Who represents French Muslims?

In PNCT's blog entitled The Murder of Ilan Halimi, which follows a discussion concerning antisemitism and jihad in France, he noted that immigrant absorption was smoother in the United States because of common religion, whereas France faces massive Muslim immigration:

"In Europe its clear that a majority of immigrants are not coming from similar religious backgrounds (religion is largely dead in Europe anyway) and instead come from primarily Arab Muslim, or African Muslim backgrounds. Just from my own anecdotal evidence I would venture to say that immigration and subsequent adjustment is far easier in the United States, and we are incredibly lucky for it. I wonder if our Parisian correspondent would like to add further and far more scientific observations of his own?"

This is largely true and perhaps common knowledge in France. Massive Arab immigration not only poses institutional and bureaucratic problems, but also socio-religious ones as well, that lethal mixture that breeds racism and segregation. But what's important to note is that not all Arabs immigrating to France are either jihadists or strict adherents to the Koran. Indeed, there are huge communities of less doctrinaire Muslims who integrate very smoothly into France's largely secularized political and social cultures (one of my students included). But because of events unfolding within the last decade, their reputation falls with the extremists.

I suppose that's why Le Monde just published a front-page article over the weekend called "Qui peut parler pour les Musulmans de France?" (Who can speak for the Muslims of France?) The article details recent attempts by secular Muslims to recapture their respected status by forming a laique group, or a nondenominational group to represent Muslim social and political interests within the country. So there is evidently a struggle among French Islam itself for self-imagery, and this should point out the difficulty of the problem as a whole.

Ironically enough, the Muslims of France could take some notes from the well-organized and nondenominational groups that represent Jews. Jews of course, through and after the Revolution, hadn't achieved complete equality until after World War II. But that they did have early successes in this regard, most specifically following the Revolution where French parliament members passed a creed granting complete de jure equality to Jews, highlights the potential for Muslims to do the same with a highly organized and, especially, secular voice.