Islamists Aim to Turn France Into a Caliphate, Intel Chief Warns

France’s intelligence chief raises alarms over Islamist groups’ plans to establish a caliphate in the country, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance and countermeasures.

According to France’s top intelligence official, the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist movement, has been working behind the scenes to increase its influence in France with the aim of transforming it into a caliphate under Sharia law.

Bertrand Chamoulaud, the head of the National Directorate for Territorial Intelligence at France’s Ministry of the Interior, shared his comments in an interview with Le Monde this week.

He stated that over 100,000 worshippers attend mosques operated by the Muslim Brotherhood. They propagate their beliefs through gradual integration and a “very smooth” discourse instead of resorting to violence.

According to Chamoulaud, the movement is successfully capitalizing on societal tensions to slowly permeate various social enterprises and civil society organizations.

“This worries us because their infiltration impacts every sector, including sports, health, and education,” he emphasized.

According to Chamoulaud, one of their strategic tools involves assuming the role of victims. He explained that whenever a mosque is shut down or a separatist imam is expelled, the Islamists label it as an act by an “Islamophobic state.”

The intelligence chief warned that the danger lies in some moderate Muslims potentially being swayed by this narrative of victimhood.

He mentioned the non-profit organization Collective against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) as an example. Founded in 2003 to fight discrimination against Muslims, the CCIF was dissolved in 2020 after facing repeated criticism for its use of the term “Islamophobia” and allegations of having links to Islamist groups.

Chamoulaud claimed that the CCIF’s concepts, like enforcing a compulsory veil and rejecting mixed-race groups, are slowly gaining ground in Belgium.

The Muslim Brotherhood, officially called the Society of the Muslim Brothers, is a transnational Sunni Islamist group established in Egypt by an Islamic scholar in 1928. The organization promotes incorporating Islamic law across all parts of society and has been designated as a terrorist organization in numerous countries.

French President Emmanuel Macron has initiated a campaign against what he refers to as Islamist separatism and radical Islam in France, responding to recent deadly jihadist attacks carried out by both foreign and homegrown militants. These measures are designed to reduce external influence on Muslim institutions within the country.

According to data from France’s statistics agency, nearly seven million Muslims reside in the country, accounting for about 10% of the population. Islam is the second-largest religion in France after Catholicism.