Several Muslim religious councils in France have filed a legal complaint against an Ifop survey they say distorts the religious practices of French Muslims. They argue the poll fuels a climate of growing hostility toward the community. The survey was commissioned by the magazine Ecran de veille and released on November 18. It claims a rising re-Islamisation among French Muslims, particularly the youth.
The survey highlights behaviour it labels radical, including prayer frequency, Ramadan observance, and wearing the veil. The councils say these findings are framed in ways that reinforce prejudice. They insist the presentation of data creates misleading associations that stigmatise everyday religious practices.
In a joint statement, the departmental councils of Muslim worship in Loiret, Aube, and Bouches-du-Rhone said the survey violates the principle of objectivity required under France’s 1977 polling law. They told BFM TV that the poll relies on leading questions. They also said the survey selectively highlights minority responses for polemical purposes.
Lawyers Raphael Kempf and Romain Ruiz represent the councils in the case. They describe Ecran de veille as a nebulous and reactionary organisation. They say the study spreads the poison of hatred in the public sphere. They note that the release comes at a time when official data shows a sharp rise in anti-Muslim incidents.
Figures from the Interior Ministry indicate a 75 percent increase in anti-Muslim acts compared with 2024. The councils warn that the survey reinforces harmful conflations. They accuse the publication of amplifying narratives promoted by far-right outlets.
They say the poll insults Muslims in France. They add that it undermines the values of equality and fraternity promoted by the Republic. The survey has sparked debate across France as tensions grow around religious identity and political use of Islam.
Far-right figures have circulated the poll as evidence of a supposed threat. Muslim organisations argue it continues a longstanding pattern of portraying French Muslims as a problem for the Republic. Prosecutors will now examine the complaint as part of a preliminary investigation.
