The Scene in Paris on Friday was morbid as at least 129 people were killed, and 352 wounded in attacks that are reported to have been staged and coordinated by three teams of assailants at six locations. The attacks have been described by President Francois Hollande as an “act of war” organised by the ISIS militia group.

“Barely 30 minutes after the first Paris attack, Muslims were being called out to take responsibility and to show solidarity,” said Yasser Louati, spokesperson and Head of International Relations for the Collective against Islamaphobia in France (CCIF).

“The problem is that Muslims are paying a high price for fateful policies, which have lead to the emergence of these terrorist groups and domestic policies, which allow terrorist groups to get into our country and use every weak youth to turn them against their own country.”

“How can we distance ourselves from groups we have nothing to do with.”

Louati sees the spike in attacks as a sign of a new malaise in France.

“The attacks are being perpetrated against Muslims … mosques have been attacked and Muslim shops are being vandalised,” he said.

The activist fingered hate speech and stigmatizing discourse against Muslims as being a global trend that the French government has done nothing to curtail on its own shores.

“We are afraid that the decisions that are being taken by government are taken through emotions and not through long term views of the consequences.”

But France’s mounting hostility towards Muslims goes beyond words.

Anti-Muslim violence and discrimination have been steadily increasing in France over the last decade. However, with the backdrop of the latest unfortunate eventsit seems that the Muslim minority in France have to brace themselves for more hatred.

“Islamaphobia has been a major problem in France for the past 14 years. It has become an acceptable form of racism.

“Unfortunately the situation after the attacks is going to get much worse for the Muslim community. We are calling on the government to take responsibility for the protection of all citizens, including the Muslim minority.”

“We cannot speak about aftermath yet… to be honest the country is still on lockdown.”

Yasser saying that it is premature to make any presumptions about the situation in France and its walk ahead. “We are taking major precautions to protect ourselves …it would take several more days to say the worst is behind us,” he said.

Louati said that a gathering of local and national Muslim leaders will be convened today to make dua for victims and reflect on the developments. He further noted reports of Muslim men and women also being killed in the attacks as well as reports of children who are now orphans, having lost their parents in the tragedy.

About (CCIF)

CCIF is an advocacy group established 12 years ago, which has recorded scores of reports of anti-Muslim attacks and is actively involved in community support and awareness campains on issues around Islamophobia. The organisation is based in France and has appendages all over Europe.

The activist says the CCIF gives Muslims the capacity to reclaim their lost rights, and affords the aggrieved the opportunity to take their battles to court when those rights are not upheld.

CCIF engages in both legal and psychological support to victims. The communication department raises awareness on Islamaphobia to the public and its international desk links people from around the globe on issues effecting Islamaphobia.

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