https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The arrival of the first group of an eventual total of 24,000 refugees in France has been tainted by the ongoing refusal of some mayors to accept Muslims, with one town claiming they “cut off boss’s heads”. Muslim leaders have blasted their "dangerous" words. https://www.thelocal.fr/20150909/refugees-france-anti-muslim-rhetoric-mars-french-refugee-response Wed, 09 Sep 2015 17:31:56 +0200 refugees-france-anti-muslim-rhetoric-mars-french-refugee-response The French government has scolded several of the country's mayors who have come out claiming they don't want Muslim refugees to be relocated in their towns, with the interior minister calling their stance "dreadful". https://www.thelocal.fr/20150908/refugees-minister-condemns-christian-only-french-mayors Tue, 08 Sep 2015 16:20:57 +0200 refugees-minister-condemns-christian-only-french-mayors The newly elected far-right mayor of the French town of Beziers has once again laid down the law to residents. After imposing a curfew on teenagers and higher fines for dog waste, Robert Ménard has now banned them from drying their laundry on their balconies. https://www.thelocal.fr/20140521/far-right-mayor-bans-hanging-washing-out-in-public Wed, 21 May 2014 15:59:00 +0200 far-right-mayor-bans-hanging-washing-out-in-public A gay couple in south-west France pressed charges for discrimination on Wednesday against a combative mayor who has repeatedly and publicly refused to officiate at their wedding, despite risking years in prison and a hefty fine. https://www.thelocal.fr/20130626/gay-couple-sues-french-mayor-for-wedding-refusal Wed, 26 Jun 2013 14:08:00 +0200 gay-couple-sues-french-mayor-for-wedding-refusal President François Hollande has backtracked on a promise made on Tuesday to give local mayors “freedom of conscience” to opt out of performing gay marriages. https://www.thelocal.fr/20121122/hollande-makes-second-u-turn-on-gay-marriage-bill-in-24-hours Thu, 22 Nov 2012 10:00:00 +0100 hollande-makes-second-u-turn-on-gay-marriage-bill-in-24-hours Mayors in rural areas of France have said they will perform gay marriages if the new law, due to be presented to government next week, is passed. https://www.thelocal.fr/20121029/mayors-will-perform-gay-marriages-if-law-is-passed Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:18:00 +0100 mayors-will-perform-gay-marriages-if-law-is-passed A group of Mayors across France have launched a petition against gay marriage, demanding the right for town halls to refuse to conduct same-sex ceremonies. https://www.thelocal.fr/20121011/mayors-unite-in-petition-against-gay-marriage Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:14:00 +0200 mayors-unite-in-petition-against-gay-marriage