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Refugee crisis: Two French mayors prompt fury by saying they will only accept Christian refugees Refugee crisis: Two French mayors prompt fury by saying they will only accept Christian refugees
(35 minutes later)
Two centre-right mayors have infuriated the French government by saying they will accept only Christian refugees, even as the first 200 Middle Eastern migrants arrived in France from Germany.Two centre-right mayors have infuriated the French government by saying they will accept only Christian refugees, even as the first 200 Middle Eastern migrants arrived in France from Germany.
Their comments, after France agreed to accept 1,000 from overcrowded reception centres across the Rhine by the end of this week, mirrored declarations by the eastern European EU governments of Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.Their comments, after France agreed to accept 1,000 from overcrowded reception centres across the Rhine by the end of this week, mirrored declarations by the eastern European EU governments of Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, and the European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, condemned any attempt to distinguish between Muslim and Christian refugees, as did the leadership of the Catholic church in France.The French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, and the European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, condemned any attempt to distinguish between Muslim and Christian refugees, as did the leadership of the Catholic church in France.
“Obviously we must not sort (the refugees) by religion,” said Vincent Neymon, Assistant Secretary General of the conference of French bishops. “There is no case for any such policy which would be against the spirit of all religions.”“Obviously we must not sort (the refugees) by religion,” said Vincent Neymon, Assistant Secretary General of the conference of French bishops. “There is no case for any such policy which would be against the spirit of all religions.”
The “Christians only” comments by the mayors of  Roanne, in central France, and Belfort, near the Swiss border, reflect widespread hostility to the acceptance of Syrian and other refugees on the right and far right of French politics.The “Christians only” comments by the mayors of  Roanne, in central France, and Belfort, near the Swiss border, reflect widespread hostility to the acceptance of Syrian and other refugees on the right and far right of French politics.
Both mayors belong to Les Républicains, the centre-right party led by the former president, Nicolas Sarkozy.Both mayors belong to Les Républicains, the centre-right party led by the former president, Nicolas Sarkozy.
The party has been split down the  middle by President François Hollande’s decision to accept a Brussels plan for binding refugee quotas within the EU which will bring at least 30,000 asylum seekers to France over the next two years. To relieve pressure on Germany, France has agreed to accept 1,000 refugees this week.The party has been split down the  middle by President François Hollande’s decision to accept a Brussels plan for binding refugee quotas within the EU which will bring at least 30,000 asylum seekers to France over the next two years. To relieve pressure on Germany, France has agreed to accept 1,000 refugees this week.
The first 200 refugees – mostly Syrian, Iraqis  and Eritreans – arrived to cheers and applause in Cergy, just west of Paris, and Champagne-sur-Seine, south-east of the French capital.The first 200 refugees – mostly Syrian, Iraqis  and Eritreans – arrived to cheers and applause in Cergy, just west of Paris, and Champagne-sur-Seine, south-east of the French capital.
“Life is dangerous in Iraq. We want to start a new life here,” said Oussama, 28, an engineer. “I want to stay in this country and to learn to speak French.”“Life is dangerous in Iraq. We want to start a new life here,” said Oussama, 28, an engineer. “I want to stay in this country and to learn to speak French.”
The French government will hold a seminar on Saturday for mayors who have offered to take refugees in their towns and villages. Several high-profile centre-right mayors have said that they are not ready to take any refugees at all. Two mayors have said that they will only take Christians.The French government will hold a seminar on Saturday for mayors who have offered to take refugees in their towns and villages. Several high-profile centre-right mayors have said that they are not ready to take any refugees at all. Two mayors have said that they will only take Christians.
Yves Nicolin, the mayor of Roanne, near Saint Etienne, said he feared  that many of the Muslim refugees from Syria were “terrorists in disguise”. “I will accept refugees as long as they are Christians,” he said. Damien Meslot, the mayor of Belfort in eastern France, said that only Christians were welcome in his town “because they are the most persecuted”. Refugees register with members of charity organization 'Secours Populaire' to receive clothes after their arrival at the Hubert Renaud center in Cergy-Pontoise near Paris (EPA) Yves Nicolin, the mayor of Roanne, near Saint Etienne, said he feared  that many of the Muslim refugees from Syria were “terrorists in disguise”. “I will accept refugees as long as they are Christians,” he said. Damien Meslot, the mayor of Belfort in eastern France, said that only Christians were welcome in his town “because they are the most persecuted”.
Their comments echo the attitude of several eastern European governments. Slovakia said that it could only accept Christian refugees because it was a Christian country and “Muslims would not feel welcome”.Their comments echo the attitude of several eastern European governments. Slovakia said that it could only accept Christian refugees because it was a Christian country and “Muslims would not feel welcome”.
Mr Valls said: “You don’t sort (refugees) on the basis of religion. The right to asylum is a universal right.” As he announced his quota plan, Mt Juncker, the European Commission president, said: “There is no religion, there is no belief, there is no philosophy, when it comes to refugees.”Mr Valls said: “You don’t sort (refugees) on the basis of religion. The right to asylum is a universal right.” As he announced his quota plan, Mt Juncker, the European Commission president, said: “There is no religion, there is no belief, there is no philosophy, when it comes to refugees.”
Former President Sarkzoy, after many days of silence on the refugee crisis, this week condemned the plans for EU quotas for asylum seekers as a “serious mistake”. He called instead for the EU to set up camps in Libya and Turkey, where refugees could be distinguished from economic migrants. The former centre-right Prime Minister, Alain Juppé – Mr Sarkozy’s rival to be the centre-right candidate in the 2017 presidential election – has welcomed the quota plan as “necessary”.Former President Sarkzoy, after many days of silence on the refugee crisis, this week condemned the plans for EU quotas for asylum seekers as a “serious mistake”. He called instead for the EU to set up camps in Libya and Turkey, where refugees could be distinguished from economic migrants. The former centre-right Prime Minister, Alain Juppé – Mr Sarkozy’s rival to be the centre-right candidate in the 2017 presidential election – has welcomed the quota plan as “necessary”.
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