France's initial interaction with Muslims occurred during the Umayyad conquest campaigns in North Africa. Settlements in the present-day southwestern Toulouse region of France, which commenced in 720, proved to be impermanent, and the Muslim influence in southern France concluded by 975.
In fact, France’s commercial and political relations with the Islamic world came only to the fore through the collaboration established between Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and King Francis I. Due to the treaty granted in 1536, French merchants, missionaries, and diplomats were accorded religious, commercial, and legal privileges within the Ottoman borders. This accord allowed them to reside in significant imperial centers and engage with Muslims. It was only with Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt in 1798 that France’s policy of gaining control over Muslim nations was initiated. France's pursuit of influence over the Muslim countries continued through the conquest of Algeria in 1830 and extended to other Maghreb countries. Yet, this also led to the formation of Muslim communities within France. Simultaneously, the post-World War II industrial boom enticed millions of Muslims to select France as their primary labor destination and eventually the country where they settled.
In present-day France, which boasts the largest Muslim population in Europe, accounting for potentially 10% of its 70 million inhabitants, the topics of "religion," particularly "Islam," frequently emerge as subjects of discussion. These debates are often intertwined with notions like freedom, security, cohesion, modernity, public space, and local identity. Regrettably, these discussions can sometimes foster misunderstandings about Islam, a faith rooted in concepts of peace and trust. Regarding their origin, the majority of Muslims in France hail from North Africa, with 43.2% originating from Algeria, 27.5% from Morocco, and 11.4% from Tunisia. Additional groups of Muslim people in contemporary France hail from sub-Saharan Africa (9.3%) and Türkiye (8.6%).
France, a secular state with a substantial and diverse Muslim population representing various ethnic origins, has undertaken a range of initiatives over the years to address the issue of Muslim representation in public discourse. One notable initiative was the establishment of the Council of Islamic Thought in France ("Conseil de réflexion sur l'Islam en France") in 1990. This council aimed to bring together diverse Muslim groups and was formed with 15 representatives from various backgrounds, including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Türkiye, and Senegal. The scope of CORIF's activities extended beyond religious worship, encompassing research on the relationship between Islam and society at large. It also involved meetings with representatives of different faiths to promote dialogue.
However, after a while, CORIF was eventually dissolved. In 2003, under the leadership of the then-Minister of the Interior Sarkozy, the French Council of the Muslim Faith ("Conseil Français du Culte Musulman" - CFCM) was established through a decision by the Ministry of the Interior. The primary objective was to create a democratically elected structure that would represent Muslims. The number of council members matched the count of the membership of the mosques, aiming for comprehensive inclusivity within the Muslim community.
Yet, in 2022, it was announced by the state authorities that the CFCM would no longer be recognized, and the Forum of the Islam of France (FORIF) was created to replace it. The working groups established within FORIF included Muslims appointed by the Ministry of Interior, governors, religious officials, and representatives of some Muslim organizations. These distinct working groups have been formed to address various concerns. These include the training of imams and spiritual guides in settings like prisons, hospitals, and the military. They also focus on matters such as mosque security and the implementation of the "Law on Reinforcing the Respect of Republican Principles," which took effect in August 2021. The efforts conducted under the framework of FORIF are made accessible to the public through guidebooks and informational resources.
The historical trajectory of the Muslim population in France bears similarities to that of other European nations. During the initial and subsequent waves of immigration, spanning the first and second generations, many were individuals with limited educational opportunities who settled in suburban areas and took up labor-intensive jobs. This pattern persisted until the late 1980s. Today the situation has changed and a well-educated third and fourth generation of immigrants born and raised in France has emerged. Although this group does not currently constitute the majority among Muslim immigrants, their voices, hold significant weight and have become much louder when it comes to inequality in society and the state. Muslims are struggling much more vigorously for equal rights with other French citizens in the political and economic spheres.
However, the fact that Muslims have become more visible in public opinion has also increased anti-Islamic and racist attitudes in contemporary France. Especially during election periods, the propaganda and discourse of some parties seem to be based on anti-Islam and anti-Muslim rhetoric. While the existing circumstances have reached unsettling levels for the Muslim community, it remains widely recognized that Muslims in the nation constitute indispensable and enduring components of France.
From the perspective of Turkish citizens, the history of migration to France is more recent than that of other immigrant groups. The first bilateral labor agreement between Türkiye and France was signed in 1965, but mass migration started in the early 1970s and continued until the 1980s. During the 1990 census, Turks became the fourth immigrant community in France, and, in the most recent official census, the Turkish population exhibited the most substantial surge among all immigrant groups.
In France, similar to other countries, the establishment of associations for Turkish citizens gained momentum in the 1980s with the primary goal of organizing Friday and Eid prayers. DITIB (Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs) was established under the guidance of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, unifying these associations under one umbrella. Presently, 265 out of the 2,500 mosques serving Muslims in France are affiliated with DITIB associations. Yet, these mosques and associations do not provide services limited to only prayer times. They offer a wide range of services, including year-round basic religious knowledge and Qur’an courses for children of different ages, Turkish language classes, activities for youth and women, social, cultural, and sports events, humanitarian aid activities, halal food options, and modest markets with traditional flavors. Under the umbrella of DITIB, our religious officials, association administrations, honorary religious officials, women’s branches, and youth branches provide services to all segments of society. These efforts aim to preserve both religious and national identities while providing an opportunity for a meaningful contribution to the broader society. Today, Turks residing in France approach the future with optimism as self-assured individuals and associations that continually improve in terms of quality and quantity. They are dedicated to their country, possess a strong understanding of France, and actively contribute to their broader community in various ways.
