France

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State-sponsored Islamophobia in France blamed for violence
Bymikeg July 15, 2025

Writing in AlJazeera, Senior researcher with Georgetown University’s The Bridge Initiative Farid Hafez accuses the French Government of State-promoted or condoned Islamaphobia including physical attacks including murder. “There has been a significant spike in Islamophobic acts in France – something the French authorities remain reluctant to publicly comment on. One report showed a 72 percent…

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Europe | FORB Advocacy | France

Report on Miviludes
Bymikeg May 19, 2025May 29, 2025

A report on the French government office for the ‘fight against cults’ was given to the UK Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief as one of the actions of the Working Group on Religious Discrimination in Europe.

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Europe | France | Islam | News Items

French footballers banned fasting during Ramadan
Bymikeg March 30, 2025March 30, 2025

The French Football Federation (FFF) has banned Muslim players from fasting during Ramadan while training with the national team, leading to accusations of discrimination and team division. Players must postpone fasting until after international fixtures. See report here

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AFN | Europe | France | Islam | News Items

French Hijab ban during sports, ‘discriminatory and must be reversed’ says Human Rights Council
Bymikeg March 22, 2025March 22, 2025

The UN Human Rights Council experts criticized France’s football and basketball federations for banning hijab-wearing players, including at the amateur level, and the government’s decision to prevent hijab-wearing athletes from representing France at the Paris Olympics. They argued that these measures violate fundamental rights, including religious expression and cultural participation. The experts stated that France’s…

Read More French Hijab ban during sports, ‘discriminatory and must be reversed’ says Human Rights Council
Europe | FORB Advocacy | France | Judaism | News Items

French Interior Ministry agency launches “cult” attack on respected kibbutz
Bymikeg March 6, 2025March 6, 2025

In France, Miviludes is a sub-agency of the Ministry of Interior, dedicated to fight against what they call “cults” – a term they interpret to include a large variety of well accepted new religious movements as well as alternative medicine practitioners or even dissident political eco-movements. In their report on “sectarian aberrations” (“derives sectaires” in…

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AFN | Europe | FORB Advocacy | France

Christian Observatory reports on intolerance and discrimination
Bymikeg June 26, 2024June 26, 2024

Another presentation made at the monthly meeting of the UK Freedom of Religion or Belief Forum (25th June) was presented by Anja Hoffmann, MA, Executive Director of OIDAC Europe. The report, “Monitoring Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians: Growing Challenges to Religious Freedom in Europe” covers European i

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AFN | Europe | FORB Advocacy | France

Responses to new French law on “fight against sectarian deviances”
Bymikeg June 26, 2024June 26, 2024

One of two presentations made at the monthly meeting of the UK Freedom of Religion or Belief Forum on the 25th June covered the French law on “The Fight Against Sectarian Deviances”, and gives more insight and understanding on how and where this discriminatory law comes from and it’s potential impact. The presentation is a…

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Catholicism | Europe | FORB Advocacy | France

Tribunal usurps Catholic institution ruling
Bymikeg April 20, 2024June 14, 2024

In yet another indication where French judiciary appear to be pushing further into, and limiting, the religious ‘space’ in the country a civil court, the Tribunal of Lorient, judged against the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Spirit, a Catholic Institution, was determined to have wrongfully dismissed a Sister of that Order. After internal apostolic investigation…

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Europe | FORB Advocacy | France

New French law targets religious minorities
Bymikeg April 20, 2024June 14, 2024

France has passed a shocking new law on 9th April, that targets religious minorities (though can be used against any religion) as well as certain natural health practitioners who have been recategorized as ‘cult leaders’ for not supporting mainstream medical treatments. The core of this new law now states that it is a criminal offence…

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Europe | FORB Advocacy | France

Working group on religious discrimination in France
Bymikeg February 7, 2024June 14, 2024

The Working Group held an online meeting to explain and understand the potential discriminatory results that the French law proposal on “Reinforcing the Fight Against Cultic Deviances” could have. Since the law proposal on “Reinforcing the Fight against Cultic Deviances” was proposed it went before the Senate on the 19th December. Over 100 academics and…

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