Immigrant Muslims in Belleville

Anyone wanting to understand the situation of Muslims in Europe should visit Belleville. The rundown Parisian neighbourhood just east of the city centre is packed with couscous restaurants, Islamic bookshops and French citizens of Arab origin.

About 1.5 million nominal Muslims live in the Paris region, more than in any other ­European city..... What is happening now is that the Republic is drawing the borders of French Islam. France has accepted the presence of Muslims – “We are a mixed country. It’s done,” Roy told me – and now it’s setting limits. The Republic had already stamped on flirts with terrorism and on imams who praised wife-beating.

Now “weird” clothing is out, too. Muslims can remain Muslims if they wish, but they are also to be turned into “petits français”, like those toddlers in Belleville holding hands with their Franco-Chinese and white pals. It’s the same path followed by the Italians, Jews and Poles who have come to France at different times in the past 150 years. All were once considered alien. All have since been assimilated. [FT.com] Read more