ISLAM IN FRANCE Kim Foerster Richard Bilger Sohyun Jin Eunji Song

Islam Religion “Submission to the will of God” Prophet Muhammad Qu’ran Five basic Pillars of Islam

Muslim in France 5 million Muslims Biggest Muslim minority in Europe Around 2000 mosques and prayer rooms

History of Muslim Immigration occupation of Spain by the Moors 18 th century Imperial expansion: Egypt Algeria West Africa Tunisia Morocco Syria Lebanon

History of Muslim Immigration Colonial wars of independence ( ) Decolonization- Official recruitment of Labor Reunification of families (1970~80s) Single male population Nuclear and extended families

Conflicts Arise Growing number of Muslims in France The French fear of Islamic fundamentalism The French tradition of secularism

The Hijab Debate First sparked in Ban on wearing “ostentatious” religious symbols in primary and secondary schools An ongoing issue Criticism

Street Prayers More than 2,000 mosques in France 1,800 more mosques are needed to accommodate French Muslims street prayers feature=related feature=related

Street Prayers In 2010, far right protests against street prayer “occupation without tanks or soliders” “unacceptable” September 2011, Paris ban on Muslim street prayers

Background on French Muslims Constitute ~10% of France’s population An estimated 1.2m voters Their interests are not adequately represented in government Forced assimilation through legislation

A Timeline of Restrictions on Muslim Expression

Discrimination Employment discrimination 5% overall unemployment for university graduates 26.5% unemployment for “North African” university graduates Christians 2.5x more likely to be hired than their qualified Muslim counterparts Immigration

Past Voting Trends No clear ties with religious and political habits Voting based more on socioeconomic class Case Study: Jean-Marie Le Pen

Current Representation in Government No Members on National Legislature 2007 Elections more candidates ran for Parliament Representatives on the European Parliament Cabinet Members appointed by president

Interest Groups 1500 Muslim Organizations in France Main Interlocutor of the State: CFCM Other Major Groups: UOIF, FNMF, RMF Different Approaches to Issues

Human Rights Groups CCIF  “improving the information concerning the social expression of Islamophobia in France”  help victims with legal advice CNCDH  governmental organization  documented 352 violent acts in 2005

What issues are important? Lack of Mosque Space No Street Prayer Head Scarf Ban

Muslim Voting Today Lean towards the Left 2007 Elections  82% of Muslims didn’t vote for Sarkozy 2012 Elections  Sarkozy, Le Pen, Hollande  “personal priorities are those of mutual respect, the undoing of increased racist rhetoric in politics, and their acception as equal French citizens, not withstanding their cultural differences”

What do you think? Are the laws banning religious practices such as wearing hijab and public prayer prohibiting the rights of Muslims or promoting equality? How can Muslims receive more representation in the government? How might France’s political culture be affected if the Muslim minority continues to increase?

Works Cited Alhéritière, Antoine. “French Arabs and the 2012 Presidential Elections.” Arabs Think. N.p., 17 Oct Web. 27 Oct “Being Muslim in France.” Brookings. N.p., Web. 27 Oct “France.” Focus Migration. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct “France imposes first niqab fines.” BBC News. N.p., 22 Sept Web. 27 Oct “France News (2012 Presidential Election).” The New York Times. N.p., 19 Oct Web. 27 Oct “French Muslims protest Paris’s ban on street prayer.” Jafria News. N.p., 18 Sept Web. 27 Oct

Works Cited Giry, Stephanie. “France and Its Muslims.” RealClearPolitics. N.p., 9 Oct Web. 27 Oct Iqbal, Nomia. “Ban on Muslim women covering faces with veils in France.” BBC Newsbeat. N.p., 11 Apr Web. 27 Oct “Islam at a glance.” BBC. N.p., 30 June Web. 27 Oct Kern, Soeren. “Islam Overtaking Catholicism in France.” Hudson New York. N.p., 18 Aug Web. 27 Oct “Little Protest in Paris as a Ban on Street Prayer Begins.” The New York Times. N.p., 16 Sept Web. 26 Oct

Works Cited “Muslim Immigrants in France.” Migration News. N.p., Apr Web. 27 Oct “Paris ban on Muslim street prayers comes into effect.” BBC News. N.p., 16 Sept Web. 27 Oct Samuel, Henry. “Le Pen secures surprise support from Muslims.” The Telegraph. N.p., 2 Apr Web. 27 Oct Sebian, Elizabeth, and Jennifer Selby, eds. “Islam in France.” Euro Islam: News and Analysis on Islam in Europe and North America. N.p., Web. 27 Oct Seljuq, Affan. “Cultural Conflictions: North African Immigrants in France.” The International Journal of Peace Studies. George Mason University, n.d. Web. 27 Oct “Why Muslims Vote For Le Pen.” Gallia Watch. N.p., 26 Nov Web. 27 Oct