A Global Strategy to Entrench Radical Islam in France

The secret report, ordered by the French government, outlines a “global plan” to embed extremist Islamic practices into French society. This is being done primarily through early education, social aid to the poor, and the establishment of sports and education associations that target vulnerable populations.

The report reveals that the Muslim Brotherhood’s branch in France, operating under the banner of the “Muslims of France” association, currently manages 139 prayer and educational centers spread across 55 of the country’s 101 administrative departments. At least 22 of these areas, especially in northern France, the southern city of Marseille, and the suburbs of Paris, are considered at risk of becoming “Islamized.”

Authorities estimate that between 400 and 1,000 members of the Muslim Brotherhood’s extremist core are active within France.

Long-Standing Gulf Funding and Belgium as a Cautionary Tale

One of the key concerns raised in the report is the continuous financial backing from Qatar and Saudi Arabia over many years. The authors warn of a possible scenario akin to what occurred in Belgium, where Islamist parties participated in both local and national elections—with some even demanding the implementation of Sharia law.

A notable takeaway from the report is its emphasis on internal threats: the growing influence of the Muslim Brotherhood is not merely a product of external actors, but rather an internal penetration rooted within French society. This represents a shift from previous views that saw the problem as purely foreign in origin.

High-Level Government Response and Public Leak

A special cabinet meeting was held Wednesday morning to discuss the report’s findings. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who received the report a week earlier, was expected to present its main points following the meeting. However, key contents of the report were leaked the previous evening by Le Figaro.

The year-long investigation involved experts from France’s interior, foreign, and intelligence ministries. These experts conducted interviews with dozens of individuals across the country, including 45 university researchers and leaders from France’s Muslim community. They also met with representatives of the “Muslims of France” association—closely linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The report was authored by a former regional police chief and a former ambassador, both of whom remain anonymous.

Radicalization Through Education and Cultural Isolation

The report warns of the “normalization” of extremist practices, including encouraging young girls to wear the hijab and promoting isolated, insular community life. As of 2023, there were at least 21 private Muslim Brotherhood-run schools in France, with approximately 4,200 students, and around 800 centers dedicated to Quranic, Arabic, and religious studies taught from a strict ideological perspective.

According to the report, early education is the primary vector of radical Islam’s infiltration into French society. At least 280 nonprofit organizations working in youth education, culture, and social services were identified as affiliated with extremist Islamic ideologies.

Identified Regions and Financial Sources

The report specifically points to Qatari funding—at least until 2019—in areas such as Strasbourg (East), Villeneuve-d’Ascq and Marseille (South), Saint-Denis (Paris suburbs), and Lille (North). In Lille, French authorities halted state funding to a high school that had served as a model for Islamic studies, following revelations of dubious financing and teachings “contrary to the values of the Republic.”

Saudi Arabia is also named in the report as a key funder, particularly in the city of Mulhouse in eastern France. There, the Kingdom supports the “European Institute of Human Sciences,” which specializes in Arabic and Quranic studies.

Legal Gaps and the Role of Social Media Preachers

One major conclusion of the report is that France’s principle of secularism—its legal separation of church and state—is insufficient to curb this growing phenomenon. Extremist groups are reportedly exploiting this very principle to implement radical interpretations of Islamic law among Muslim populations, using rhetoric about “Islamophobia in French society” to justify resistance to state-imposed limitations.

The report also expresses concern over radical Islamic influencers on social media, stating that they “incite and manipulate current events to undermine secular society and its values.”

The Élysée’s Clarification: Islamism, Not Islam

A source at the Élysée Palace clarified to Le Figaro that the goal of the report is to “inform government bodies, the public, and local officials as the 2026 municipal elections approach.” The source stressed that the infiltration of French society is a long-term and stealthy phenomenon, often cloaked in refined and official-sounding language.

Importantly, the source emphasized: “We must not confuse Muslims in France with radical Islamism, which is what we are fighting against.”

This leak is expected to intensify the national conversation around secularism, religious extremism, and France’s approach to social integration as it navigates both internal pressures and foreign influences.