NGOs File UN Complaint Against France for Alleged Anti-Muslim Discrimination

In total, 36 organizations from 13 countries have filed a medico-legal complaint against France with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). In unison, they are asking it to open official infringement proceedings against the French government, which they accuse of actions and policies towards the Muslim community. They also ask the UNHRC to ensure that France "promulgates or repeals, as the case may be, legislation prohibiting any further discrimination against Muslims".

"The complaint points out that the actions of the French government have tacitly supported the publication of degrading caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad, and for the enactment of a series of Islamophobic state policies," CAGE, one of the signatory associations, said in a statement.

CAGE, known for its fight for "the rule of law and an end to the injustices of the war on terror", is notably referring to Emmanuel Macron’s remarks on the caricatures of Muhammad following the assassination of Samuel Paty last October, and to the draft law strengthening respect for the principles of the Republic.

Muhammad Rabbani, CAGE’s managing director, is outraged by "the closure of mosques, Muslim schools, Muslim-led charities and civil society organizations." According to him, these measures constitute violations of international law.

Feroze Boda of the Association of Muslim Lawyers, also a signatory, hopes that this initiative will generate a collective effort from the Muslim world to "include the dismantling of the ubiquitous hateful policies against Muslims in France." "These policies are not only counterproductive, but they are subject to abuse [...] while being completely disconnected from reality," he says.