(MENAFN) Despite being a Western democracy, France has a long-standing problem with Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims. According to Yasser Louati, a Paris-based political analyst and rights activist, a French Muslim applying for a job is five times more likely to face discrimination than a non-Muslim. And if they are a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf, their chances of finding employment are just 1%.
This discrimination is not limited to the job market. Louati also pointed out that if a Muslim applies for housing, it takes twice as long to secure it due to their identification as either African, North African, or Muslim. Moreover, police brutality disproportionately targets Muslim youth in France.
The European Islamophobia Report 2022 co-editor Enes Bayrakli named France as one of the most Islamophobic countries last year. Activists and experts agree with this assessment. “The cost is that you have to struggle every single day and, even if you have rights on paper, they are never granted to you,” said Louati.
The re-election of French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022 does not bode well for Muslims in France, according to Louati. Instead of focusing on socioeconomic policies, Macron's presidential campaign was based on identity politics. This, according to Louati, means that Macron's second term will likely involve disciplining Muslims with extreme tools, such as shutting down organizations without going to court and criminalizing researchers who call out Islamophobia.
Abdennour Toumi, an expert from ORSAM, believes that Macron's tenure has damaged the relationship between Muslims and France. “Unfortunately, politically speaking, especially under the Macron administration -- he has damaged a great deal, the relation between Muslims and France in general,” Toumi said.
The discrimination and Islamophobia faced by Muslims in France is a reminder that even in Western democracies, there is much work to be done to ensure that all citizens are treated equally and with respect.
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