French lawmakers approve bill to combat 'Islamist separatism'

France has witnessed several Islamist terror attacks since 2015.

The text would significantly expand the government's powers to close religious organisations and places of worship if they are found to air "theories or ideas" that "provoke hate or violence", reports France 24.

The legislation offers protection to moderate community leaders who are in danger of being toppled by an extremist "putsch". It will also require all associations to commit in writing to uphold "republican values" – the liberal, Enlightenment values France holds dear – if they want to receive state subsidies, reports the news portal.

In order to crack down on religious funding from countries such as Turkey, Qatar or Saudi Arabia, the law will require associations to declare donations over €10,000 euros and have their accounts certified, reports France 24.

During the polling, country's President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party rallied around the law, with 347 MPs voting in favour, 151 against and 65 abstaining.

Once a poster boy of the all-embracing liberal West, who in elections had defeated the far-right, French President Emmanuel Macron is now suddenly an enemy of the Islamic world.

Leaders of several Muslim countries have come down heavily on the French President for his efforts to keep his country free from Islamist terror.

"Our challenge is to fight against those who go off the rails in the name of religion … while protecting those who believe in Islam and are full citizens of the republic," Macron had said on Oct 2 last year, hinting at the new law.