Macron meets Muslim leaders as Islamophobic attacks escalate in France

Rising Islamophobia sparks outrage and demands for stronger protections

PARIS (MNTV) – President Emmanuel Macron held talks with Muslim leaders on Tuesday, following two Islamophobic incidents that have heightened tensions across France. 

The murder of Aboubakar Cissé at a mosque in La Grand-Combe and the assault of a veiled woman in Poissy have drawn attention to the alarming rise in anti-Muslim violence.

The Poissy attack, reported by Le Parisien, involved a 26-year-old woman who was assaulted while walking with her baby. 

The attacker allegedly tore off her veil and sprayed her with an unknown liquid in broad daylight. 

Authorities have launched an investigation, and Prefect Frédéric Rose condemned the “violent” act. 

Poissy mayor Sandrine Dos Santos and MP Karl Olive called for swift justice.

Macron’s meeting with Chems-eddine Hafiz, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, and Najat Benali, president of the Coordination of Muslim Associations of Paris, reaffirmed the Republic’s commitment to freedom of worship and included pledges to strengthen the protection of mosques. 

The leaders voiced Muslim communities’ anger and fear, criticizing authorities for failing to classify Cissé’s murder as a terrorist act, which they say reflects a troubling double standard.

Prefect Rose also met with the Council of Muslim Institutions of Yvelines (CIMY), which condemned the climate enabling such attacks but welcomed the authorities’ swift response. 

Meanwhile, the Forum of Islam in France (FORIF) has requested a meeting with Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who has faced criticism over his handling of Islamophobic violence.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, anti-Muslim incidents surged by 72% in early 2025, highlighting the urgent need for action as communities demand justice and equal treatment.