Dalil Boubakeur

A senior French Muslim leader has called on the country’s nearly 5.000.000 Muslims to “vote massively” to elect Emmanuel Macron president.

Dalil Boubakeur, rector of Paris’ Grand Mosque, called the final May 7 vote to choose the next French head of state “decisive for the destiny of France and its religious minorities.”

French President Francois Hollande vowed Feb. 23 to introduce tougher penalties for "racist, anti-Semitic or homophobic" remarks in the wake of last month's militant attacks in Paris.