Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Submit Press Release
  • Toggle search form
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel: American Arabs
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8 American Arabs
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community Activism
  • Former City Hall reporter Ray Hanania, ShawnTe Raines-Welch and Nick Kantas, candidates for Judge in the 4th SubCircuit, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar.
    Nearly 100 candidates, officials address Arab Democratic Club forum Sunday American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    Arabs and Muslim blast Mayor lightfoot for racist store closings American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host “forum” to explore Mayor Lightfoot’s racist crackdown on Arab stores Activism
  • Imam Jamal Saad leads the more than 1,000 muslim attendees in payer at SeatGeek Stadium's open grounds at the Eid al-Fitr celebration May 2, 2022 in Bridgeview
    Local Illinois officials join Chicagoland Muslims for Eid Celebration at SeatGeek stadium American Arabs
  • DCEO Panel discussion on business support opportunities for all businesses including Arab American businesses, April 26, 2022
    DCEO Access to Capital: Arab American Heritage Month business workshop American Arabs
  • DCEO Celebrates Arab American Heritage Month (AAHM) American Arabs
  • Alderman Raymond Lopez addresses the gathering at an Iftar hosted by Radi Abuhashish Thursday April 21, 2022 joined by Dr. Willie Wilson and other candidates for Chicago Mayor.
    Political candidates join local Arab leaders for Iftar Activism
  • U.S. Congressional Candidate Rob Cruz in the 6th District GOP Primary election June 28, 2022
    Republican Candidate for U.S. Congress, Rob Cruz, Opens a Dialogue with the Palestinian Community American Arabs
  • Peak Rock Capital affiliate completes acquisition of Ziyad Brothers, a leading provider of brander Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot American Arabs
  • April 24, 2022 Illinois DCEO American ArabChamber event
    American Arab Chamber and DCEO host online panel to help Arab Businesses secure funding Activism
  • Oussama Jammal presents Congresswoman Marie Newman with the Courage Award during the USCMO Annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner. Photo courtesy of Marie Newman Facebook Page
    Newman endorsed by major Arab and Muslim leaders Activism
Syrian refugee camp in Turkey. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

France, Fatherland of Human Rights Vs. Migrants’ Rights

Posted on January 18, 2018January 18, 2018 By Abdennour Toumi No Comments on France, Fatherland of Human Rights Vs. Migrants’ Rights
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

France, Fatherland of Human Rights Vs. Migrants’ Rights

French President baton and carrot immigration policy is between repressive deportation and limited selective immigration.

By Abdennour Toumi

President Macron is dictating conspicuously to his Interior Minister to enforce zero tolerance towards illegal immigrants, introducing a new bill on asylum and immigration to be presented to his cabinet next month and voted on in the Parliament in April. A bill that humanitarian and migrants’ association groups advocate and the left elite are calling shameful and repressive. 

Last week, Premier Edouard Philippe met with local NGOs and INGOs to discuss the bill’s content, which has already created polemic about the delay of the asylum applications and instruction, and the extension of the migrants’ retention regarding the first application.

France is a hospitable country and always has been throughout its modern history, according to Mediapart Director Mr. Edwy Plenel in a recent meeting with the Anglo-American Press Association in Paris. “France is the United States of Europe, it is a welcoming country, there are immigrants from the Maghreb, Africa, south Asia, across Europe and even from the U.S.,” Mr. Plenel said.

The Elysee Palace in France. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi
The Elysee Palace in France. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

President Macron is walking on water politically, his popularity in public opinion is comfortable. After imploding the Socialist party and dismantling the conventional right party, he is governing at large between two radical parties that won’t represent any direct threat to his immigration policy nor any other public policy. To the contrary, the extremist far-right party, the FN, shouldn’t be happier with the President’s bill, as well as the new LR party leader Mr. Wauquiez.

On the other hand, the leftist party la France insoumise and the editorialists of the leftist papers and magazines are saying the President’s new immigration and migrants policy would tarnish France’s humanist and humanitarian image and virtually its values.

The President, however, reiterated to reduce the processing time of applications to six months, restating his distinction between refugees and “economic” migrants, a phrase used by his mentor Michel Rocard. Further, President Macron insisted to promote integration by migrants starting to learn French.

