Economist Podcasts Secular-stand nation: terror in France
Oct 21, 2020
In this engaging discussion, Alexei Navalny, Russia’s brave opposition leader, shares insights on the chilling assassination attempt against him, pointing to a regime in decline. Joining him is Sophie Petter, Paris bureau chief for The Economist, who dives into the recent murder of a teacher in France, igniting fierce debates over secularism and freedom of expression. They also explore how mobile internet access is eroding trust in governments, underscoring the shifting landscape of political power and civil liberties.
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The Murder of Samuel Paty
- Samuel Paty, a French schoolteacher, showed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a class on freedom of expression.
- This act, which angered some Muslim parents, led to online threats and his subsequent beheading.
Laïcité and Blasphemy in France
- France's concept of laïcité protects freedom of belief and non-belief, while keeping religion out of public life.
- This includes protecting blasphemy, which can be a grey area, particularly regarding Islam.
Jihadism as Political Ideology
- Jihadism in France is not simply a reaction to blasphemy, but a political ideology waging an ideological war.
- This ideology seeks pretexts for attacks on French values, not just reactions to specific events.