A new report published Thursday by the French Defender of Rights has exposed a worrying surge in religious discrimination in France, particularly targeting the country’s large Muslim community. According to the survey included in the report, one in three Muslims in France has experienced discrimination based on religion.
The findings indicate that 34% of Muslims — or individuals perceived as Muslim — reported facing discriminatory treatment, compared to 19% of people from other religions such as Judaism and Buddhism, and only 4% of Christians.
Muslim women on the front line
The report highlights that Muslim women are the most affected. Some 38% of them say they have faced discrimination, compared to 31% of Muslim men. Wearing the headscarf places women at greater risk of social and professional exclusion, the report notes.
It also documents cases where veiled women have been forced to leave their jobs, accept roles below their qualifications, or turn to self-employment when unable to find work — with some even being prevented from participating in sports activities.
Discrimination on the rise over recent years
Overall, 7% of respondents said they had suffered religious discrimination in the past five years — an increase from 5% in 2016. This trend raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of current anti-discrimination policies.
France traditionally avoids gathering official data based on religion or ethnicity, making it difficult to measure the scale of discrimination accurately. However, this report was backed by a nationwide survey of 5,000 participants.
Secularism: a misunderstood principle
The report also warns of growing confusion around the meaning of French secularism. Nearly a quarter of respondents to a separate survey mistakenly believe that secularism means banning religious symbols in public spaces.
French secularism, rooted in the 1905 law separating church and state, protects freedom of belief — not the erasure of religion from society.
Claire Hédon, the Defender of Rights, stresses that certain political measures — such as banning headscarves in public institutions — are justified as anti-discrimination tools but actually reinforce discrimination and stigmatization against Muslims.
Urgent need for better education and inclusive policies
The report calls for improved public education on the true principles of secularism and a thorough review of policies that may unintentionally fuel discrimination. The political and media landscape has grown increasingly hostile toward Muslims, particularly since the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris.
Many Muslims in France say they feel a rising sense of exclusion and targeted hostility, further straining social cohesion in a country that prides itself on equality.
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