A controversial report submitted to French President Emmanuel Macron has raised alarms about alleged Islamist infiltration into France’s republican institutions. Compiled by two senior civil servants, the report highlights a strategy of “entryism” by the Muslim Brotherhood, suggesting a concerted effort to embed its ideology within French public sectors such as education and local government. This strategy, the report claims, poses a significant threat to France’s national cohesion and secular identity, prompting Macron to request new countermeasures from his government within weeks.
From Separatism to Entryism: Islamist Networks Allegedly Reshape Institutions Through Cultural Influence
An Élysée official clarified the distinction between “separatism” and the newer concept of “entryism.” While separatism refers to Muslims living in self-contained communities outside mainstream society, entryism involves penetrating and gradually transforming republican institutions from within. According to the report, this method relies on deception and a bottom-up approach, whereby social norms rooted in religious conservatism are subtly imposed through increased participation in public life.
Macron-Backed Report Alleges Islamist Entryism Threatens French Institutions and National CohesionThe report identifies the Federation of Muslims of France (FMF) as the primary conduit of the Muslim Brotherhood’s ideology in the country. The FMF reportedly manages a network of 139 mosques, 68 affiliated places of worship, 280 associations, and 21 schools across France. These institutions are said to foster closed “ecosystems” designed to shape the lives of Muslims from early childhood through adulthood, promoting conservative religious practices like wearing the abaya and headscarves, even among very young girls.
Political Fallout Deepens as Islamism Report Sparks Division Across French Political Spectrum
The FMF has strongly denied the accusations, rejecting any association with political Islam or the Muslim Brotherhood’s ideology. They warned that conflating Islam with political radicalism risks fueling Islamophobia and undermining the Republic’s values. Nonetheless, the report has reignited calls among right-wing politicians for stricter secularism enforcement.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau described a hidden Islamist agenda aimed at reshaping French society under Sharia law, while the upcoming municipal elections have heightened fears of religiously motivated political candidates.
The report also claims that the Muslim Brotherhood, having lost traction in the Middle East and North Africa, is now focusing on expanding in Europe with financial support from Turkey and Qatar. The movement’s adaptation to Western contexts is viewed as a camouflage for its fundamentalist aims.
However, not all political voices support the report’s conclusions. Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused Macron’s government of legitimizing far-right conspiracy theories and exacerbating anti-Muslim sentiment, underscoring the polarizing impact of the report across France’s political spectrum.