France refuses citizenship to man for his “degrading attitude” toward women
People hold a giant Palestinian flag during a demonstration to protest against war, racism and xenophobia on February 26, 2011 at Republic square in Paris.
A man married to a Frenchwoman has been refused French citizenship because of his "degrading attitude" toward women.
The Algerian man's application for French nationality was turned down because "his idea of sexual equality is not that of the republic," a high-ranking official told French radio station Europe 1, the Guardian reports.
The man — eligible for French nationality as he had been married to a French citizen for more than four years — did not allow his wife to leave the family home freely, it is claimed.
According to the Guardian report:
The French constitution states that the government can refuse nationality or strip nationality for a "lack of integration."
The interior minister, Claude Guéant, has made it clear he expects candidates for nationality to not only integrate but "assimilate" into French society.
A spokesman for the minister told the Guardian that concerns were raised when police interviewed the man as part of the application process. The refusal, she added, had been confirmed by the State Council — the legal body that advises the government on legislation — and was awaiting signature by the minister.
Citizenship "can be refused by a disrespect of or lack of assimilation into the French community or if the person practices polygamy," he said.
"In this case, during the interview at the police station his behavior showed a lack of assimilation into the French community; it was incompatible with the values of the French republic, notably in respect to the values of the equality of men and women. This justifies the decision for not giving him French nationality. The case was examined by the State Council, which agreed and a decision to that effect was given."
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who leads the increasingly popular anti-immigrant National Front, wrote to French MPs asking them to support an end to dual nationality, claiming it "undermines republican values."
Le Pen, daughter of the party's controversial founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, is particularly opposed to immigration from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.
President Nicolas Sarkozy is reportedly "very favorable" to ending dual nationality, the Guardian reports.
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