Le Pen is presented by many of her supporters as a politician who could save France from the consequences of mass migration. Same with Giorgia Meloni in Italy and Nigel Farage in Britain.
All three face fierce criticism from their political opponents and the mainstream media. They keep getting accused of racism, extremism, and “islamophobia” while their supporters argue that they are among the few politicians willing to defend their countries’ national identities.
But what exactly are they defending?
That question became particularly interesting yesterday when Le Pen appeared on CNews and Europe 1 to discuss her political program ahead of the 2027 French presidential election.
During the interview she made the following statement:
“Yes, Islam is compatible with the Republic. I’ve said it ten times.
However, those who seek to impose Sharia law in France will find me standing in their way. Muslims, on the other hand, have no reason to worry.”
She also addressed French Muslims who were considering leaving the country if she became president:
“French Muslims who are planning to leave if I am elected are mistaken. It is their country. They are French.
We are not like La France Insoumise. We respect all French people.”
In other words, Muslims should enjoy freedom of religion while anyone seeking to replace French law with an Islamic political system should be opposed.
Donald Trump has made similar statements for years. He has repeatedly separated the personal practice of Islam from Sharia as a system that must not override U.S. law. In an August 2026 appearance on The Glenn Beck Show, Trump said he would “absolutely” support banning Sharia law in the United States:
“On Sharia law, I would absolutely say that’s not this country. There’s no Sharia law. And you do have pockets of it, as you know… You go to London, you go to Paris. It’s almost like a second way of life. It is ridiculous… I would absolutely prohibit the Sharia law thing and it is happening in this country a little bit and when we see it we take it out and you have to take it out. You have one system.”
Le Pen’s recent statements tracks this line: personal religious practice is compatible with the Republic; replacing French law with Sharia is not. French Muslims who are simply citizens practicing their faith “have no reason to worry.”
But can you be a practicing Muslim without believing in Sharia?
Continue reading below.