Paris Grand Mosque Criticizes French Senate Report on Muslim Religious Practices

Paris Grand Mosque Criticizes French Senate Report on Muslim Religious Practices
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A report by a group of Republican senators in France has sparked widespread controversy after proposing 17 measures that critics say directly target Muslim religious practices. In a statement, the Grand Mosque of Paris said the report undermines fundamental freedoms and stigmatizes an entire religious community.

Signed by Rector Chems-Eddine Hafiz, the statement emphasized that secularism protects freedom of worship rather than restricting it. The mosque objected to proposals such as banning school chaperones from wearing the hijab and preventing those under 16 from fasting during Ramadan. It noted that fasting is a religious obligation implemented only after puberty.

According to the statement, many recommendations focus on increased surveillance of Muslim families and places of worship, affecting ordinary believers rather than individuals involved in extremism. The mosque warned that singling out Muslims for special restrictions creates a discriminatory environment and threatens constitutional rights and human dignity.

It further argued that implementing such proposals would require intrusive monitoring of private life — including checking whether children are fasting and inspecting religious appearance in public — contributing to unequal treatment. The statement accused the report of conflating religion with extremism, risking deeper social tensions. It called for defending secularism as a principle that protects all faiths, ensuring freedom of worship while fostering inclusion and dialogue.

The Senate document, produced by 29 Republican lawmakers, claims its recommendations aim to counter what they describe as “Islamist influence.” It includes renewed calls to expand hijab restrictions, tighten oversight of foreign-funded associations, and reinforce government control over visas and public spaces. Critics argue such measures target everyday Muslim life and could further divide French society.