France curbs the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood: the Senate overwhelmingly adopts measures against the infiltration of political Islam
The French Senate has overwhelmingly adopted a bill proposed by the leader of Les Républicains aimed at combating what is described as the “infiltration of political Islam.”
The draft law seeks to address what is referred to as the “infiltration of political Islam,” in a move that reflects the growing political debate in France surrounding issues of identity, security, and social cohesion.
The adoption of this text, introduced by former Interior Minister, leader of the Les Républicains party, and the party’s candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, Bruno Retailleau, comes amid intensifying political competition ahead of the presidential race.
The bill was adopted by 208 votes to 124. According to the French newspaper Le Figaro, the former Interior Minister’s proposal aims to confront a “diffuse influence and a current spreading quietly,” which, in its “ultimate objective,” seeks to “apply extremist ideas on our territory.”
Content of the bill
The proposal includes a set of measures, notably facilitating the dissolution of associations, strengthening penalties for violations of the “principles of the Republic,” imposing stricter oversight on the construction of places of worship, and freezing the assets of groups described as separatist.
Bruno Retailleau, the Les Républicains presidential candidate, stated: “We must be extremely firm, with no leniency whatsoever, toward these currents that seek to undermine our social cohesion and the republican nature of our institutions.”
The bill is based on a report published in 2025 when he served as Interior Minister, addressing what it described as “infiltration” in France linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and its impact on republican values.
While acknowledging that the bill represents “a milestone” in his political career, Retailleau denies that it is part of his electoral campaign, saying: “This is not a whim. I remained silent for six months to see whether the government would act, but nothing happened. I do not want this report to remain without impact.”
This move is part of broader government efforts, which are simultaneously working on a separate forthcoming bill to combat separatism and infiltration, announced in early April by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and currently under review by the Council of State.
The new Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, emphasized that the government’s bill will be “more legally robust,” relying on the opinion of the Council of State, while Retailleau refused to refer his proposal to the body.
Nuñez also clarified that his proposal will address “all forms of infiltration,” mentioning measures such as “monitoring publications” to prevent certain releases, as well as strengthening mechanisms for removing online content that incites hatred.
