Bruno Retailleau returned to the debate around the wearing of the veil in sport. He reaffirmed his position.
This Wednesday, March 26, evening, more than 2,000 people were gathered at the Dome of Paris by “Act ensemble”, Elnet initiative (European Leadership Network), an organization “dedicated to strengthening relations between France, Europe and Israel”. During this rally “for the Republic, France against Islamism”, Bruno Retailleau spoke. The Minister of the Interior notably returned to the current debate around wearing the veil in sport, relaunched by a bill brought by Senator LR Michel Savin.
It was voted by the Senate and must be examined by the National Assembly in the coming weeks. It provides for the ban on “wearing signs or outfits ostensibly demonstrating political or religious affiliation during competitions organized by sports federations, their professional leagues and their affiliated associations”. To date, it is the sports federations that decide their regulations. This proposal is supported by the government.
Bruno Retailleau reaffirmed his well -decided opinion on the subject: “The veil has nothing to do in sports competitions”. For the latter, “he will never be a brand of freedom because it is a real marker of submission”. He defends sport as “universal grammar where one can communicate whatever the origins, whatever religions or beliefs”. “Long live sport and at low the veil!” Concluded Bruno Retailleau. Very strong words and a clear position, which can also appear as a certain campaign speech, the latter being on the list to take the lead of the Republicans, in particular against Laurent Wauquiez.
Two days earlier, the minister had already expressed his disagreement with Teddy Rinner’s position in the face of this debate. “We waste our time,” said the French judoka deploring that we “are on one and the same religion. Let us think more about equality”. On Europe 1Bruno Retailleau replied that “the veil is not freedom” or “a marker of equality”. “I would just like to say to Teddy Riner, I too made me vibrate, we like the sportsman, frankly, we love the sportsman, but there I am in radical disagreement with him,” he said.
During this rally, the minister also attacked Islamism that he described as “a poison”. “Let us have the courage to recognize that, in France, there is only one communitarianism, a single separatism which threatens the Republic, it is Islamism,” he said.