A Little Bit of French Xenophobia

French pollies find halal burgers hard to swallow

A move by a French fast-food chain to offer halal menus at a handful of restaurants has some politicians fuming, in the latest row over France's increasingly visible Muslim minority.

The Quick chain has taken pork off its menu in eateries in Roubaix, northern France, as well as in Marseille and in the Paris suburb of Argenteuil, to try to tap into the growing market of Muslim customers.

But politicians have complained that the switch to no-bacon hamburgers, launched three months ago, is depriving non-Muslims of their right to the standard menu.

Roubaix Mayor Rene Vandierendonck plans to file a complaint for discrimination, arguing that non-Muslims now have to trek to the suburbs to get a bacon burger, as Quick is the only fast-food place in the city centre..........