Members of the Collective Against Islamophobia in Europe (CCIE) have again been subject to police measures, according to a statement by spokesperson Karim Ridwan. Four members were recently interrogated, following an earlier wave of police actions on May 13, 2025, which included raids and detentions involving founding members.
In May, at least six individuals affiliated with CCIE were targeted through home searches, device seizures, and prolonged questioning. Police have also reportedly searched the homes of family members, including a member’s mother, prompting concerns over the use of intimidation tactics.
The crackdown has disrupted the organisation’s operations, with several staff resigning due to increased pressure.
Ridwan characterized the actions as part of broader state measures aimed at dismantling civil society groups that document systemic Islamophobia and racial discrimination. He also cited other instances of repression, including the targeting of Muslim schools, authors, publishers, and bank accounts, as well as new legal tools to prosecute alleged “separatism.”
A CCIE media release noted that the latest police operations came shortly after nationwide protests over the killing of Aboubakar Cissé. It warned that authorities are focusing on silencing those who document hate rather than addressing hate speech itself.
Human rights observers have voiced concern over what they describe as a growing tendency in France to conflate Muslim identity and activism with separatism and violence.
Despite the pressure, CCIE, which monitors hate crimes and institutional discrimination across Europe, stated it would continue its work.
The rise of Islamophobia in France
Farid Hafez, a senior researcher researcher with Georgetown University has said there are various factors that have contributed to a rise in Islamophobia in France, but central among them is the French state’s own Islamophobic rhetoric and anti-Muslim policies.
“The most recent iteration of this was the release of a report titled “The Muslim Brotherhood and Political Islamism in France” by the French government. The document claims that the Muslim Brotherhood and “political Islamism” are infiltrating French institutions and threatening social cohesion and names organisations and mosques as having links to the group,” he wrote in Al Jazeera.
Broader Implications: Australian Advocates React
The developments in France have prompted reflection among Australian Muslim advocates. Rita Jabri Markwell, a lawyer with the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network, warned against complacency.
“Australia has one of the most expansive counterterrorism legal regimes in the world,” she said, noting recent federal legislation introducing new offences related to possession and sharing of “violent extremist material.”
Civil liberties groups such as the Law Council of Australia and NSW Council for Civil Liberties have raised concerns that these laws would suppress political expression and disproportionately impact marginalised groups.
She added that the situation in France underscores the need for increased political engagement and vigilance in Australia: “There is a clear pattern—portraying Muslims as threats, then legislating around that perception. Silence is not a safe option.”
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