Why qualified Muslims are leaving France

The departure of these upper-class profiles, apparently well integrated, reveals a flaw in the French model, he explains to the newspaper Le Monde. According to the researcher at the University of Ghent, academic and professional success does not protect against discrimination. On the contrary, social frictions tend to intensify as one climbs the ladder. The competition for positions of power exacerbates hostility, creating an invisible blockage comparable to the glass ceiling for women.

Destinations like Dubai, London, New York or Singapore offer an escape. Beyond career opportunities, these cities allow for a more anonymous life, freed from the deep-rooted racial stigmatization felt in France. For some, it is also an opportunity to live their faith without it being problematized on a daily basis.

This movement is transforming the situation: the Maghrebi or Muslim heritage, often perceived as a handicap in Europe, becomes an asset, or "racial capital", in countries like the Emirates. Jaafar Alloul, however, specifies that this is not a definitive rejection of France. These citizens, who claim their French identity, often see this departure as a temporary step to circumvent a social blockage, with many planning to return once their status is consolidated.