Muslim Brotherhood: Macron Demands Swift Action and Slams ‘Unacceptable’ Leak

The French president is pushing for a rapid response to Islamist infiltration following the leak of a sensitive report discussed at Wednesday’s Defence Council. Official publication is expected by the end of the week.

The French government is preparing to take a tougher stance on the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood. During a meeting of the National Defence and Security Council held at the Élysée Palace on Wednesday, May 21, President Emmanuel Macron called on his ministers to propose new concrete measures to be reviewed in early June. His request comes in light of the “seriousness of the findings” in a classified report detailing the growing reach of this Islamist movement across key sectors of French society.

The president has decided to make the report public “by the end of the week”—a rare move for this kind of defence meeting. According to excerpts already leaked to the press, the document warns of a “threat to national cohesion,” citing increased activism within the national education system, higher education, and the sports sector. It also highlights the amplifying role of social media, which Islamist actors are said to be using to spread anti-secular rhetoric and portray the state as “Islamophobic.”

But the premature leak of the report—more than 24 hours before the Defence Council convened—sparked the president’s anger. “The atmosphere was tense,” one participant said, adding that Macron criticised several ministers for being underprepared. He also rebuked Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin for unilaterally announcing a high-security prison project in French Guiana, calling the move ill-timed and uncoordinated.

Reform Proposals Taking Shape

In the Senate, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau outlined several proposals, including stronger coordination of intelligence services, the creation of an administrative prosecutor’s office within the Interior Ministry to expedite dissolutions and administrative sanctions, and increased efforts to disrupt financial networks linked to Islamist groups. He also stressed the need to raise public awareness and to train civil servants and local officials.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Attal, head of the Renaissance party, reiterated in the National Assembly his proposal to ban the wearing of headscarves in public spaces for minors under 15, citing the protection of children and gender equality. Renaissance is scheduled to hold a policy convention on security and national identity issues next Monday.

The soon-to-be-published government report lists approximately 139 places of worship, 280 associations, and 114 Quranic schools affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in France. This detailed mapping could serve as a catalyst for imminent political decisions.