Academics & Education

As election wrangling heats up, French pols draw on old foe: headscarves Politicians including presidential contenders are backing expanded controls on hijabs, abayas and burkinis — part of ongoing bids to woo voters concerned about France's tradition of laïcité, or secularism.

(Courthouse News) In modern French politics, little is certain. But there is one constant: The debate over the veil — the headscarf that Muslim women might wear in various forms — will always resurface. With the presidential election approaching in 2027 and […]

Government & Politics

Furious Macron dressed down ministers after botched leak of Muslim Brotherhood report The tirade was a clear warning to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.

(Politico) A visibly angry Emmanuel Macron blasted his ministers during a defense cabinet meeting Wednesday after a botched release of a report into the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood in France, according to a high-ranking government official. A second official, who, like […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups tried to influence EU: report French authorities allege the Islamist group has gone to great lengths to push its fundamentalist agenda in France and throughout Europe.

(Politico) A bombshell report from the French authorities alleges that organizations with links to the Muslim Brotherhood have been attempting to influence European Union institutions through “significant lobbying activities.” A version of the document seen by POLITICO before its official publication says […]

Context

Mulhouse terrorist had previously been jailed for October 7 support, French minister reveals 'In 2023, he was arrested a few weeks after the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, and convicted for promoting terrorism,' Retailleau said on X Sunday.

(Jerusalem Post) The Algerian Islamist terrorist who murdered one and wounded several more people in Mulhouse, France, on Saturday had been arrested and convicted for promoting terrorism in the wake of the October 7 massacre, according to French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. […]

Clothing

Marine Le Pen says French headscarf ban ‘no longer main priority’ The once key campaign proposal would now be addressed after other measures such as cutting off Islamist funding, and would reportedly not target regular headscarf wearers

(Connexion) Banning the Islamic headscarf is no longer a “major priority” for far-right presidential election candidate Marine Le Pen, a member of her team said yesterday, in a U-turn on previous campaign pledges. “Banning the headscarf” was one of Ms Le Pen’s […]

Clothing

Polling official in French regional elections demoted for wearing headscarf Rachida Kabbouri was demoted to polling station assessor due to her headscarf allegedly violating 'neutrality'

(Anadolu) A top polling official during France’s regional elections last Sunday was demoted from her post for wearing a headscarf, according to official statements and French local media. Rachida Kabbouri, a Muslim municipal councilor of the European Ecology — The Greens (EELV) […]