Paris (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday ordered the government to develop proposals to address the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and the spread of “political Islam” in France, according to the Elysée Palace.
The announcement from the French presidency came after Macron chaired a security meeting to review a report warning about the Muslim Brotherhood, stating that the group poses “a threat to national cohesion” in France.
The Elysée Palace said, “Given the importance of the issue and the gravity of the verified facts, the government has been asked to develop proposals that will be discussed at the next Defense Council meeting in early June.”
In a rare move, Macron also decided to make the report public by the end of the week. AFP obtained a copy of the report on Tuesday.
The Elysée noted that some measures will be announced, while others will remain confidential.
The report on the organization, founded in Egypt in 1928, was prepared by two senior officials commissioned by the government.
Ahead of the meeting, the Elysée stated that the report “clearly identifies the anti-republican and subversive nature of the ‘Muslim Brotherhood’” and suggests “ways to address this threat.”
France and Germany have the largest Muslim populations compared to other European Union countries.
French authorities are seeking to prevent the spread of radical Islamist ideology in a country shaken by a series of deadly jihadist attacks.
Religious extremism has become a contentious issue amid a shifting political landscape in France and the rising popularity of the far right.
The report triggered strong reactions, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen accusing the government of inaction, saying on the social media platform X that she has long proposed measures “to eradicate Islamic fundamentalism.”
Meanwhile, Jordan Bardella, head of her National Rally party, told France Inter radio, “If we come to power tomorrow, we will ban the ‘Muslim Brotherhood.’”
However, some have condemned what they say is growing Islamophobia in France.
Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon wrote on X that “Islamophobia has gone too far.”
He accused officials of supporting “the fanciful theories” of Le Pen and hardline Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
The report noted the spread of political Islam “from the bottom up,” adding that the phenomenon represents “a short- to medium-term threat.”
At the same time, the French presidency emphasized, “We are in complete agreement that we must not generalize in our approach to Muslims.”
It added, “We are fighting against political Islam and its extremist excesses.”
The report focused on the role of the “Union of Islamic Organizations of France,” describing it as “the national branch of the ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ in France.”
“A Hidden and Subversive Goal”
For its part, the Union of Islamic Organizations of France denounced the “baseless accusations” and warned against the “dangerous” conflation of Islam and extremism.
“We strongly reject any accusations attempting to link us to a foreign political project,” the organization said, warning against “stigmatizing Islam and Muslims.”
It continued, “Constant accusations shape minds and stir fears and, unfortunately, contribute to acts of violence,” referring to the killing of Malian Aboubakar Cissé (22), who was stabbed dozens of times while praying inside a mosque in southern France.
The conservative newspaper Le Figaro, which was the first media outlet to publish excerpts from the “shocking” report on Tuesday, said that the Muslim Brotherhood “seeks to introduce Sharia law to France.”
However, the report stated that “no document has recently shown a desire among Muslims in France to establish an Islamic state or implement Sharia law there,” while nonetheless noting that the threat is real.
The report said, “We are not dealing with a hostile separatist situation, but rather with a hidden goal… yet one that is subversive to institutions.”
Macron’s party has proposed banning girls under 15 from wearing the hijab, arguing that it “seriously undermines gender equality and child protection.”
The party also seeks to “criminalize parents who force their underage daughters to wear the hijab, on grounds of coercion.”
In 2023, France banned public school students from wearing the abaya.
