Author: Obaidullah Noorzahi
Islam in Europe (Part 15)
France
France is located in Western Europe, bordered by Spain to the southwest and Germany to the northeast, with the 45th degree north latitude passing through it. The French Republic covers an area of 543,965 square kilometers and is composed of 96 provinces, which include several cantons and departments. The capital city is Paris, home to a population of over 56 million people. The French population is predominantly white, with Alpine, Mediterranean, and Nordic ancestry, and approximately 90% of them identify as Catholics. The largest minority in the country is Muslims.
Less than twenty years after the conquest of Spain, Muslims began to seize the southern provinces of France in the late 8th century. After occupying part of France, Muslims faced defeat at the hands of the Franks in the Battle of Toulouse in 102 AH, resulting in the death of their commander. Following this loss, Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi, the ruler of Spain, crossed the northern border of Andalusia and entered French territory in early 114 AH. He captured the city of Arles on the Rhine River and established Islamic rule over vast areas of southern France.
However, with the death of Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi, instability ensued within Muslim ranks, allowing the French armies to grow stronger. The distance of these conquests from the center of the Islamic Caliphate also posed challenges. In 732 AD, Charles Martel, a leader of the Franks, united German, French, and Burgundian forces to halt Muslim expansion at the Battle of Poitiers. Although this defeat limited Muslim advances, their presence in France continued for two centuries.
Roger de Pasquier emphasizes that at the Battle of Poitiers, Christianity stood on the brink of complete extinction. Muhammad Abdullah Annan also asserts: “If Islam had not retreated from the plains of Tours, there would be no Christianity in Europe today, and Islam would have dominated this continent.” France’s historical involvement in Islamic lands with the aim of plundering and exploiting these countries has left a bitter legacy for Muslims. The French colonial presence, marked by repression and violence, resulted in the deaths of over one million Algerians during 132 years of dominance. Generally, France has had more interaction with Muslims than any other colonial power in Asia and Africa.
During the French colonial period, many Muslims from North and West Africa immigrated to France. Before World War I, a small minority lived in cities such as Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. By the outbreak of the war, numerous Muslim immigrants joined the French army and fought in various battles, even advancing into the heart of Germany, where many lost their lives.
During World War II, North African Muslims participated in French military units and played a significant role in the fierce battles against Nazi Germany, with tens of thousands sacrificing their lives. In the Mulhouse cemetery in eastern France, several Muslims who fought for the Free French Army from November 1944 to January 1945 are buried. However, in 1992, some French individuals desecrated the graves of 58 Muslims in this cemetery. In response, the municipality of Mulhouse sought to make amends by honoring the graves of 200 Muslims and commemorating their sacrifices.
After World War II, many Muslims from French colonies came to France as cheap labor to help rebuild Europe. Despite performing the most strenuous work, they were often paid very little. Many suffered injuries or died because of the harsh working conditions. Today, most Muslims live in industrial estates and low-income areas.
Recent statistics indicate that the Muslim population in France is approximately 5 million, with only 1.5 million of those being of French origin. Some sources report that about 30 people convert to Islam in France each day. The marriage of French women to Muslims has also contributed to the growing Muslim population, as many convert to Islam after marriage. From 1979 to 1989, an average of 468 marriages between French citizens and Muslims were registered each month.
Most Muslim immigrants to France originate from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, India, Pakistan, and South Africa, with the Algerian community alone numbering around one million. The highest concentration of Muslims is in cities such as Paris, Lyon, and the port city of Marseille. In addition to laborers, many students, university professors, researchers, and doctors have also converted to Islam.
The French Muslim community is actively involved in cultural and missionary activities. Sheikh Faisal Mousavi states: “Segregation from society may help preserve our identity, but we must embed our authenticity within French society to counter hatred and racism.”
However, the French Muslim community faces challenges, including a lack of proper organizations and various forms of discrimination. The French government’s treatment of Muslims differs from that of other minorities, and politicians often make positive statements about Muslims solely to attract votes during elections.
The Jewish community in France, numbering around 700,000 (approximately 3.1% of the French population), constitutes the second-largest Jewish group in the world after occupied Palestine. They control significant aspects of France’s economic, political, and cultural spheres, often exerting pressure on Muslims. The French intelligence agency also monitors the religious and political activities of Muslims, sometimes exacerbating sectarian divides among them.
Muslims in France endure various forms of pressure. Mosques have been demolished under claims of lacking building permits, with 410 mosques recorded in France in 1982. Additionally, Islamic leaders are occasionally targeted for assassination, and the French government often pays little attention to such incidents.
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