Grand Paris Mosque Publishes 900-Page Guide to Define Islam’s Role in French Republic

Grand Paris Mosque Publishes 900-Page Guide to Define Islam’s Role in French Republic
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The administration of the Grand Paris Mosque has released an extensive 900-page guide titled “Muslims in the West: Steadfast Religious Practice and Adapted Presence”, in an effort described as redefining the position of Islam within France’s republican framework and clarifying how religious observance can coexist with secular law.

The guide was compiled over nearly three years of research and consultations involving imams, academics, political officials, and civil society actors. It aims to provide a comprehensive reference addressing challenges faced by Muslims living in France.

According to officials at the launch press conference, the guide covers a wide range of daily issues including prayer, fasting, marriage, and religious dress, as well as social and legal matters such as abortion and interactions with state institutions. It also offers an internal scholarly perspective on religious concepts in the French context, explaining often-debated terms like Sharia, jihad, and secularism.

Project coordinators emphasized that the guide addresses knowledge gaps among some French Muslims caused by unreliable online sources, aiming to promote balanced understanding of Islamic texts and principles. They stressed its role in countering both anti-Muslim stereotypes and extremist narratives, while highlighting compatibility between Islamic values and republican citizenship, including respect for civil law.

The publication comes amid rising anti-Muslim attacks in France. French Ministry of the Interior reported 326 Islamophobic incidents in the past year, an 88% increase from 2024, representing roughly 13% of all religion-based attacks, including physical assaults, verbal abuse, and online hate speech.

Reactions to the guide have been mixed: some praise it as a foundational effort to foster social understanding, while others question its practical impact, given the absence of a single religious authority representing all Muslims in France and ongoing debates over balancing secular adaptation with religious principles.