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Taslima has ‘open invitation’ to visit France

PUDUCHERRY: The Ambassador of France in India Jerome Bonnafont said here on Friday that Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen still had an “open invitation” to visit his country whenever she wanted.

Expressing solidarity with individuals facing threat to life was in tune with the “French tradition of giving asylum,” he said.

Replying to questions at a press conference on President Nicolas Sarkozy’s remark that France would use its European Union presidency later this year to press for a fund that would see the EU States share the security costs of individuals under threat, Mr. Bonnafont said it was an important issue relating to freedoms of belief, religion and expression. “These freedoms are very fundamental to India and France as well.”

Citing an example of French tradition of giving asylum, he recalled that Sri Aurobindo had sought asylum in Pondicherry, which was then under the French Rule.

France always wanted to provide shelter to those under threat for expressing their opinion, he said.

When Ms. Nasreen faced difficulties, France had expressed solidarity with her. She was chosen for the Simone de Beauvoir Award. Mr. Sarkozy had extended an invitation to her to visit France to receive the literary award.

“I understand that Ms. Taslima Nasreen does not feel like leaving India for the time being. But, she has an open invitation to visit [France] whenever she wants,” Mr. Bonnafont said.

Asked about the steps taken by the French government against alleged grabbing of lands and houses belonging to French citizens of Indian origin in Puducherry, he said, “There have been some difficult cases and we are looking at them carefully. We have brought this to the attention of Indian authorities. We are absolutely confident that the Government of India and Indian officials will make sure that the law is respected.”

Stressing the need for cooperation in the field of education and research, he said these could be taken up at the government to government and university to university levels.

To another query, he said there were tremendous opportunities for persons trained by the French Institute and Ecole Francaise to work in companies and business establishments set up with French investments in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

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