French Riots Reminiscent of 1968 Race Riots in US

Riots have spread and worsened across France. Rightwing extremists in this country have characterized this tragedy unfolding as the "French Intifada" led by what the blog chicagoboyz.net calls "the very large, unassimilated, unemployed and unemployable, welfare-supported Muslim minority."
This is a dangerous and prejudiced point of view that plays into the hands of bin Ladin by helping to create the conditions for the violent backlash and systematic repression of an entire minority in France and elsewhere in Europe and the United States. The resulting anger, isolation and disenfranchisement of Muslims living in the west, will create a recruiting ground from Jihadis in our midst.
As we see below, it also gives the false impression of these riots are an organized religionly driven insurrection that must be suppressed. While it may well be true that there are Jihadis trying to exploit the situation by inciting more violence, it worsens the situation by calling all participants Jihadi. As soon as our perceptions cross over to a religious war, we face the real risk of pogroms and ethnic cleansing. That could create the real prospect of a religious war.
New York Times

Young people in the poor neighborhoods incubating the violence have consistently complained that police harassment is mainly to blame. "If you're treated like a dog, you react like a dog," said Mr. Diallo of Clichy-sous-Bois, whose parents came to France from Mali decades ago.


The youths have singled out the French interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, complaining about his zero-tolerance anticrime drive and dismissive talk. (He famously called troublemakers in the poor neighborhoods dregs, using a French slur that offended many people.)
But Mr. Sarkozy has not wavered, and after suffering initial isolation within the government, with at least one minister openly criticizing him, the government has closed ranks around him. Mr. Chirac, who is under political and popular pressure to stop the violence, said Sunday that those responsible would face arrest and trial, echoing earlier vows by Mr. Sarkozy. More than 500 people have been arrested, some as young as 13.


The government response is as much a test between Mr. Sarkozy and Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, both of whom want to succeed Mr. Chirac as president, as it is a test between the government and disaffected youths.


Mr. Villepin, a former foreign minister, has focused on a more diplomatic approach, consulting widely with community leaders and young second-generation immigrants to come up with a promised "action plan" that he said would address frustrations in the underprivileged neighborhoods. He has released no details of the plan.