, December 5, 2016:
A town in eastern France has been ordered to remove a statue of the Virgin Mary to comply with secular rules banning religious symbols in public.
An administrative court ordered the commune of Publier, in the Haute-Savoie region to take down the offending statue which overlooks Lake Geneva and has been in place in a public park since 2011.
The town has three months to comply with the ruling on pain of receiving a fine of €100 (£85) per day, the November 24 judgement stipulates.
Gaston Lacroix, the town’s mayor has pledged to find a new home for the religious icon “on private land”.
The statue of the mother of Jesus has been the focus of controversy since it was installed in 2011 without any prior debate in the town council, in particular because municipal funding was used.
In an attempt to resolve the issue, the statue was then sold to a religious cultural association. But the parcel of land it stood was still owned by the municipality, meaning it remained on public property and therefore continued to breach French rules regarding religious symbols.
One of the world’s most secular countries, France strongly separates religion and public life.
In 2010, France became the first country in Europe to ban the full Muslim veil in public spaces.
A string of southern French beach towns near Nice banned the burkini full body swimsuit over the summer, but the bans by municipal decree were struck down by the country’s highest constitutional court.
In a decision hailed by human rights groups, the court found that the bans in around 30 seaside towns were a “serious and manifestly illegal violation of fundamental freedoms” and that the swimsuits did not constitute a clear threat to public order…….

Cretius says
Yes, the useful idots on the left have swallowed the Muslim Islamophobia/racist ploy hook line and sinker. Expose this farce at every turn!
A Harris USA says
Disgusting, all I can say is that God will punish France, even further!! He who does not know me, I will not know them… I believe the bible says!!
gravenimage says
I don’t think that the priest beheaded in France by Jihadists deserved such punishment…
Crusades Were Right! says
“Secularism” in France seems to be nothing more than Christophobia/anti-Catholicism. No wonder so many Mohammedans want to go there!
Christianblood says
Very true indeed!
Tom says
Yes I agree. I was hoping the Pope would give Islam a verbal tune-up, but he turned the other cheek. Too bad, he had the opportunity to turn around the Catholic Church and regain momentum.
Long live the memory of General Blackjack Pershing.
A Harris USA says
That pope is a Islamic pimp!!! He will suffer the Justice of God, when he is asked, “Why did you deny me, Frances?” Not to mention, “Why did you abandon my sheep?”
Shmooviyet says
“…banning religious symbols in public” my Aunt Fanny.
Just dare try banning any ‘islamic religious symbols’. Like burkinis. (What a dumb word, imo.)
“The decision was hailed by human rights groups.”
Are there no AUTHENTIC human rights violations happening for these fools to focus on??
DFD says
Once the upcoming civil wars, or massive confrontations, are over, the purges in Europe will be something to behold.
My gut feeling or prediction, the traitors will be lucky if they got shot.
A Harris USA says
DFD, Hope you are right!!!
Stan Lee says
France is overloaded with idiots. They’re all for suffocating Catholicism and all other Christianity, while appeasing a murderous horde within its borders.
If its political leaders had any guts, they’d impose Martial Law and reopen Devil’s Island for the many lunatic criminals preying at will upon innocent and law abiding French people..
Christianblood says
(..French town orders removal of Virgin Mary statue, but burkini okay..)
This is yet another sign which proves that the postmodernist establishment elites that run the West deeply hate Christianity and its symbols but love and adore islam and muslims, including muslim jihadists.
