French anti-terror measures – target the ghettos

#ghettos #charliehebdo #banlieux #france The French authorities have decided to target ghettos as an anti0terror measure in a bid to check terrorist activities as reported in news.sky.com dated 3 February 2015. Already, counter-terrorism operations have been launched across the country following the Charlie Hebdo attacks.
A total of 64 suburbs in many major cities have been identified as ghettos and the admission of Prime Minister Manuel Valls that geographic, social and ethnic apartheid exists in France is a signal that there would be a change in the country's approach to immigration. It also, simultaneously, brings to light the magnitude of the problem.
The condition in the ghettos is bad – there is unemployment of 23% in the banlieux (or suburb of a large city) and, the figure soars to 45% among the young people. The average annual income is around £8,300 and, between a third and half of all families are single-parent while about half are immigrants or their children.
A majority of its population is being left behind economically, thereby they get marginalized into ethnic enclaves, do not have any leader and, hence, are vulnerable to Islamist radicalization. France has to accept the fact that it has different communities within it.
As a part of its anti-terrorism measures, the French interior ministry has designated around 15 Priority Security Zones across the country. These are perceived to be hotbeds of crime and potential hot houses of jihadism. These zones have been reinforced by extra intelligence and uniformed officers, apart from quick-reaction units. They set up road blocks and random checks to look for drugs and weapons.