Islam in France is on the move. It is estimated that there are now about five million Muslims in France (against fewer than one million Protestants or Jews), and one million or so have full voting rights.
Such a substantial minority can only be expected to make its voice heard and to retain the electoral attentions of politicians.
Until recently Muslims have been a discrete and almost invisible presence, apart from in suburban ghettos around the major towns. But now things are changing.
