The new cabinet, seen as the most diverse in modern French history, features three Muslim women.

"These appointments mark a real revolution in how France deals with citizens of immigrant backgrounds", Abdel Rahman Dahman, Sarkozy's advisor on Muslim affairs, told IOL


1. Rachida Dati, a French-born of North African parents, kept her key post as Justice Minister while Rama Yade and Fadela Amara joined in.

2. Senegalese-born Yade, a rising star in the UMP party, was appointed to the new post of Junior Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights. Daughter of a Diplomat, she came to France 20 years ago and grew up on the outskirts of Paris, the 30-year-old woman is the youngest member in the government. Yade, married to a Socialist Politician, is Vice-President of the Club 21st Century, a lobby group campaigning for ethnic diversity in French public life.

3. Leftist Amara, 43, was appointed Junior Minister for Urban Affairs.The daughter of Algerian parents will oversee the renovation of dilapidated housing estates where many immigrants live - neighborhoods similar to the one where she grew up with her immigrant family.

"None of the socialist governments that bragged out minority rights anything like that over the past 50 years."

Nonetheless, the appointments did not go criticism-free.
Muslim leaders are particularly unimpressed by the choice of Amara, seen as largely out of touch with the sizable Muslim minority of 7 million.

Amara campaigned for past governments to draft legislation forcing Muslim women to take off their hijab in public places.

"Sarkozy, is he only playing the multiculturalism card???

Ironically, shortly after he came to power last May, right-wing President N. Sarkozy created the Immigration and National Identity Ministry to tackle "uncontrolled immigration" into France.

A galaxy of French and International Dignitaries have called for dissolving France's this new Ministry for what they say the danger it poses to French democracy.
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