The French parliament's lower house, the National Assembly, has approved by a clear majority legislation presented as a needy curb of the 'separatism' of radical Islamist activities, expanding state powers to close places of worship and religious schools, and to ban extremist preachers, while opponents say it further stigmatises Muslims and limits free speech.
France's lower house of parliament has voted in favour of a law to battle Islamist separatism and which the government has presented as a means to counter religious groups attempting to undermine the secular state, reports Radio France Internationale.
