French Muslims are now witnessing an increase in suspicion and negative feelings from French non-Muslims, while far-right groups link the Paris massacre to the socialist government's immigration policies. It is highly expected that the latest incident will help right-wing extremists gain more solid ground in the French political arena.
"This attack is bound to accentuate rising Islamophobia in France," said Olivier Roy, a political scientist and Middle East specialist at the European University Institute in Florence, speaking to Reuters.
In the aftermath of a deadly attack on a French satirical magazine killing 12 people in Paris, Muslims in France are subject to attacks. Reports of attacks on mosques and Muslim-run businesses in various places in France have led many French Muslims to fear rising Islamophobia. The French media reported revenge attacks on Muslims in the aftermath of the Paris massacre, and many Muslims have become the target of renewed attacks on religious places that belong to the Muslim community. France is home to the largest Muslim population in Europe with an estimated population of over 8 million.
Meanwhile, generalizing Muslims with terrorism has been strongly criticized. "Muslims are the biggest victims of Islamist terror. Most Muslims condemn the terror, and we are condemning the terror. We must fight together against terrorism," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, in an interview with German daily Bild published on Friday as reported by the Anadolu Agency.
"My expectations are that all of us, Christians, Muslims or whoever we are, should stand up for universal values. We can have different opinions, but we have to defend our values and also help overcome prejudices," the NATO chief said, stressing that all religions should unite to counter terrorist threats. "Terrorists are criminals who should be held accountable. We should not make any religion or nation responsible for these criminals, but fight with the perpetrators," Stoltenberg said.
