Is France Being Arabized?

posted on: Oct 9, 2020

French students learning Arabic

By: Yasmina Hage/ Arab America Contributing Writer

In recent years, many Arab countries in the process of development have seen their citizens move to destinations with more resources, such as France. This immigration is strongly linked to the history that connects Arab countries to France, to the strong universities for students, and to the economic opportunities for the older Arab population.

Today there are many famous Arabs in France, such as Zinedine Zidane, Gad Elmaleh, Jamel Debbouze, and Andrée Chedid.

The Expansion of Arab Culture in France

A few years ago, newcomers from the Arab world coming to France were not necessarily welcomed. They were associated with scum, vagabonds, beggars, and terrorists. Recently, however, there has been a sharp decline in these phenomena. In fact, many French are opening their eyes and see that Arabs aren’t a threat, but individuals who have a lot to offer the country.

Many Maghrebis have French nationality and feel at home in France. (The Maghreb is a North African region comprising Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.)

Today, Arab students in grade school and in college are better received in educational establishments, mainly because of their increased numbers. An Arab student doesn’t feel as isolated and outcasted anymore because they see many others just like them.

Conversely (literally), the French are beginning to use Arabic words in their everyday vocabulary. “Wech” (what’s up?),  ” miskine” (poor guy), “3eshek” (please), “ma3lich” (it’s okay), are all words that have been assimilated into everyday jargon between the French and the Arab citizens.

It should be noted that while a large number of Arab immigrants feel good in France, they still have unconditional love for their motherland. This love has allowed them to share their values and culture enormously through music and cuisines from Lebanon, Algeria, and Morocco.

One could easily hear Arabic down any street of France, making it feel like home. In addition, did I mention the stores? Maghrebian grocery stores are plentiful with neighborhoods populated mainly by people from the Arab World around every corner of the best towns. And if you feel like you would be lost without a faith-based community, fear not, because, in addition to stores, there are mosques and churches for the Arabic praying masses.

Not only can you grab a shawarma sandwich on the way to faith-based services, but nowadays you can find the most famous singers on the radio using Arabic words in their songs, introducing Arabic passages, and showing an increase in the collaborations with Arab singers.

For example, Dadju, a Congolese singer who’s very famous among young French people, did a collaboration with Soolking, who’s Algerian. The song is called “Wouli Liya.” Dadju used Arabic in his song.

Algeria 

The number of Algerians in France is estimated at 5 million. They are there mainly for historical reasons. In fact, from 1905 to 1947, France called on Algerians because it needed labor. The Algerians, therefore, worked as ship drivers, in the mines, and in the factories.  France also called on Algerians because they needed soldiers and workers during the First World War.  After the Second World War, the Algerians were called on to occupy positions concerning the reconstruction of France. Following the above events, a civil war broke out in Algeria which led to a wave of migration to France with refugee status. Once they were settled, the Algerians in France brought their families.

Morocco

The number of Moroccans in France is estimated at 3 million. Like Algerian, the reasons for their migrations to France have been historical. In fact, between 1914 and 1918, France already had more than 15,000 Moroccan workers. Like the Algerians, they were assigned to factories; furthermore, during the Second World War, France also called on Moroccan soldiers. The lack of France’s government’s assisted return policy prompted Moroccan immigrants that are settled in France to extend their stay and bring their families. It is from there that Moroccan immigration was evolved.

Tunisia 

Tunisians in France are estimated at 1 million. During the World Wars, France called for a Tunisian workforce. As a result, the Tunisian diaspora in France is partly due to this phenomenon. Nonetheless, France called for less Tunisian workers than from Algeria and Morocco, which explains why there are fewer Tunisians in France than Algerians and Moroccans. However, it should be noted that migration is also what is known as “brain drain.” That is to say that students, young workers, and qualified people leave their country in hopes of finding a better future elsewhere. Brain drain can be explained by a desire to find a better livelihood or a better quality of life.

Many Algerians, Moroccans, and Tunisians in France are factory workers, employers, and a few are in intermediate and liberal professions.

Lebanon

There are about 250,000 Lebanese in France, such an increase of the population happened because of the Civil War in Lebanon in the 70’s, and early ’80s. Before that, the majority of Lebanese mainly resided in Marseille. Their move to France necessitated the construction in the 1960s of a Franco-Lebanese hostel in Paris.  For many years, Lebanon has been facing a brain drain. Students, young workers, and skilled people are constantly leaving Lebanon in search of better opportunities. The majority of the socio-professional categories of Lebanese in France are in business and liberal professions.

Syria

The number of Syrians in France is estimated at 28,000. French has hosted many Syrians in the past as vacationers and served as a second home for the wealthy Syrians. More recently, their presence in France is explained, in particular, by the civil war in Syria. In fact, they are people who fled their country to escape the violence. To help the Syrians, France has taken in a certain number of refugees, and some municipalities have wished to participate in the effort to accommodate them. The State has promised these communes financial support; however, many Syrian refugees ended up in countries other than France.

Palestine

The number of Palestinians in France is estimated at 4,000. The immigrant Palestinian population is more visible, of course, in Arab countries. However, for many, France became their home after the Nakba in 1948 and the continued occupation of Israel. Another phase of Palestinian migration happened in the ’70s when they were expelled from Lebanon. Palestinian refugees had to flee the killing of their people, find work, and secure a better future for their families.

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