THIS is with reference to the article ‘Why not the freedom to choose’ (Nov 10), which, I believe, has not highlighted the real face of Islamophobia in France the way it deserves to be highlighted.

To its credit, the article did mention Éric Zemmour’s petty politicking, and talked about Marine Le Pen, a populist who loves to play to the gallery, and has often derided Islam and Muslims. She is a second-generation Islamophobe as her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, was quite a character in his active life.

However, the article seems to have ignored the actual problem.

Given the global wave of Islamophobia, it is high time French leaders jumped out of the bottomless pit of hatred, prejudice and bigotry; or at least, they should realise, if not acknowledge, that they know nothing about Islam and Muslims.

Taha Muneer
Nawabshah

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2021