Discrimination in France: Islamophobic hate crimes fuel mass exodus of Muslims Article in American Media

The American television channel Muslim Network TV has published an article which sheds light on growing religious discrimination against Muslims in France. Caliber.Az reprints the piece.

A recent Jacobin report highlights a growing trend of Islamophobia in France, with severe implications for the country’s Muslim population. 

Citing findings from the book France, You Love It but You Leave It, authored by Olivier Esteves, Alice Picard, and Julien Talpin, the report sheds light on the rising Islamophobic atmosphere that has driven thousands of French Muslims to emigrate. 

The authors estimate that up to 200,000 French Muslims—most of whom are highly educated—have left the country, primarily seeking refuge in multicultural nations like Britain and Canada.

The wave of emigration stems from a combination of pervasive discrimination, Islamophobic hate crimes, and systemic bias in public life. 

A staggering 79 Islamophobic hate crimes were recorded in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 70% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the French interior ministry. 

These crimes include a horrifying incident in April where Malian immigrant Aboubakar Cissé was fatally stabbed in a mosque in southern France.

Stickers plastered around Orléans in May, reading “Muslim-restricted area” and depicting crossed-out images of headscarf-wearing women and praying figures, epitomised the growing hostility. 

Such actions, linked to a jailed neo-Nazi, underline the increasingly dangerous environment for Muslims in France.

Daily microaggressions

According to experts, for many French Muslims, the decision to emigrate is not due to isolated incidents but the accumulation of daily microaggressions and systemic bias. 

Muslims interviewed for the book recounted shocking experiences, including harassment, bullying, and discrimination. 

Yasmina, a young Muslim woman, described being falsely accused of shoplifting at a post office, while Sofiane compared life in France as a Muslim to “social death,” saying, “We are obligated to hide in order to do something [pray] that we need to do every day.”

According to Jacobin, a survey of emigrants found that nearly three-quarters left France to escape racism and discrimination, while 64% sought to practice their religion freely. 

The country’s mainstream media and political discourse were also cited as significant factors, with many criticizing segments aimed at sparking polemics over Islamic practices, such as wearing the headscarf.

French political leaders have exacerbated the problem, according to Jacobin. 

Emmanuel Macron’s government dissolved anti-Islamophobia NGOs and advanced policies targeting Muslim communities under the guise of combating “communitarianism.”

Current Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, a proponent of the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, has further inflamed tensions. 

He delayed visiting the site of Cissé’s murder and has pushed for laws banning headscarves in universities and sports. 

Under his leadership, Islamophobic hate crimes have surged, with mosques in Moulins, Dijon, and Amiens subjected to vandalism, desecration, and even arson attempts.

Economic and moral costs

The authors of France, You Love It but You Leave It emphasise that Islamophobia has not only moral implications but also significant financial costs. 

They estimate that discrimination has resulted in €150 billion in lost revenue for the French state. 

Despite these losses, the country’s leadership remains unwilling to acknowledge the problem, let alone address it.

Jacobin’s Harrison Settler notes that France’s refusal to reckon with its Islamophobia stands out even in a European context where anti-Muslim sentiment is rising. 

From anti-Muslim rallies in the U.K. to far-right political gains in the Netherlands and Germany, Islamophobia has become a continental issue, but France’s denialism represents a “French exception.”