A group of 29 right-wing senators has submitted a 107-page report with 17 tough recommendations to combat Islamism in France. Led by Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio and revealed by Le Figaro, it proposes banning veiling for girls under 16. It follows a series of parliamentary efforts since 2017, demanding concrete action.
The report, produced by a group chaired by LR Senator Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio from Val-d’Oise, was handed to Mathieu Darnaud, president of the LR group in the Senate. Prepared shortly after Bruno Retailleau’s return to the Senate, it states that « Islamism is an obstacle to our national cohesion » and calls for an ambitious plan with strict measures.
Among the 17 recommendations is the ban on veiling for girls under 16, a proposal likely to fuel debate, including within the right. The 107-page document aims to bolster the fight against Islamist separatism.
It builds on prior efforts. In 2018, under Gérard Collomb, the Institut Montaigne’s report « The Making of Islamism » was referenced but its ideas, such as closer ties with Muslim institutions, were not implemented. In 2020, a Senate inquiry led by Eustache-Brinio proposed 44 measures, including an interministerial cell and strengthened intelligence services. Despite these, the Senate laments timid responses to persistent separatism.
Le Figaro notes that this new report may lead to legislative follow-up, though past reports show limited execution. Senators stress the need for concrete actions to safeguard secularism and national unity.