Why Are French Protesters Chanting 'Bismillah, c'est les ténèbres'?
Al Jazeera Staff
A slogan that seems meaningless at first glance, "Bismillah, c'est les ténèbres," has become a shared voice for the grievances driving France's protest movement, from education conditions to the cost of living and racism. Students say it mocks police attempts to infiltrate their chat groups and the racial stereotyping behind them.
As violent protests spread across France, bringing together students demanding better education conditions and groups opposing the high cost of living, one unexpected slogan has become a common voice: "Bismillah, c'est les ténèbres."
The phrase carries little meaning if taken literally, but students have packed into it a host of grievances at the heart of the protest movement. The slogan is meant to mock the way police frame and stereotype people along racial lines.
Over the past weekend, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across the country — the largest mobilization since protests over education reform and rising prices began last month. The movement grew out of a range of frustrations, from overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages to systemic inequality and a lack of opportunity.
Police conduct is also under scrutiny. France's police inspectorate, the IGPN, has opened dozens of investigations into allegations of police violence since the protests began.
What does the slogan mean?
"Bismillah" is Arabic for "in the name of God," a phrase Muslims commonly say before beginning a task. In French slang, the term has lost some of its original meaning and now functions roughly like "come on, let's go."
"C'est les ténèbres" translates literally as "it's the darkness," referring to a bleak situation with no way out.
Put together, the slogan means "In the name of God, this is the darkness," and on its own it does not convey a clear message.
Where did the slogan come from?
Students say the phrase is a way of mocking the police after the force tried to infiltrate the social media chat groups protesters use to coordinate.
A screenshot of a Snapchat conversation containing the phrase began circulating in early October. In it, a user named Mamadou asks to be added to the group with the message: "Hi, in the name of God, this is the darkness. When's the lockdown, wallah, bro?" The message was accompanied by Algerian flag emojis.
Students say the message was sent by undercover police officers trying to infiltrate their chat group by unconvincingly blending Arabic and slang. The claim has not been verified, and French authorities have made no statement.
Youssef El Chazli, an associate professor of Arab and Mediterranean sociology at Paris 8 University Vincennes–Saint-Denis, said the phrase "reinforces the image of police officers who are out of touch and full of prejudices."
"Such prejudices seem to target young people of Arab and African origin disproportionately," El Chazli told Al Jazeera. "This is one more example of how far state institutions seem to be from the current movement."
What does the slogan say about the protest movement?
The slogan has appeared on cardboard signs as a way of mocking racial prejudice and as a symbol of how out of touch the authorities are with young people.
The phrase has spread as far as Italy and Belgium, where similar protests over the high cost of living and poor education took place over the weekend.
El Chazli said satirical memes and online trends have become tools for expressing political frustration in protests, which are "rich in creativity." "With youth movements, creativity in protest draws heavily on young people's group culture," he said.
Discussions about Islamophobia have also taken a prominent place in public debate. French officials have been reluctant to speak publicly about the significant rise in Islamophobic acts in the country. A report cited by Reuters last year found such incidents rose 72% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.
France's right quickly used racist language to blame the violence on Muslim youth, while US President Donald Trump also weighed in, calling it a "Muslim takeover" issue.
"What was not mentioned 20 years ago has now become a point of debate," El Chazli said. "For younger generations, Arab and African influence is gradually becoming more common in youth group culture, thanks to sports and arts figures as well as new radio shows and social media content."
