A French far-right leader standing in the 2007 presidential election set conditions for building mosques in France, and said that the government shouldn’t accept compromises on Muslim issues.

Philippe de Villiers, who has overtaken the veteran extreme-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen in opinion surveys, said that Muslims can be allowed to build mosques only if they ensured equality between the sexes, and the freedom to change religions.

Many Muslim groups want to build proper mosques to replace the garages and factories they use for praying, but their plans are often opposed by non-Muslim neighbors.

Villiers also said that France shouldn’t accept compromises on Muslim issues such as serving “Halal” food, or allowing “women only” hours in swimming pools.

He also said France must confront what he called "the progressive Islamisation of French society."

"It's not up to France to adapt to Islam but to Islam to adapt to France," Villiers said.

"We have to impose our concept of freedom, and not that of others," he said.

France's five million Muslims make up the largest Islamic community in Europe.

Source: Reuters