“We are Beginning to Spread Terror”: The State-Sponsored Persecution of Muslims in France/”Nous Commençons à Répandre La Terreur” : La Persécution des Musulmans Par L’état en France

“We are Beginning to Spread Terror”: The State-Sponsored Persecution of Muslims in France is a first-of-its-kind report in English & French which covers in detail the unprecedented crackdown on Islam and Muslims in France under the government of Emmanuel Macron.

The report draws attention to the ‘Systematic Obstruction’ policy – largely unknown outside the country, and scarcely understood inside it – on its four year anniversary of being introduced. This policy forms the basis of what we identify as a Persecution of Muslims in France, in line with the international law definition of the term.

The key points raised by the report are:

• A first-of-its-kind report in English & French which covers in detail the unprecedented crackdown on Islam and Muslims in France, and which fits the description of Persecution under international law.
• The report outlines the methods of this persecution in French society, including through the sanctioning and forced dissolution of organisations by decree, as well as through the heavy handed policing and criminalisation of Islam in social, religious and political spheres.
• On the four year anniversary of its introduction, the report is the first detailed analysis of the sweeping ‘Systematic Obstruction’ executive powers which enable this persecution. It is a form of maximum pressure policing whereby almost exclusively Muslim institutions are being systematically monitored, surveilled, investigated and sanctioned for minor infractions.
• The pattern of behaviour exhibited by the French state towards Muslims in the country is calculated to harass and humiliate Muslims, resulting in the intentional and severe deprivation of this minority group’s freedom of religion, of opinion, of association and right to property.
• Hundreds of establishments, including mosques and Muslim schools have been in closed, tens of thousands have been investigated and – in what can only be regarded as state-sponsored extortion – millions of Euros have been seized.
• How this state Islamophobia is institutionalised through an infrastructure of enforcement and mass surveillance, with department cells spread across geographical units in France to enforce these policies.
   
• The report features a timeline of the legal and political development of state powers targetting the Muslim community under the Macron government.

Key recommendations of the report:

• Scrap the “Systematic Obstruction” policy, related institutions created to support it and reverse the decisions stemming from it, including the dissolution of organisations.
   
• To vigorously oppose any attempts by France to export its Islamophobic policies during its term as EU Presidency until June 2022.
• Call for the repeal of Islamophobic policies such as the ‘Anti-Separatism Law’, the Imams Charter, as well as the 2004 Law on religious signs in schools and the 2010 Niqab ban.
• To establish an independent body investigating the consequences of the Systematic Obstruction measures, and provide reparations for damages and losses incurred by establishments/individuals as a result of such measures.
• And the report demands respective EU member states condemn France’s persecution of Muslims and its draconian policies.

Recommandations

Le gouvernement français a lancé une campagne de répression sans précédent contre les organisations musulmanes et dissidentes dans le pays, rendant encore plus difficile la résistance à ses politiques.

Il incombe donc aux organisations et acteurs internationaux, en particulier européens, de faire pression sur le gouvernement français et leurs gouvernements respectifs, et de contribuer à créer un espace permettant aux musulmans français d’affirmer leurs propres revendications.

Nous appelons les organisations de la société civile à travers l’Europe à :

• Étendre immédiatement leur solidarité aux personnes et organisations touchées par la politique d’entrave systématique et l’islamophobie structurelle en France, et exiger le respect des droits civiques et politiques des musulmans en France.
• S’opposer vigoureusement à toute tentative de la France d’exporter ses politiques islamophobes pendant son mandat à la présidence de l’UE jusqu’en juin 2022, et demander aux États membres respectifs de l’UE de condamner la persécution des musulmans par la France et ses politiques draconiennes.
• Demander la suppression de la politique d’entrave systématique et des institutions créées pour la soutenir – y compris les cellules départementales et le nouveau bureau du ministère de l’Intérieur.
• Demander l’annulation de la dissolution de toutes les organisations sous prétexte de “séparatisme” et des réparations pour les organisations touchées.
• Demandez l’abrogation de la “loi anti-séparatisme” et de la charte des imams.