Marine Le Pen Slams ‘Eat Pork Or Go Hungry’ To Muslim Suggestions For School Canteens


France’s National Front leader Marine Le Pen has slammed down hard on the recent suggestion to changes in the menu served at public schools. “Eat pork or go hungry,” Marine reportedly told the RTL Radio.

Far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen confirmed that the party would prevent schools from offering non-pork alternatives to Muslim pupils. Incidentally, Marine’s party plans to enforce the law in the 11 towns it won in local elections, reported the Daily Mail.

The schools were recently being asked to offer pro–Muslim food alternatives to students. As pork is a pretty common food item in France, it was the first to be asked to be substituted. Pork is forbidden under Jewish and Muslim dietary laws. Hence, schools attempted to substitute beef or chicken for pork from menus to cater to Muslim children.

However, Marine Le Pen strongly feels such arrangements were contrary to France’s secular values. France’s republic has a strict secular tradition, which is enforceable by law. Still, faith-related demands have risen in recent years. These demands have been mostly coming from the country’s five-million-strong Muslim minority. Coincidentally, France has the largest Muslim minority in Europe and hence the residents strongly feel they ought to be given a decent alternative for their children at the institutions of knowledge.

But Marine had enough when she said, “We will not accept any religious demands in school menus. There is no reason for religion to enter the public sphere, that’s the law.”

The party justifies its stand, that besides there being a clear provision in the law, the alternatives are simply wasteful. The cost of providing non–pork alternatives put a lot of stress on the exchequer and what’s more hurting is the fact that these alternatives too, go to waste since the kids leave the food uneaten. “Often children who did not take the substitute dinner complained as well and left the pork. It distressed the staff to see how much food was wasted,” said the Mayor of Arveyres, Benoit Gheysens.

It is no secret that that the Marine’s National Front is strongly against immigration, and on numerous occasions has openly bemoaned the rising influence of Islam in French pubic life. Some of the new mayors have even complained there are too many halal shops in their towns.

Marine Le Pen’s National Front has decided to cease the practice of offering non–pork alternatives to Muslim and Jewish students, reported The Independent. They may have won because President François Hollande couldn’t rally up his supporters to vote, but will such policy decisions go down well in the society?

[Image Credit | Better Nation]

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