46 per cent of French Muslims might leave if Le Pen wins presidency
A survey found that 46 per cent of Muslim respondents in France would consider leaving if Marine Le Pen became president, and one in five said they would certainly do so. The findings point to widespread concern among respondents about how a National Rally victory could affect Muslims, amid Le Pen’s proposals to restrict Islamic dress.
The Ifop study surveyed 9,689 adults and found 81 per cent of Muslim respondents expected increased aggression and discrimination; 27 per cent said they might conceal their religion. Among all respondents, 53 per cent opposed women wearing a hijab in the street, 75 per cent supported the school abaya ban, and 72 per cent backed restrictions on conspicuous religious symbols at sporting events. Le Pen is leading first-round polling for the 2027 election, with support reported at 30 to 35 per cent.
- 46 per cent of Muslim respondents would consider leaving France under Le Pen.
- 81 per cent expect more aggression and discrimination.
- Le Pen leads first-round polling for the 2027 presidential election.
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France is a secular republic, and rules about religion in public life are a recurring subject of political debate. A hijab is a headscarf worn by some Muslim women; an abaya is a loose-fitting robe. French law bars pupils from wearing clothing that conspicuously displays religious affiliation in state schools, including abayas.
Marine Le Pen leads the National Rally, a party that has called for tighter restrictions on Islamic dress. She has run for president before, and France’s next presidential election is due in 2027. The debate matters because proposed rules could affect how Muslims practise and express their religion, while also raising questions about secularism and equal treatment.
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The case for
The findings can be read as evidence that a Le Pen presidency would deepen insecurity among many Muslims, particularly given her proposals to restrict Islamic dress and the high share expecting more discrimination. Those concerned may argue that protecting religious freedom and equal citizenship requires taking seriously the prospect that people would feel compelled to hide their faith or leave.
The case against
Others may caution that stated intentions in a survey do not show how many people would actually emigrate, or establish that a future government would cause them to do so. They may also argue that support for restrictions on religious dress can reflect views about secularism and common rules in public institutions, rather than hostility towards Muslims as a group.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Nearly half of Muslims would consider leaving France if Marine Le Pen wins election, survey finds”.