French Republican Values “Threatened by the Burkini”: Is The June 21 Ruling A Turning Point?

France’s Council of State, the country’s top administrative court, ruled on June 21 against allowing swimmers to wear “burkini” swimwear – a swimsuit used by some Muslim women to cover their bodies and hair – in Grenoble’s public swimming pools. The top court argued that allowing the burkini would violate France’s principle of neutrality on

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Rule of Law and the State-Sponsored Repression of Islam in France

“’We are Beginning to Spread Terror: The State-Sponsored Persecutions of Muslims in France” is the latest report to be produced by CAGE, an independent advocacy organisation that works to empower communities impacted by the War on Terror policies worldwide1. Authored by French legal Jurist and Cage researcher Rayan Freschi, it is considered a “first-of-its-kind”2  report that

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French Government’s New Initiative: The Forum of Islam in France

The French government launched on February 5 2022, a new governing body for Islam: the Forum of Islam in France (FORIF), which replaces the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) as the official interlocutor between the government and the Muslim community. [1] It will address strategic issues such as: security of places of worship,

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The consequences of COVID-19 on Muslim burials

The death toll during the COVID-19 pandemic has been alarming across Europe, and all over the world, since early 2020. In this context, burying loved ones has become a difficult task for many Muslim communities in Europe, as it has added a further challenge to an already precarious situation. For years now, Muslim communities have

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Enforcing the French law against “Islamic Separatism”: Consequences on religious freedom

The law aimed at safeguarding French “republican principles” and fighting “Islamic separatism” was approved by the French National Assembly on July 23, 2021, after months of debates about its limitation of freedom of association and expression and its discrimination against Islam. [1] Based on the bill’s articles, public authorities will fund only Muslim organizations that

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