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Marcel Berthomé, the centrist mayor of Saint-Seurin, a town in western France, said Muslims would have to make do with a side dish on pork days because the “struggling” Saint-Seurin-sur-l'Isle primary school could no longer afford to offer children a non-pork alternative. But Mr Berhomé’s decision to scrap pork-free meals from the menu has caused consternation among Muslim parents, who claim their children are being discriminated against because of their faith. Sonia, a mother whose five-year-old son does not eat pork, said the mayor had launched a scathing attack on the local Muslim community.

GETTY•IG Mr Berthomé, the Mayor of Saint-Seurin

GETTY Mr Berthomé says the school cannot afford to make two different meals a day

GETTY Muslim parents claim their children are being discriminated against because of their faith

The town is in debt and we cannot afford to cook two different dishes a day. So, if you’re not happy, don’t eat at school! Marcel Berthomé

She told the French daily France Bleu: “The mayor took this decision alone. We, as parents, were not consulted. "I am a Muslim, yes, but I am also a citizen. We’re no different than anyone else. "We pay local taxes and we pay for our children’s school meals. It should not be up to the mayor to decide what’s in my child’s plate. "He’s basically saying: ‘You eat or you go’.

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