REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PARIS – France is home to the largest Muslim population in Europe. However, discrimination in the country drives many Muslim professionals to seek better job opportunities in a society that is more tolerant and accepting of their religious beliefs.
A new study from the University of Lille, led by Professor Olivier Esteves, reveals that Muslim higher education graduates are leaving France in droves for the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Dubai. This survey covered 1,074 Muslims who left the country.
Based on the results, Esteves estimates that more than two-thirds said they moved to practice their religion more freely. While 70% of them said they left to avoid incidents of racism and discrimination.
He concluded that these professional Muslim workers with the required skills are fed up with the way they are treated in the country.
“The irony is that France paid for the education of these people, but the country lost these highly qualified talents because Islamophobia creeping institutionalism,” Esteves said in Yeni SafakWednesday (3/15/2023).
A financial project manager, Natasa Jevtovic, has chosen to move to the United Kingdom from France in 2020. Her departure gives hope of being able to exercise her confidence more easily, as well as being offered better adapted employment opportunities to his skills.
His decision to move paid off. Because since moving to London he has been promoted several times and is now earning double his starting position.
Previously, he had received racist comments at a major French bank. At that time, he was threatened by his manager that he would be fired, because he confronted and accused his colleagues of discrimination.
“People use racist terms and I ask them to stop. Since then, no one wants to have lunch with me. No one wanted to talk to me for the next six months, I was boycotted,” says the 38-year-old. years.
Jevtovic is one of many highly qualified Muslim professionals, but does not feel welcome in France. For this reason, they also take the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a place that values them more.
A French political analyst and human rights defender who currently chairs the Commission for Justice and Freedoms (CJL), Yasser Louati, says the lack of religious freedom is the reason Muslim professionals are leaving France.
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