A devastating new poll revealed today that millions of French and Germans view Islam as a ‘threat’, with a significant majority asserting that Muslims have ‘not integrated properly’.
Le Monde newspaper published the findings under a headline labeling the attempts to foster coexistence among various religious and cultural groups as a ‘failure’.
This news will be particularly alarming for both France and Germany, given that these nations host the largest Muslim populations in Europe.
Le Monde, the most renowned newspaper in Paris, states, ‘Islam and integration: French and Germans admit failure.’
The poll, conducted in collaboration with marketing firm IFOP, shows that 68 per cent of French respondents and 75 per cent of Germans believe that Muslims are ‘not well integrated into society.’
Even more telling, 42 per cent of French individuals and 40 per cent of Germans view the existence of Islamic communities as ‘a threat’ to their national identities.
An editorial from Le Monde remarks, ‘As Islam increasingly becomes a prominent aspect of European societies, public sentiment is evidently tightening, although variances can be seen between age groups as well as between left- and right-leaning citizens.’
According to Jerome Fourquet from IFOP, the findings reflect a shift from merely associating immigration with security or unemployment to associating Islam with a threat to identity.
Mr. Fourquet expressed a desire to broaden the research to nations such as the UK, predicting similar outcomes there.
Since the September 11 attacks in 2001 and the 7/7 bombings in London in 2005, the risk of terrorism has been increasingly associated with Muslim communities across Europe, including Britain.
In France, President Nicolas Sarkozy’s administration has responded with a tougher stance on religious extremism, recently implementing a ban on Islamic veils.
This hardline approach has been complemented by a widely publicized debate on national identity, which has seen numerous complaints regarding the rising influence of Muslim communities in France.
Additionally, Mr. Sarkozy has engaged the support of voters from far-right parties like the National Front to reinforce traditional values.
While France is a secular state, the predominant religion among its populace is Roman Catholicism. Although exact data is lacking, estimates suggest that the country is home to approximately six million Muslims, many stemming from its former North African colonies.
German federal officials estimate their Muslim population to be around 4.5 million, the majority of whom are Turks who emigrated during the 1960s.
The Le Monde/IFOP survey involved interviewing 1600 adults—800 from France and 800 from Germany—about Muslim integration over the course of one day last month.
by David Livingstone