Whereas his baton and carrot immigration policy is between repressive deportation and limited selective immigration.

While Interior Minister Collomb argues these new measures are to help improve the deportation process, making reference to the German model, where the number of migrants is double that in France. “The French model is closer to the German model, we have common challenges, let’s get more efficient…” he said.

Yet the President’s bill and the Interior Minister’s administrative circular regarding the migrants are strongly criticized by the NGOs and INGOs like MSF. On the problematic issue of illegal immigration France though is still behind, despite its wealth. This is because of the politicization of the thorny question that has been going on for three decades. 

Syrian refugee camp in Turkey. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi
Syrian refugee camp in Turkey. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

French governments (left and right alike) have always been looking at the issue exclusively as a legal and circumstantial one, and not as a serious public policy, to some extent a societal one — letting politics and ideology influence the decision; meanwhile the politicians in charge use the immigration and the migrants as a selling point at any political season to score.

Lately the question has gone beyond economic reasons, and extends to national security challenges, a fair concern to worry about. Last month Interior Minister Collomb signed a tough circular giving the national police permission to control the migrants at the Community Centers run by local NGOs, which has created a huge sense of fear among the migrants.

Unlike in Turkey, a country that is doing a great job, according to former UNHCR Officer, the current U.N. General Secretary Premier Gutierres. The refugees have passed 3 million in number, making Turkey the country hosting the highest number of refugees in the world; about 94% of Syrian refugees remain outside of camp (urban refugees).

With ECHO, for instance, the E.U Aid has contracted 45 humanitarian projects with 19 humanitarian organizations, which are working in close cooperation with Turkish partner organizations to provide support to the most vulnerable refugees, even though the so-called refugees are not legally refugees, but are still considered as guests by the Turkish government; nonetheless, the government is offering protection and aid.

According to the January ECHO report, over 3.7 million registered refugees live in Turkey; they include Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans, Iranians, and Somalis among others. Out of these, almost 230,000 people are hosted in 21 camps run by the Turkish authorities in cooperation with the UNHCR, where refugees have access to shelter, health, education, food and social activities. Under AFAD’s watchful eye this governmental organization deals with disaster and crisis management like FEMA in the U.S. 

In France such governmental organizations don’t exist, simply from the administrative point of view like OFPRA (French Office of Refugees and Stateless Protection).

According to OFPRA the number of asylum applicants has risen in 2017 to 100,424, 17% more in comparison with 2016; applicants are mainly from Albania (7630), Afghanistan (5987), Haiti (4934), Sudan (4486), Guinea (3780) and Syria (3249). The office has noted in 2017 a progression of applicants from West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea; only 43,000 applicants have granted asylum and subsidiary protection.

The President’s bill might score a few political points to marginalize further more the far-right and the new-right from the debate, but in the long run these measures will make France look neither like the Fatherland of Human Rights, nor a Promised Land to the immigrants of color.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi:
- France correspondent for The Arab Daily News.
- www.bareed-areej.com Editor-in-Chief
رئيس تحرير مجلة بريد الأريج
- Political consultant at IMPR a Think-Tank based in Ankara, Turkey.
- Member at the European Observatory for Arabic Language Teaching based in Paris, France.
- Affiliated with Sociology of Islam Journal and contributor at Middle East Studies / International Studies, Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Center, Portland State University in Portland, OR.

EDUCATION: Diplôme des Études Approfondies (DEA) in Political Science from Toulouse University I, France. Master’s degree in Law from Algiers University, Algeria.

Email im at: nourhty@gmail.com
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Latest posts by Abdennour Toumi (see all)
  • The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is the Neither-Peace-nor-Security As-sumption Dominating Again? - June 7, 2021
  • Algeria: “I Can See Clearly Now” - August 5, 2019
  • Majesty Mohammed VI and General Gaïd Salah Tear Down This Wall! - July 29, 2019

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Abdennour Toumi, Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Europe, Opinion, Syria Tags:Arab refugees in Europe, France, French President Macron, immigrants, Migrant, Premier Edouard Philippe, Syria, Syrian refugees, Turkey, war

Post navigation

Previous Post: Online series details Middle East security strategies
Next Post: The Rise of Christian Zionism and Vice President Mike Pence

