Muslim Communities and Identity in Paris
July 19, 2012
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La Goutte d’Or, a neighborhood in the 18th arrondissement, an ethnically and religiously diverse community in Paris. Residents of the 18th, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, express strong feelings of belonging to their neighborhood. © William Daniels/Panos Pictures for the Open Society Foundations -
The Institute for Islamic Cultures is in La Goutte d’Or. An estimated 10 percent of the population in France is Muslim. Most have acquired French citizenship. © William Daniels/Panos Pictures for the Open Society Foundations -
Members of the Muslim business association Les Dérouilleurs gather to network. However, one out of four foreigners from non-EU countries was unemployed in 2009. © William Daniels/Panos Pictures for the Open Society Foundations -
Zouber Be Teyerdet is director of Les Dérouilleurs. The organization’s name is a play on the term “rust remover” to refute a derogatory phrase used by a government official to describe young people who stay at home and “rust.” © William Daniels/Panos Pictures for the Open Society Foundations -
Muslims are actively engaged in many of France’s social and cultural activities, participating, for example, in a Muslim scout organization. © William Daniels/Panos Pictures for the Open Society Foundations -
Religion remains a defining characteristic for some Muslims, such as these Sufis in the Paris suburb of Drancy. © William Daniels/Panos Pictures for the Open Society Foundations -
Until 2011, worshippers lined up on the pavements of La Goutte d’Or due to lack of space to pray. Since the ban on street prayer came into force in September 2011, the local authorities have made efforts to find appropriate space. © William Daniels/Panos Pictures for the Open Society Foundations -
Saïd Branine, the director of oumma.com. Ethnic media serves the community and counters the stereotypical reporting by mainstream media that contributes to the misrepresentation of Islam and Muslims in France. © William Daniels/Panos Pictures for the Open Society Foundations -
Mohamed Ali Bouharb, gendarmerie chaplain. The government encourages the recruitment of persons of foreign origin for the police and military gendarmerie, as well as the training of police on how to handle discrimination complaints. © William Daniels/Panos Pictures for the Open Society Foundations -
La Goutte d’Or. Despite their positive feelings about their neighborhood, residents complain about the lack of social interaction between groups. Many say they feel isolated. © William Daniels/Panos Pictures for the Open Society Foundations
Muslims in Europe are a diverse and growing population of citizens as well as newly arrived immigrants. Though the majority of Muslims are a longstanding and integral part of the fabric of their cities, many Muslims still experience discrimination and suspicion.
The At Home in Europe Project seeks to improve the integration of Europe’s minority and marginalized communities, including Muslims. Paris is one of the 11 EU cities where the project is engaged in monitoring and advocacy efforts, including visually documenting the everyday lives of the city’s Muslims.
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