France and Germany .... trying to keep back the tidal wave

The present leaders of these two EU countries have forced themselves awake to the dangerous situation that has beset their countries. Let's wish them luck, they will need every little bit of  it from every well wisher.  The citizens of both France and Germany should consider themselves lucky that they don't have a leftish govt at the helm at this very crucial juncture in their history.
Germany's government has today proposed criminalising forced marriages with a possible punishment of up to five years in prison.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet agreed to the proposed law which will now go to parliament before it can be passed.

Forced or arranged marriages are a tradition with some Muslim immigrant families, even those who were raised in Germany..............

France's top legal authority approved Thursday a law banning full-face veils in public, the last hurdle for the ban, which aims to protect women's rights but has been criticised as stigmatising Muslims.

The Constitutional Council, which had previously warned that banning the veil may be unconstitutional, said it approved the version of the bill which has been passed by both houses of parliament, after a final review.

It judged however that the ban, due to enter force early next year, would be unenforceable in public places of worship, where it may violate religious freedoms.................