Book shops in France are selling out their stockpiles on Islam, including a special magazine supplement focused on the Muslims’ holy book, the Qur’an, said Fabrice Gerschel, director of Philosophie magazine, which published the supplement.
"The French are asking more and more questions, and they feel less satisfied than ever by the answers they’re getting from the media,” Gerschel added.
Books on Islam have sold three times higher in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same time last year, according to the French National Union of Bookshops.
French academics have also inaugurated programs aimed at better understanding Islam within their universities, including at the prestigious College de France in Paris.
"Given the situation, I have added sessions on monotheistic religions to my general culture class for students preparing for magistrate exams,” added Jean Rony, who teaches law at the nearby Sorbonne University.
Islam is expected to grow faster than any other major religion in the world, surpassing Christianity as the largest religion by 2070, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center.
Out of a population of 66 million in France, at least 5 million are Muslims. France has the largest Muslim population in Europe.
Add new comment