Religion-based discrimination on rise in France, primarily targeting Muslims: Report

ISTANBUL

A recent survey released by a French rights group on Thursday revealed an increase in religion-based discrimination, particularly against Muslims.

According to the new 2024 edition of the Access to Rights survey conducted by the Defenseur des droits (Defender of Rights), 7% of more than 5,000 respondents reported experiencing discrimination based on religion in the past five years, up from 5% in 2016.

During the 2024 legislative elections, the Defender of Rights also observed a 53% spike between May and June in calls to 3928, the hotline dedicated to combating discrimination.

The survey found that 31% of respondents reported witnessing discrimination based on religion in 2024, compared with 21% in 2016.

"The rise in discrimination on religious grounds appears to be observed across all religions. However, it is reported far more frequently by people who say they are Muslim, or who believe they are perceived as such," the report underscored.

According to the survey, 34% of Muslims reported experiencing religion-based discrimination, up from 27% in 2016.

In 2024, 19% of people who identified with another religion and 4% of Christians reported being discriminated against for their religious beliefs.

"The population that is Muslim (or perceived as such) therefore appears to be the most affected by discrimination based on religion: not only are these individuals proportionally more likely to experience such discrimination, but they also tend to face it more frequently as a repeated personal experience," the report added.