A new survey has revealed that discrimination and hate speech against Muslims in France are widespread, systemic, and deeply entrenched in social and public institutions.
According to the study conducted by the polling institute Ifop on behalf of the Grand Mosque of Paris and published by Libération, the findings paint a troubling picture of the legal and social status of Muslims in the country, media revealed. The survey, covering 1,005 Muslims living in major French cities, shows that 82% of respondents believe anti-Muslim hate speech is a widespread phenomenon in today’s France.
The results also indicate that 66% of Muslims have personally experienced racist behaviour in the past five years, a figure three times higher than that observed in the general population. Among young Muslims under 25, this rate rises to 76%.
Half of those facing discrimination said their religion was the primary reason, while even less visibly religious Muslims reported targeted bias — 41% attributing it to their faith.
Discrimination extends beyond social interaction into critical areas such as employment and housing, with 51% encountering bias while job-hunting and 46% in rental applications. For followers of other religions, the average rate is below 7%.
This hostile environment has fueled anxiety: 64% fear restrictions on religious freedom, and over half fear physical assaults. Among veiled women, the concern rises to 66%.
The survey also highlights declining trust in public institutions, with 66% of Muslims refraining from filing discrimination complaints, reflecting widespread scepticism about justice and protection.
These findings, reported by Al Jazeera and Libération, underscore the persistence of systemic Islamophobia in France, raising urgent questions about equality, citizenship, and social cohesion.
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