Angemon says
Really? What would you say of a country who passed a law that lets Christians be arrested for preaching the Gospel?
http://www.christianpost.com/news/christians-russia-refuse-stop-sharing-the-gospel-despite-putins-ban-evangelism-167442/
http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-leaders-arrested-russia-law-banning-evangelism-outside-churches-goes-into-effect-168852/
Arresting Christians for preaching the Gospel – I can only imagine your reaction if it were a Western nation doing so. Well, I don’t need to do much imagining – your material and MO is old and stale, I can safely say it would be something along the lines of:
Angemon says
Oh, and isn’t it curious that the logic behind your “more signs that prove blah blah blah” nonsense only goes one way? When the burkini was banned, were you in the comment section saying “this is proof that the West does not love muslims or islam”? No, you weren’t. When Brexit and Trump won, were you in the comments section saying “gee, I might have been wrong all along in my hasty generalizations of the West and Westerners”? Nope. You’re there to point and scream if something bad happens in Saudi Arabia, which no one here defends (even though one might get the idea that most people here are running apologia for Saudi Arabia if one were to only read your posts) but you make yourself scarce when it comes to Iran, a country you’ve ran apologia for, persecuting its Christians. And I know your response will be something involving buzzwords such as “Saudi head-choppers are American and Western allies and the Americans overthrew the Sha and placed Khomeini in power”, but even if that were true (the Iranian revolution was a KGB-backed coup, which involved KGB spies and Iranian communists, with the zealots being “fellow travellers”, except that Khomeini pulled the rug from under their feet, round up the commies and shoot them), it would only make your statements here the more weird, seeing how you’ve praised and defended the Iranian regime for allegedly giving freedom of religion to its citizens.
I guess this is the part where you call me “anti-Christ” and “establishment plant”, like a good, little propaganda troll…
Christianblood says
Angemon
You seem to be angry at commenters like me who are simply point out the facts about the true enablers who are enabling islamists in the Western world. And you are spreading lies and falsehoods that does not exist in Russia. What does these French enablers who banning Christian symbols in France while allowing the islamic ones such as Burkini have to do with Russia and Putin?
gravenimage says
Christianblood wrote:
Angemon
You seem to be angry at commenters like me who are simply point out the facts about the true enablers who are enabling islamists in the Western world.
……………………..
This is not the case–it is that Christianblood castigates the West, including calling it the “Anti-Christ” and calling for her to be overrun and conquered by Muslims, yet ignores similar dhimmitide in Russia.
And what did Angemon say that was “spreading lies and falsehoods that does not exist” in Russia? Are you claiming that the story in the Christian Post is false?
Worst of all is whitewashing horrific Shari’ah state Islamic Republic of Iran, even when they persecute Christians, just because Putin is playing footsie with them.
Anti-Jihadists here condemn *all* Jihad and enabling of Islam–whether it is done in the West or elsewhere, because we know that Islam is the threat.
Angemon says
Christianblood posted:
“Angemon
You seem to be angry at commenters like me who are simply point out the facts about the true enablers who are enabling islamists in the Western world.”
How about addressing what I wrote instead of trying to divert attention away from it by spewing propaganda and ascribing me malice and anger? You want to talk about enabling islamists? Take it up to Saddam and Assad – were it not for them there’d be no islamic state today. Oh, and you might want to take care of the weeds in your backyard (Chechnia) before going after someone else’s.
“And you are spreading lies and falsehoods that does not exist in Russia.”
Take it up with the Christian Post and all the other media who reported on Russia’s law that makes preaching the Gospel in the street illegal. Also, that begs the question: why did you try to defend that law by saying it was meant to go after Western preachers if it’s a “lie” or a “falsehood”? Shouldn’t you have argued it was a lie from the get-go?
“What does these French enablers who banning Christian symbols in France while allowing the islamic ones such as Burkini have to do with Russia and Putin?”
Did I say the news on this article had something to do with Russia or Putin? I merely quizzed you on your one-way logic and malicious intent – like I said, when the burkini was banned, were you in the comment section saying “this is proof that the West does not love muslims or islam”? No, you weren’t. When Brexit and Trump won, were you in the comments section saying “gee, I might have been wrong all along in my hasty generalizations of the West and Westerners”? Nope. You’re there to point and scream if something bad happens in Saudi Arabia, which no one here defends (even though one might get the idea that most people here are running apologia for Saudi Arabia if one were to only read your posts) but you make yourself scarce when it comes to Iran, a country you’ve ran apologia for, persecuting its Christians.
