Non-halal food ban angers Paris shoppers

Muslims and non-Muslims criticise a supermarket for removing alcohol and pork from its shelves

PARIS - A supermarket in a Paris suburb has caused a furore among shoppers and incurred the wrath of the mayor by stripping its shelves of alcohol and pork to appeal to the largely Muslim neighbourhood.

Mayor Manuel Valls said the new owners who took over the Franprix store in October risked turning Evry into a ghetto by selling only halal meat and banning taboo products.

'It's primarily local French people or Muslim immigrants who are protesting, because they are the ones that do not wish to be locked into a ghetto logic,' he told RTL radio.

'A lot of local residents already suffer from a social and territorial apartheid.

'If, on top of that, we close them into a religious logic, we are throwing out the values of the republic.'

In a letter to the new owners, Mr Valls demanded they 're-establish the normal functioning of the shop...as soon as possible' or else he would resort to 'all the police powers at my disposal'.

Mr Muhamed Djaiziri, one of two brothers who own the store, said he was ready to discuss the matter, 'but we did not appreciate the tone of the letter'.

He said the decision to ban alcohol was to avoid the attentions of young Muslim radicals in the area, while the ban on pork was to qualify for a 'halal' meat certificate from the Muslim authorities.

The brothers said they would sooner lose the Franprix franchise than reverse their new policy.

Mr Abdel Djaiziri told the daily newspaper Liberation: 'It was necessary to change the business to adapt to a primarily Muslim clientele. If we lose the Franprix sign, it's not important. What's important is that we keep doing good business.

'We asked for a certificate to guarantee our meat is halal. That's incompatible with selling pork. Is that against the law?'

The dispute erupted amid simmering tensions in France over Islamic fundamentalism, with anxiety fanned by fear of terror attacks by Islamic militants.

French officials say they have not uncovered any specific threats of planned attacks.

Several shoppers, including Muslims, told French media they were furious at the restrictions.

'France is a republic. Rule by ethnic or religious communities is not appropriate. I am against this sectarianism,' said local Muslin resident Badiane M'Baye.

Franprix said it had written to the Djaiziri brothers to remind them they were obliged under the franchise to stock a wide range of goods.

'We have written to the management asking them to sell the entire range of Franprix products,' a spokesman said.

France has about five million Muslims, the country's second-largest religious group. -- Reuters

{[Image]

NO PORK: Manager Muhamed Djaiziri shows a food package containing pork, among the items that his supermarket no longer stocks. Displayed in front of him are halal versions of food that he and his brother have been stocking since acquiring the supermarket in Evry, a Paris suburb. -- AFP}


I am against this sectarianism too!