PARIS

Muslims in France are mistreated for being descendants of the colonized populations, according to an expert.

Francois Burgat, the research head at the French National Center for Scientific Research, told Anadolu: "This component (the Muslim community) of the French nation has been subject to particular stigmatization for decades."

"There are two burning sides in France: those who set fire to public goods these days, such as buses and schools, and those who for decades have been setting fire to the political space. They are both condemnable."

He said the problem stems from religious rivalry between Muslim and Christian dogmas.

"In my opinion, Muslims are mistreated in France mainly because they are the descendants of the colonized populations," he said.

"The fourth generation of those descendants have finally the capacity to strongly claim their citizen rights and express the will to take part in making history of France's relations with their ancestors' countries," he said.

The expert further said that French citizens of non-Muslim African origins are being excluded in the same way.

"All those who voice support for minority rights are being discredited as Islamists if they are Muslim, and as racialists if they are non-Muslim Africans," he further said.

Provocations multiplied in three years particularly when President Emmanuel Macron noticed that he needed to compete with the far-right to be reelected.

Asked about possible solutions to quell the current furor, Burgat said that institutions controlling law enforcement units could be strengthened.

"The area of work is far broader than that: the 'France of diversity' must see its legitimacy and rights restored, or even established...," he said.​​​​​​​