So, CB, how would you react if a Western nation were to pass a law similar to that one in Russia? Would you say that law was simply meant to target non-Western preachers who might want to soil the West? Would you say that the reports on that law are lies and falsehoods? Or would you do what I, based on your track record here, imagine you would:
It’s Russia that made preaching the Gospel into an act punishable by law. It’s Russia that named a bridge after a jihadi leader who called on his followers to kill as many Russians as they could, proclaiming him to be a “hero of Russia”. And yet, according to you, it’s the West that hates Christianity. How does that logic work? Oh, right – no logic whatsoever, you’re just paid to spread anti-Western propaganda.
Angemon says
P.S.: “Commenters”, you say? There’s you and there was your circle-jerk buddy “ex-muslim”, who was banned for using several accounts to back himself (he posted the same sort of anti-Western vitriol you do) and you. So that leaves you. Why the use of the plural?
gravenimage says
Angemon, “Ex-muslim” did turn out to have multiple accounts and identities, but he was actually banned to posting violent comments here.
Angemon says
IIRC, marc mentioned “abusing multiple accounts”, or something along those lines, so I suppose it could be any of those reasons – posting violent comments would definitely be abusing multiple accounts, as well as using different accounts to agree with himself.
mortimer says
France is teetering on a civil war with Muslims attempting to take over the army and the government. They will not win, but many of the French will die before they realize they must extradite the problem.
emma says
and how is the virgin mary a threat to the public order, unless what that means is that muslims get offended by the sight of her. But how about non-muslims getting offended by the sight of the burkini, the hijab or the muslim beard?
billybob says
I have no problem with this. The pagan statue was on municipal lands. The state has no business supporting any religion, even a religion that worships statues.
This is a non-story.
StacyGirl says
The dichotomy here eludes you, door knob.
billybob says
What if the Muslims wanted to put up a statue of Muhammad on municipal lands? Oh, wait…
billybob says
Dear Stacy,
I think the first girl I had a crush on back in Grade 6 was named Stacy. Thanks for helping me get over that. Now as far as you dichotomy goes, let’s see… On one hand, we have the Burkini. On the other hand, we have a statue of Mary. Hmm… real difficult – like comparing apples and bicycles….
First, let’s take the case of the statue. There is no way in a secular country that can be permitted on municipal lands. Even in the USA they don’t permit that sort of thing, so that had to go, no matter what the decision on the burkini was. Now that leaves the burkini issue right back where it was before… still controversial.
However, unlike the clear cut case of the religious statue on municipal lands, it was, well, not so clear cut. Very hard to enforce a ban on burkinis for one thing. What are you gonna do – have assign police to patrol all the beaches?.And for another thing, are you gonna ban burkinis and not ban the wet suits that surfers wear?
Now I too would have liked to see the ban hold, but in the end, you gotta pick your battles. This one was a tough fight for little gain. I would suggest that if you are gonna go after something, you pick something that’s worth the effort.
There – not a bad argument for a door knob if I say so myself!
gravenimage says
billybob, the idea that a statue of the peaceful and non-violent Virgin Mary is a threat, and that the stealth-Jihad “burkini” is not is, I’m afraid, quite mistaken.
gravenimage says
French town orders removal of Virgin Mary statue, but burkini okay
…………………..
More suicidal madness.
Marti van Lin says
“One of the world’s most secular countries”? Whoops: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lourdes Pilgrimage is booming business in France 😉
Angemon says
Secularity refers merely to separation between Church and State. It’s not the same as, for example, atheism, which is the belief that gods don’t exist.
ibrahim itace muhammed says
is statue of mary in france not an idol like dancing idol of fatima in partugal?filthy christianity is funny.mithraist christian bible in one part says one should not use an image as symbol of worship.in another statues are used as christian religious symbol.is that not fundamental contradiction that renders christianity as the most confused religion?the man-god worship of jesus is a clear paganism of mithraism inspired by the devil.that is why many people in the west are not fully satisfied with christian belief system.hence strict adherance to secularism as in france.some idiot christian fanatics now shift the blame to islam.why?
