Islamophobia in France

Islamophobia in France holds a particularly political significance since France has the largest proportion of Muslims in the Western world, primarily due to the migration from Maghrebi, West African, and Middle Eastern countries.[1] The existence of discrimination against Muslims is reported by the media in the Muslim world[2][3] and by the perceived segregation and alienation of Muslims within the French community.[4] The belief that there is an anti-Muslim climate in France is heavily criticised by some members of the French Muslim community who terms it an 'exaggeration'.[5]

Some French people hold a belief that Islam is opposed to secularism and modernity.[4][6] This fear is sometimes considered to originate in the country's experience with terrorism and in the belief that Muslims are unable to integrate with the French culture.[7]

A survey by the Pew Research Center in Spring 2014 revealed that out of all Europeans, the French view Muslim minorities most favorably with 72% having a favorable opinion.[8] However, according to an opinion poll in 2009, 74% of Muslims in France believe that there is a conflict between living in devotion to one's religion and living in the western secular society.[7] Muslim individuals' desire to integrate has been hindered by the reinforcement of cultural differences.[9]

  1. ^ "5 facts about the Muslim population in Europe". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  2. ^ "France sees wave of protests amid Islamophobia, police bill". Daily Sabah. 22 March 2021.
  3. ^ "What is Behind the Rise of Islamophobia in France?". 5 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck (11 April 2002). Muslims in the West. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195148053.003.0003. ISBN 9780195148053.
  5. ^ Valfort, Marie-Anne (2021). "Climat anti-musulmans en France : Chems-Eddine Hafiz dénonce "un sens de l'exagération"". Policy Paper. RTL.fr.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Bowen, John R. (2009). "Recognising Islam in France after 9/11". Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. 35 (3): 439–452. doi:10.1080/13691830802704608. ISSN 1369-183X. S2CID 143594213.
  8. ^ Niall McCarthy, Out of All Europeans, The French View Muslim Minorities Most Favorably (Infographic) Archived 2018-07-18 at the Wayback Machine Forbes Jan 8, 2015
  9. ^ Giry, Stéphanie (2006). "France and Its Muslims". Foreign Affairs. 85 (5): 87–104. doi:10.2307/20032072. ISSN 0015-7120. JSTOR 20032072.