La République En Marche / Renaissance

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.

June 10, 2025   

(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 […]

Children & Teens

French PM blasts predecessor’s proposal to ban headscarves for most children Gabriel Attal, who now heads the French president’s centrist political party, floated banning headscarves for women younger than 15.

May 27, 2025   

(Politico) French Prime Minister François Bayrou on Tuesday delivered a scathing critique of his predecessor and centrist ally Gabriel Attal’s proposal to ban Muslim headscarves for minors under 15. Attal, the leader of President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance political party, publicly floated the […]

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.

May 21, 2025 , and   

(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 […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Outcry after researcher says prominent French mayor ‘appears Muslim’ Israeli-Gaza conflict is hugely sensitive topic in France, home to Europe's largest Muslim and Jewish communities

October 21, 2024   

(National-UAE) Senior French officials have rallied behind Karim Bouamrane, a prominent mayor of Moroccan origin, in response to remarks widely viewed as racist by a researcher who said he is “Muslim in appearance” and suggested his popularity comes from his refusal to […]

Government & Politics

France’s interior minister says he ‘does not rule out’ banning the Muslim Brotherhood Right-winger Bruno Retailleau, appointed in September, also advocates for a new criminal offence to fight 'insidious' political Islam in the country

October 16, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) The new French interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, has declared that he is not ruling out classifying the Muslim Brotherhood as a “terrorist” group and banning it, while advocating for the establishment of a new criminal offence to fight political […]

Demonstrations

‘Clash of civilizations’ looms over EU elections Far-right parties are cashing in on decades of campaigning against Islam and migration, as they move to the center ground.

December 1, 2023 and   

(Politico) Geert Wilders may be just the tip of the iceberg. Following the anti-Islam politician’s shock election win in the Netherlands, European elites are nervously scanning the political landscape for signs of what’s to come — including further surprise wins from far-right […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

French ‘separatism’ bill risks discriminating Muslims: Amnesty Rights group says ‘many problematic provisions’ of the draft law, which heads to the Senate on Tuesday, should be scrapped or amended.

March 29, 2021   

(Al-Jazeera) As the French Senate prepares to debate the so-called “anti-separatism” bill, human rights group Amnesty International has made a last-minute appeal for “many problematic provisions” of the draft law to be scrapped or amended. The Senate debate on Tuesday comes after […]

Children & Teens

Families of French IS members in Syria battle to bring them back Families in France are growing more determined to bring back relatives who left to join the so-called Islamic State. Dozens of French women and children recently vanished from the radar, leaving relatives desperate.

July 23, 2020   

(Deutsche Welle) Antoine* is used to standing his ground. The trade unionist has defended workers’ rights his whole life. But when his daughter M. suddenly left to join so-called Islamic State (IS) in Iraq five years ago, he hit rock bottom. “It […]

Government & Politics

France gives final green light to law cracking down on hate speech online The vote moved ahead amid controversy surrounding the bill’s rapporteur, accused by former assistants of hate speech and harassment.

May 13, 2020   

(Politico) France adopted a law against online hate speech Wednesday that will target Silicon Valley giants amid controversy surrounding the lawmaker in charge of the bill. After months of debate, the lower house of Parliament adopted the controversial legislation, which will require […]