Champ says
There is something seriously wrong with “ibrahim itace muhammed’s” thinking—-or lack thereof.
Bob says
Ibrahim – will Friday be free of you when you go beating yoir forehead against the floor? I’m sick of your meandering rants. BELT UP!!
Angemon says
Hi there, Ebionite. You wrote:
“is statue of mary in france not an idol like dancing idol of fatima in partugal?”
You don’t know what an idol is, do you?
“filthy christianity is funny.mithraist christian bible in one part says one should not use an image as symbol of worship.in another statues are used as christian religious symbol.”
Citations needed.
“is that not fundamental contradiction that renders christianity as the most confused religion?”
The most confused “religion” is that heretic deviation of Ebionism that goes by the name of “islam”. Well, it makes much more sense when one sees it as the made-up-as-you-go-along story that it is, having been created to held together the scattered provinces that fell in the lap of 8th-century Arab usurpers.
“the man-god worship of jesus is a clear paganism of mithraism inspired by the devil.”
Citation needed.
“that is why many people in the west”
Weasel words, citation needed.
“are not fully satisfied with christian belief system.hence strict adherance to secularism as in france.”
Lol!!! You f***ing idiot! Secularism is merely the separation between Church and State. I know this concept is impossible to grasp to brainwashed morons such as yourself, but that’s simply what it is – the State does not enforce an official state religion. Secularism in NOT a religion, like your pea-brain erroneously believes it to be. Oh, and were it not for state-enforced penalties in the muslim world, where calling for secularism or criticising the official religion backed by the state can get you killed, you’d be living in a secular country as well. No, scratch that – you’d be living in a non-muslim country. Muslim-majority countries are either lucky enough to be sitting on valuable natural resources or they’re s***holes that make 3rd-world s***holes look like the 1st-world. And that, Ebionite, is because of islam. And anti-thinking as islam is, some people break free from it. They see the devastation islam wrecks in their nations. And they rebel. And they get persecuted by both their zealot neighbours and the state who was supposed to defend them.
As Yusuf al-Qaradawi said, “If they [Muslims] had gotten rid of the punishment [often death] for apostasy, Islam would not exist today”.
“some idiot christian fanatics now shift the blame to islam.why?”
Citation needed.
Cretius says
A good rule to remember. Arguing with an ignorant fool like ibrahim itace muhammed only proves there are two fools.
Better to just laugh at them and move on to someone who has made a real contribution to the discussion at hand.
gravenimage says
Cretius, Angemon is dissecting muhammed’s bullsh*t for the benefit of Infidels here–he is not arguing with muhammed directly at all.
Cretius says
Abraham. Ha ha. You are amusing.
billybob says
ibrahim – This statue has nothing to do with Christianity. Christianity is defined by Christ’s teachings, and nowhere did he ever say to worship a statue of Mary. In fact, the Ten Commandments begins with the first three…
I am the LORD thy God.
Thou shalt have no other gods.
No graven images or likenesses.
Beyond that, the story of the Golden Calf in the Old Testament is first mentioned in Exodus 32:4.
According to the Bible, the golden calf was an icon (a cult image) made by the Israelites during Moses’ absence, when he went up to Mount Sinai. It also makes it clear that idol worshiping is wrong.
For example, worshiping the Al-Ḥajaru al-Aswad, “the Black Stone” in the Kaaba (Arabic: الكعبة al-Kaʿbah IPA: [alˈkaʕba] or the Moon God is a pagan ritual and also wrong.
