Muslim Soldier Alleges Discrimination in French Army, Sparking Controversy

At the end of his studies in a humanitarian school, Quentin seized the opportunity to pursue a career in the Army. A recruiter offered him to become a trainer for young people in academic difficulty in the overseas departments and territories. Quentin says he spent three months in southern France where he received purely military training.

However, he was far from imagining the nightmare he was going to live. His conversion to Islam is not accepted by everyone. "The troubles started from the moment they learned that I was Muslim. In total, they attacked me 4 times to try to make me leave the army. Twice it was for wearing a beard, I received all kinds of threats," Quentin confides.

"At the assembly, they made me get out of the ranks and told me: ’Your prayer, your Islam, it’s either you get rid of it, or it’s you who gets out’," he recounts. His comrades did not want to see him pray in his room. "Very shortly afterwards, a comrade denounced me to my superiors, saying that I was performing the prayer in my room," he adds.