The French Defense League

A few weeks ago a reader asked me if I knew of any group in France comparable to the EDL. I replied that I did not. I was obviously not informed of the French Defense League (LDF) that had been in existence for about six months. Today another reader (or possibly the same one) left a link to the LDF's website.

A quick Google turned up several links to the LDF and to websites announcing its creation. For example, on May 23, 2010, an article was posted at International Civil Liberties Alliance announcing the formation of the French Defense League, along lines similar to the JDL and EDL.

On its homepage the LDF makes the following statement:

The LDF organizes protests all over France in opposition to all the demonstrations of political Islam in our country. We believe that sharia has no place in Western society and we will provide evidence of this during our protests.

The Islamic burka and veil are elements of segregation and discrimination that do not correspond to European society and culture. The construction of mosques should be conditional on the abandonment of sharia law in the teachings that are propagated there.

Note: They are saying that mosques are acceptable so long as sharia law is not taught there. Is this not tantamount to saying that churches are acceptable so long as Christian doctrine is not taught there? Sharia law is intrinsic to Islam. How do they hope to separate the mosque (which is not even a requirement) from the doctrine?

Our actions are not directed against individuals but against the implantation in France of a doctrine that legitimizes and promotes violence and religious racism. The extremists preach hatred in our streets, support terrorists and work tirelessly at the destruction of our democratic society, all in the guise of religious activities. This must end.

We refuse all accusation of racism (what race does sharia belong to?). Our members come from all walks of life without any partisan concerns. We are leading a fight for the defense of freedoms and the respect for human dignity.

At the bottom of the page we read:

When I say with the LDF: STOP Sharia! it is my right.

Below, a 3-minute video-communiqué from the LDF. Essentially it is a warning to Muslims to stop praying in the streets, since it is an illegal act, and to be aware that the building of mosques with money taken from non-Muslims, who as a consequence find themselves victims of a gigantic racket, is taking place with the complicity of French leaders. It ends with the warning that he who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind, and asks the Muslims to stop spreading discord in France and to stop occupying the streets of the cities with disruptive prayers.

For a more complete translation of the video and some readers' commentary please turn to Gates of Vienna.

This striking video is similar to those produced by the Bloc Identitaire and by Riposte Laïque. I'm wondering if there is a connection. But the LDF videos have a strong Christian element, which probably rules out Riposte Laïque.



Here is a link to all LDF videos. One of them is a strong appeal to Christians not to eat the meat of an animal sacrificed to an idol. I was not able to embed the code for this video.

On October 20, the LDF launched a petition demanding the labeling of halal foods. A link to the petition which has only 189 signatures to date can be found here. This webpage is closely connected to SITA, which leads me to speculate that the LDF may be a SITA project.

More information will no doubt become available.

Note: I have used the American spelling of the word "defense", but you are more likely to see the British spelling "defence" in the links provided above.