Related Posts

  • New documentary "Jihadists" travels deep into Jihadi controlled territory to reveal the inner workings of extremist Islam, on DVD & Digital April 2, Directed by François Margolin & Lemine Ould Salem
    New documentary “Jihadists” explores extremist movement Arab World
  • Performing Arab-Jewish standup comedy, first time American Arabs
  • migrants, refugees, mother with child. Creative Commons license, free
    Migrants Asking for Protection, Aid not Five-Star lodging Abdennour Toumi
  • Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J, Abbas (L) and FII Institute CEO Richard Attias.
    Arab News, FII Institute partner to shed light on the future of regional media industry Arab World
  • Response To: Mr. Trump, Steve Bannon and The NYT #ThisAmerican #PussyPower #TheResistance #WomensMarch American Arabs
  • Ghassan Rubeiz
    Demonizing Palestinian NGOs unjustly: a regressive step for Israel Bloggers

More Related Articles

Girl Fighters, new book on Yemen Book Cune Press New Book: Girl Fighters: Break Tradition in Yemen  Arab World
Mosque in Cairo. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Outdated inheritance laws indicative of larger issue: status of Arab women Arab World
Flag of the terrorist group ISIS (ISIL) courtesy of WIkipedia Muslim Scholars denounce ISIL Islamic State and leader Arab World
What Governor Rick Scott Needs to Know About Senators Nelson, Rubio and the USS Liberty Arab World
IkhrAss — The New Comic Strip Bloggers
Algeria, Ethnic Parties and Political Stability Abdennour Toumi

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Palestinian refugees forced to flee their homes at gunpoint by Jewish terrorist groups operating in Palestine in the 1930s, 1940s and after Israel was created on May 14, 1948. Photo courtesy of the United Nations
    Unresolved status of Palestinian rights makes UNRWA essential
    May 7, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • Hollywood Sign
    Will Smith violence takes Oscar protests to dangerous level
    March 31, 2022
  • Chicago's racist Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered more than 150 Arab owned stores closed in 2021 in a racist effort o fight street gang crimes
    Arab Daily News launches Arab American Network to fight racism
    March 12, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel:
    May 24, 2022
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8
    May 23, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community
    May 19, 2022
  • Former City Hall reporter Ray Hanania, ShawnTe Raines-Welch and Nick Kantas, candidates for Judge in the 4th SubCircuit, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar.
    Nearly 100 candidates, officials address Arab Democratic Club forum Sunday
    May 15, 2022
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel:
    May 24, 2022
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8
    May 23, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community
    May 19, 2022
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot
    April 15, 2022

The Tabboun Column

The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
  • Tabboun
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Political Grapevine/The Tabboun, Friday Dec. 16, 2021
    December 16, 2021
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Chicago remains strongest Palestine voice
    September 7, 2016
  • The Tabboun: Israeli human rights violations hit
    June 30, 2016
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Himes questions troop deployment to Syria
    November 3, 2015
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Tabboun: Dearborn removes statue of racist former mayor
    September 29, 2015

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • HANANIA Arab News Op-Eds
  • Ukraine conflict gives Palestinians chance to redefine their conflict
    March 9, 2022
  • Mishmeshan PHC medical center destroyed in Syrian Government assaults. Photo courtesy of UOSSM Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations
    President Biden’s dyslexic policy in Syria is a mess
    October 20, 2021
  • Annissa Essaibi George and family
    Annissa Essaibi George faces “race hypocrisy” in campaign to be Boston Mayor
    October 20, 2021
  • Jerusalem image of Jews and Arabs walking together. Shutterstock. Courtesy of Arab News Newspaper
    Jewish Michigan lawmaker leads push for Two State Solution
    October 7, 2021
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • Girl Fighters, new book on Yemen Book Cune Press
    New Book: Girl Fighters: Break Tradition in Yemen 
    October 25, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • Hollywood Sign
    Will Smith violence takes Oscar protests to dangerous level
    March 31, 2022
  • 03-30-22 Arab Chamber Heritage Month Flyer
    Arab Chamber to host Arab Heritage Month dinner March 30
    March 14, 2022
  • “Rupture”, the psychological thriller produced by MBC STUDIOS, has won Best Saudi Film at the 2021 Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF).
    MBC GROUP’s Rupture wins Best Saudi Film at the inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival
    December 15, 2021
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2022 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme