EXPLANER
For students, the slogan has come to represent a whole series of demands that are at the heart of the protest movement.
As violent protests rock France, bringing together students demanding better education conditions and groups rejecting the high cost of living, a chant has become an unlikely rallying cry: “Bismillah, it’s darkness.”
The unofficial slogan doesn’t mean much in the literal sense, but the students channeled a range of grievances that are at the heart of the protest movement into this absurd phrase. The aim is to ridicule the racial stereotypes of the police.
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Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across the country this weekend, the largest mobilization since protests against education reforms and rising prices began last month. The protest movement was sparked by grievances ranging from overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages to systemic inequality and lack of opportunity.
Police conduct has also come under scrutiny. The French Police Inspectorate, the IGPN, has opened dozens of investigations into allegations of police violence since the start of the protests.
What does the slogan mean?
“Bismillah” in Arabic means “in the name of God”, an expression used by Muslims before starting an activity. In French slang, it has lost part of its original meaning, being more akin to “let’s do it”.
“It’s the darkness” literally translates to “it’s the darkness,” which alludes to a dark and desperate situation.
The slogan therefore translates as “In the name of God, it is darkness”, which does not in itself convey a clear message.
Where does the slogan come from?
Students say the phrase is a parody of police, who have tried to infiltrate social media chats used by protesters to coordinate.
A screenshot of a Snapchat conversation featuring the phrase began circulating in early October. In it, a user named Mamadou asks to be added to a group, saying: “Hi, in the name of God, it’s darkness. When is the blockade, wallah, bro?”
The message also included emojis with Algerian flags.
The students claim the message was sent by undercover police officers who attempted to infiltrate their conversations using an unconvincing mix of Arabic and slang. This claim has not been verified and French authorities have not released any statements.
Youssef El Chazli, associate professor of Arab and Mediterranean sociology at Paris 8 Vincennes – Saint-Denis University, believes that this expression “reinforces an image of police officers who are disconnected and full of stereotypes”.
“Such stereotypes appear to disproportionately target young people of Arab and African origin,” El Chazli told Al Jazeera. “This appears to be yet another example of how state agencies appear to be out of touch with the current movement. »
What does the slogan tell us about the protest movement?
The slogan appeared on cardboard signs as a parody of racial stereotypes and as a symbol of the authorities’ disconnection with the realities of young people.
The slogan spread as far as Italy and Belgium, where similar protests against the high cost of living and poor education also took place this weekend.
El Chazli said satirical memes and internet trends have become tools to express political grievances during protests, which are traditionally “inventive and creative.” “With youth mobilizations, protest creativity will rely largely on youth subcultures,” he said.
Discussions around Islamophobia have also occupied an important place in public debate. French authorities have been reluctant to comment publicly on a significant increase in Islamophobic acts in France. A report cited by the Reuters news agency last year showed a 72% increase in such incidents in the January-March quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
The French far right quickly resorted to racist language to accuse young Muslims of being responsible for the violence, while US President Donald Trump also weighed in, saying it was “Islam’s desire to take power”.
“What was a non-subject 20 years ago is today a subject of debate,” El Chazli said. “For younger generations, Arab and African influences have gradually established themselves in youth subcultures, thanks to sports and arts figures, as well as new radio shows or social media content. »
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