French Muslim council condemns 'stigmatizing' survey methodology

France's principal Muslim representative body has issued a strong condemnation of a recently published survey examining Muslim attitudes, accusing the research of methodological biases that risk reinforcing prejudice against the country's Muslim community. The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) asserted that the poll, commissioned by the magazine Ecran de veille, contributes to stigmatizing French Muslims despite being presented as an objective analysis of religious practices.

Questionable Methodology and Findings

The CFCM identified what it characterized as "numerous methodological biases" that render the survey's conclusions "approximate, erroneous, and lacking in scientific value." The council highlighted specific inconsistencies, noting that the poll's claim that 35% of Muslims attend Friday prayers—representing approximately two million people—contradicts the physical capacity of French mosques, which can accommodate fewer than 500,000 worshippers simultaneously.

Challenging Radicalization Narratives

The Muslim organization particularly criticized the survey's suggestion that younger Muslims exhibit more rigorous or radical religious practices than older generations. The CFCM attributed this apparent discrepancy to well-documented response biases, explaining that older respondents often underreport religious observance while younger Muslims might overstate religiosity "in reaction to a context of strong stigmatization." The council warned that such interpretations are being exploited by anti-Muslim groups to portray Muslims as an "internal and existential threat" to French society.

Countering Far-Right Theories

Despite its criticisms, the CFCM noted that some survey data actually undermines popular far-right narratives, particularly the "great replacement" conspiracy theory. The poll confirms that Muslims constitute no more than 7% of France's population, contradicting inflated estimates often cited by extremist groups. The council also defended religious practices like ritual slaughter as "perfectly legal" and shared by both Muslim and Jewish communities, rejecting interpretations that position religious observance in opposition to French law.