The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed solidarity with a Brussels-based Muslim organization dedicated to opposing anti-Muslim bigotry, the Collectif Contre l’Islamophobie en Europe (Collective Against Islamophobia in Europe, CCIE) as it faces targeting by French authorities.
After being targeted by French authorities in May, representatives of the group were summoned to a hearing today.
“We stand in solidarity with CCIE as they face targeting by French authorities who seem to prioritize targeting people for their faith over democratic rights,” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor.
The French government’s campaign against its own Muslim population was highlighted by restrictions placed on minority populations during the 2024 Olympics. At the time, PBS reported, “Minorities — largely with backgrounds in former French colonies — are often among those forbidden from leaving their neighborhoods and required to report daily to police, their lawyers say.”
Earlier this year, CAIRsaid that Islamophobia is “spinning out of control” in Europe after a Muslim woman was murdered in Germany and a mosque was burned during anti-immigrant riots in Spain.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR also repeated its call for European leaders to stop promoting anti-Muslim hate after mosques in the United Kingdom and France were targeted with attacks.
Last month, CAIR condemned the attempted arson of a Muslim prayer room in Châtillon-sur-Seine, France.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com