Forty percent of the French and Germans believe that Islam is "somewhat of a threat," according to a survey carried out by Le Monde. Respondents complain primarily about the lack of integration of Muslim communities.There is severe criticism of Islam on both sides of the Rhine.
A survey (by Ifop), published Tuesday in Le Monde, reveals that the Muslim community is "mostly a threat to the identity of their country" (for 40% of French and 42% of Germans). Only 22% of French and 24% of their neighbours see in Islam "a degree of cultural enrichment." These views are almost uniform regardless of age in France. Between 41% and 44% of respondents 25 to 65 years share this point of view. The only exception to this is young people aged 18 to 24, 28% of whom say they are worried. In Germany, intriguingly, the trend is reversed. The young are the most suspicious at 47%. Compare this with the generation born before 1945, 36% of whom expressed fear.
On both sides of the border, more than two-thirds of respondents denounced, above all, the entire lack of integration of Muslim communities. The reasons for this were as follows:
- a failure due to key stakeholders/leaders (61% of French/ 67% of Germans).
- Cultural differences (40% of French respondents and 34% German
- The fact that people of Muslim origin are clustered in certain neighborhoods and certain schools.
- Racism and lack of openness of some French and Germans come in fourth position (18% and 15% respectively).
But in Germany, home to 4 million Muslims, of which 2.5 million are of Turkish origin, the debate, as in France, is over Islam's place in society. It is this which is attracting attention at a political level. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel has lifted a taboo by saying that the multicultural model in which different cultures live together harmoniously had "completely failed."
All this is without even mentioning the anti-Islam pamphlet written by a former officer of the German Central Bank, Thilo Sarrazin, which sold 1.25 million copies in 4 months. In France, the summer has been dominated by questions of national identity and banning of the veil. 59% of French people are opposed to wearing a veil in the street, up from 32% in 2003.
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Vocabulary
somewhat of a threat = plutôt une menace
according to = selon
survey = sondage
carried out by = réalisé
complain about = se plaindre de
on both sides = des deux côtés
reveals = montre/révèle
regardless of age = indépendamment de l'âge
The only exception to this is young people aged 18 to 24, 28% of whom say they are worried = 28% of young people aged 18-24 say they are worried. This is an exception.
suspicious = se mefier de quelque chose.
born = née
two thirds of respondents = deux-tiers des sondés
above all = avant tout
a lack of = une manque de
failure = échec
clustered/grouped = soient regroupées
neighbourhoods = quartiers
unsurprisingly = Sans surprise
One third = 1/3
western values = des valeurs occidentales
lifted a taboo = a levé un taboo
banning of the veil = d'interdiction du voile intégral
wear = porter
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