France is in the midst of an ideological struggle that could reshape the identity of its Republic. At the core of this struggle is the growing influence of Islamism—not as an external threat but as a domestic movement embedded in civic life—and the chilling treatment of those who speak out against it.
Marine Le Pen, president of the National Rally and one of the country’s most prominent opposition figures, has been convicted on charges relating to EU fund misuse. The sentence: four years in prison (two suspended), a €100,000 fine, and a five-year ban from holding public office. The timing is conspicuous. Just days before her sentencing, Le Pen called for an outright ban on the Muslim Brotherhood in France, citing national security concerns and intelligence reports alleging long-term “entryism” by the group.
