Unlike Islamism, Islamophobia has claimed no lives in the country, the organisation s spokesperson said, responding to allegations made by the president s former advisor.

The verbal sparring over the dissolution of Generation Identitaire, a right-wing anti-migration French group, continues, with Emmanuel Macron s former adviser Yassine Belattar – a comedian of Moroccan descent – also weighing in. Mr Belattar challenged the organisation s spokesperson, Thais d Escufon, saying she is envisioning herself as being engaged in a civil war. Provoking the young woman, Mr Bellatar drew up a rather incomprehensible analogy, suggesting that if Thais d Escufon wants to don a suit of armour and wield a sword to behead some Saracens, like in the Middle Ages, then she is free to do so.

Providing a quick rejoinder to Mr Bellatar s absurd accusation, Thais d Escufon pointed out that the Islamophobia he is envisioning has not claimed any casualties so far, while Islamism has claimed 260 lives since the onslaught against Charlie Hebdo s editorial offices.

As far as Yassine Belattar, Mr Macron s former advisor is concerned, his past is far from impeccable. He is notorious for making sexist remarks and in March 2019, he was taken into police custody for harassment and death threats after being reported by actor Bruno Gaccio and anchor Jessie Claire, according to Le Figaro s detailed account of the case at the time.

World-renowned French essayist Eric Zemmour was also quick to respond to the dissolution of the Generation Identitaire group. According to the publicist, the government is clearly applying a double standard to the right-wing organisation in what can be perceived as a serious violation of free speech. Mr Zemmour said if the French government disbanded Generation Identitaire, it should also disband the Black African Defense League (LDNA) and the Utopia 56 migrant rescue organisation, as the former treats soldiers killed in Mali as terrorists, and the latter aids illegal migration.

Generation Identitaire also spoke out about the ongoing events and announced a large-scale demonstration in Paris on 20 February to protest against the arbitrary political decision of the government. Their spokesman Clement Martin said they are helped by four lawyers, who are working on the response to the dissolution letter sent by the government, collecting all the counter-arguments to the interior minister s allegations.

According to Clement Martin, the legal basis for the decision to dissolve Generation Identitaire was extremely weak, and the interior minister s letter was full of factual errors and inaccuracies. He added that, strictly on legal terms, the minister s resolution isn t viable, but if Gerald Darmanin wants to dissolve the group out of political considerations, he runs the risk of abolishing it, according to the weekly Valeurs actuelles.