Muslim

Muslim headscarf debate divides France, in climate of hate

France — Link

France is experiencing a  'venomous national debate' that is scrambling questions over the headscarf, Islam, immigration and radicalization.

French Muslim student union leader hits back at headscarf attacks

France — Link

A Paris university student union leader involved in current protests against a reform of university entrance criteria has dismissed as 'pathetic' and 'quite comical' criticism by government ministers who accuse her of 'provocation' and promoting 'political Islam' by wearing a headscarf during media appearances. 

Poll finds nearly 30 percent of French Muslims reject secular laws

France — Link

The Ifop study found 29 percent of those polled said sharia legal and moral code was more important than secular France's laws, while 60 percent wanted to see headscarf ban on girl students lifted. 

French Muslim woman 'fined for wearing scarf' on beach in Cannes

France — Link

The woman, 34, told French media she was fined by police for dressing in hijab, leggings and tunic and suffered verbal abuse from some beachgoers.

Hollande condemns attack on Muslim prayer hall in Corsica

France — Link

President's comments came after one of the largest prayer halls in French island's capital Ajaccio suffered major damage in a fire.

Patchy success for France's 'open mosques' weekend

France — Link

Though mosques throughout France are inviting non-Muslim neighbours in, it is unclear how many mosques in Paris are participating.

Outrage over Muslim gender 'ban' in French grocery store

France — Link

Shop in Bordeaux has put up a sign stating male and female-only days for customers but owner says it is not 'compulsory'.

Former prison controller warns against 'Islamist quarters' plan in French jails

France — Interview

In the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks earlier this month, perpetrated in the name of Islam by three gunmen born and raised in France, there has been wide discussion in France about how hard-line Islamists succeed in enrolling a section of the country’s disenfranchised youths into their midst. Beyond the influence of extremist networks that operate in public places, notably a number of mosques, the role that prison plays in the recruitment of potential jihadists has been highlighted, notably by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls. Shortly after the attacks, he suggested that jailed radical Islamists may be grouped together in special quarters in prisons to limit their current opportunities of converting fellow prisoners to their cause. Mediapart’s Joseph Confavreux and Carine Fouteau sought out the opinion of Jean-Marie Delarue, who until July 2014 served for six years as France’s general inspector of prisons. In this interview he argues why he believes the proposition is misguided and potentially dangerous.

French flags burnt in Charlie Hebdo protests from Algiers to Karachi

International — Link

Protests continued on Saturday across many Muslim countries over Charlie Hebdo magazine's coverpage cartoon of the Prophet

The 'culture of violence and resentment' that fuels French jihadists

France — Interview

The shooting attacks in Paris last week claimed the lives of a total of 17 victims and ended with the deaths of the three gunmen. The outrages, perpetrated by Islamic extremists and which began with the massacre at the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine before the separate murders of two police officers and the executions of four hostages in a Jewish supermarket, have opened a vast societal debate in France. There have been comparisons made with the 9/11 attacks in the United States, questions raised about the true significance of the national unity displayed during last Sunday’s huge marches in defiance of terrorism, about the real extent of integration, and stigmatization, of the French Muslim population, and why the jihad increasingly lures some young French citizens. In this interview with Joseph Confavreux, Olivier Roy, a recognised expert in France and abroad on questions of Islam and religious fundamentalism, discusses these and related issues, and highlights the taboos that cloud an effective analysis of the events.

Writer denies novel about Muslim-run France was designed to 'provoke'

France — Link

Leading French novelist Michel Houellebecq has been accused of inciting Islamophobia with his latest book 'Submission'.

Why some teenage girls in France are turning to jihad

France — Link

Up to 150 young French women and girls have joined groups such as Islamic State, often driven by discrimination back home.

French court upholds ban on Muslim engineer from working at nuclear plants

France — Link

The unnamed man, employed by a sub-contractor working for nuclear plant operator EDF, is alleged to have links with a jihadist terrorist group.

France maintains headscarf ban despite legal advice

France — Link

A ban on Muslim headscarves for volunteer school monitors is maintained, despite a warning by the Council of State that it oversteps the law.

France should allow headscarves, Arabic in schools - report to PM

France — Link

Report provokes political row as opposition claim recommendations would pave way for multiculturalism to be the new social model in France.