As far as your statement “the man-god worship of jesus is a clear paganism of mithraism inspired by the devil”, you clearly don’t understand the concept that God can have a dual nature. Why not? God can do anything! Stretch your mind a bit. I would suggest that you set that aside, and look into Christ’s teachings. I guarantee you will find there is nothing “devilish” in them. In fact, they are quite inspirational. Jesus was a man of peace, love, and humility, sentiments sorely lacking in Islam.
gravenimage says
Vile apologist for Muslim savagery ibrahim itace muhammed wrote:
is (sic) statue of mary (sic) in france (sic) not an idol like dancing idol of fatima (sic) in partugal (sic)?
……………………………….
Neither of these are “idols” in the sense that muhammed means, of course–these are not worshipped.
More:
filthy (sic) christianity (sic) is funny.mithraist (sic) christian (sic) bible in one part says one should not use an image as symbol of worship.in (sic) another statues are used as christian religious symbol.is that not fundamental contradiction that renders christianity (sic) as the most confused religion?the (sic) man-god worship of jesus (sic) is a clear paganism of mithraism (sic) inspired by the devil.
……………………………….
Where to start? The Bible has nothing to do with Mithrasism. The Bible has nothing to say about Christian statuary at all, which are not “idols” in any case. The idea of the Messiah is not “Mithraism”, but is a concept in Judaism.
Clearly, this ignorant Mohamemdan has never read the Bible.
But the problem is not such much that Muslims are ignorant of Christianity, but that they oppress and murder Christians and other Infidels for not submitting to the sanguinary horror of Islam.
More:
that (sic) is why many people in the west are not fully satisfied with christian belief system.hence (sic) strict adherance (sic) to secularism as in france (sic).
……………………………….
Of course, this Mohamemdan understands nothing about the separation of church and state. Why would he? There is no such concept in Islam, where Shari’ah law is theocratic. The only question here is how far such separation reaches, and that it should apply to Islam.
As for supposed dissatisfaction with Christianity, surely even this ignorant Mohammedan realizes that there are many more Christians than Muslims in the world?
Christians–and non-Christians–may question and criticize Christianity.
Muslims murder people who criticize the horror of Islam.
More:
some (sic) idiot christian (sic) fanatics now shift the blame to islam.why (sic)?
……………………………….
Good grief, this Mohamnmedan is unintelligent. The whole point of this article is pointing out the dhimmitude of French authorities–this is not about Christians blaming Islam for (supposed) inconsistencies in the Christian faith.
The largest population of Infidels who consider converting to Islam are violent felons, which is very telling.
Eric Jones says
Ibrahim – Don”t for get that in Shai Islam images have been painted of Mohammad for centuries. He is depicted as a man with a covering of some type over his face. I guess the Shai got it all wrong huh Ibrahim?
Eric
linnte says
What about the Louvre in Paris? Is the government going to remove all religious art there? A public space? This is selective and offensive. Where is the unbiased thinking? NO WHERE! France is packed FULL of Christian iconery. Even the old architectural buildings are built with structural Christian symbolism. Many doors to many houses have “Christian doors” with the cross built into its design. It boggles the mind. Viva la Revelution!
John A. Marre says
The Muslims have learned that it’s OK to drive a truck into human beings in the name of Allah, because the infidels will go out of their way to avoid offending you.
Susette says
I believe in the total separation of church and state. If this is government-owned property, then it makes sense to remove it. But a good point was raised about The Louvre. If it is government-owned are the religious artworks within to be banned? I hope not…it’s art, not a religious endorsement from the government. Islamic art (if it such exists) could be contained in The Louvre as well. However, what about the French government employee who wears a hijab? Isn’t that a religious symbol to be banned as a government employee? Just wondering…
billybob says
Well spoken Susette. I too wanted to address the issue of the religious art in the Louvre, but you already made the point I wanted to make more eloquently than I would have. And of course French government employees should not wear religious symbols such as the hijab.