19 Muslim Lawmakers Elected to French Parliament in Historic Win for Leftist Coalition

18 Jul. 24: In a landmark achievement for French Muslims, 19 Muslim lawmakers have been elected to the French Parliament, following the recent high-stakes legislative elections on July 8, 2024. This milestone was made possible through a strategic alliance with leftist parties, which not only secured significant representation but also thwarted the rise of the far-right, reports Muslim Network TV.

The coalition of the French left emerged victorious with over 180 seats, surpassing President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance, which secured more than 160 seats. The far-right, led by Marine Le Pen, finished in third place with over 140 seats, a significant increase from their previous best of 89 seats in 2022.

Among the newly elected Muslim lawmakers, 12 are women, reflecting the diversity and inclusivity of the leftist coalition. This election marks a significant moment for the Muslim community in France, which constitutes approximately 10% of the population but has historically been underrepresented in the political arena.

In comparison, the UK recently saw a record-breaking 25 Muslim MPs elected to the House of Commons, representing 3.84% of the Parliament against 6.0% of the population. The French National Assembly comprises 577 deputies, with a majority requiring 289 seats.

Below is the list of the newly elected Muslim lawmakers, compiled by Muslim Network TV based on Muslim-sounding names as France’s secularism policies do not officially record the religion of elected representatives:

1. Farida Amrani – La France Insoumise, representing Essonne’s constituency.
2. Anchya Bamana – National Rally, representing Mayotte’s 2nd constituency.
3. Belkhir Belhaddad – La République En Marche! (LREM) and Territories of Progress (TDP), representing Moselle.
4. Anais Belouassa-Cherifi – La France Insoumise, representing Rhône’s 1st constituency.
5. Karim Ben Cheïkh – Tunisia-born, representing the 9th constituency for French residents overseas.
6. Karim Benbrahim – Socialist Party, representing Loire-Atlantique’s 1st constituency.
7. Soumya Bourouaha – French Communist Party, representing Seine-Saint-Denis’s 4th constituency.
8. Dieynaba Diop – Socialist Party, representing Yvelines’ 9th constituency.
9. Aly Diouara – representing Seine-Saint-Denis.
10. Benjamin Haddad – Renaissance party, representing Paris’s 14th constituency.
11. Ayda Hadizadeh – Elected in Val-d’Oise’s 2nd constituency.
12. Zahia Hamdane
13. Timothée Houssin – National Rally, representing Eure’s 5th constituency.
14. Abdelkader Lahmar – Elected in Rhône.
15. Amelia Amal Lakrafi – La République En Marche! (LREM), representing the 10th district for French people living abroad.
16. Hanane Mansouri – The Republicans, representing Isère’s 8th constituency.
17. Naima Moutchou – La République En Marche! (LREM), representing Val-d’Oise.
18. Sabrina Sebaihi – The Ecologists, representing Hauts-de-Seine’s 4th constituency.
19. Estelle Youssouffa – Elected from Mayotte’s 1st constituency.

This historic election underscores the growing political influence of the Muslim community in France and their critical role in shaping the country’s legislative future.