French Muslim Council Warns of Rising Stigmatization Amid Government Report Leak
France’s leading Muslim organization has raised alarms about growing anti-Muslim sentiment following leaks of a controversial government report, TRT Global reported.
The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) stated Wednesday that Muslims increasingly face “constant suspicion,” citing undefined terms like “political Islam” in a leaked document prepared for the Defence Council.
The report, titled “Political Islamism and the Muslim Brotherhood,” allegedly identifies mosques and individuals linked to the Muslim Brotherhood—a claim the CFCM warns could fuel “unjust suspicion” against all Muslim institutions. This comes amid heightened tensions; France’s 5.7 million Muslims (8.8% of population, INSEE 2023) have faced increased scrutiny since the 2020-2023 counterterrorism campaigns following attacks like the 2020 Nice church stabbing.
The CFCM emphasized that extremism concerns must be addressed through “rigorous data,” noting a 12% rise in anti-Muslim acts in 2024 (National Human Rights Commission). Their statement referenced recent incidents including the March 2025 mosque arson in Lyon and May’s murder of an imam in Bordeaux—crimes investigators linked to far-right groups.
“Simply being Muslim now arouses suspicion,” the Council stated, urging authorities to avoid “vague terminology” that breeds “stigmatization and aggression.” The warning follows Italy’s May 21 arrest of a suspect in another French mosque attack, highlighting transnational security challenges.
While supporting counterterrorism efforts, the CFCM called for precision in distinguishing extremists from mainstream Muslims, cautioning against conflating religious identity with security threats. The government has yet to officially release the disputed report.
