French Muslims Report Alarming Rise in Islamophobia and Discrimination
A new study supported by the Grand Mosque of Paris has found that a staggering 66% of Muslims in France have been victims of discrimination or Islamophobia over the past five years, underscoring a rapidly escalating social crisis.
The research, conducted by the IFOP institute, was designed to investigate the various forms of discrimination facing the country’s Muslim population, Shia Waves Persian reported. It revealed that anti-Muslim sentiment—which the report’s authors prefer to call “Muslimophobia” to emphasize the targeting of the individual—is severely disproportionate: only 18% of followers of other religions reported similar experiences.
Among those Muslims who experienced discrimination, half believed the motive was their religious belief, 25% cited their perceived nationality, and 22% pointed to their skin color. The areas where bias was most frequently reported include police identity checks, job searches, and renting accommodation.
These findings align with alarming government data. French officials reported a 75% increase in anti-Muslim actions in the first five months of 2025 compared to the previous year, with direct attacks on individuals tripling. The French Interior Ministry noted 145 anti-Muslim incidents in that period, up significantly from 83 in the same time frame in 2024.
Despite the severity and frequency of these acts, only 66% of victims filed an official complaint upon first facing discrimination. Experts warn that this concerning trend is a critical signal that urgent action is needed to counter Islamophobia and protect the fundamental rights of Muslims in France.
