Journal of Global Justice & Public Policy Global Initiative Focus Nation: France

The Journal of Global Justice and Public Policy Global Initiative publishes bi-monthly reports targeting countries experiencing human rights violations. Each report briefly discusses that country’s history and population, and proffers specific prayer requests.

 Demographics

• Population: 66,553,766.
• Ethnic Groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities.
• Languages: French; rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish).
• Religion: Christian (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic) 63-66%, Muslim 7-9%, Jewish .5-.75%, Buddhist .5-.75%, other .5-1.0%, none 23-28%.

November 2015 Attack

On November 13, 2015, Paris was attacked by members of an Islamic State group, which killed 129 people. The victims were mostly French; however, more than twenty foreigners were from the UK, Belgium, Germany, Algeria, and Latin America. Seven attackers died in the course of the attacks, and one suspect is on the run. The attackers appear to have worked in three coordinated teams using the same type of assault rifles and wearing the same type of suicide vests in different locations, including the Stade de France, the Bataclan concert hall, restaurants, and bars. Although some public and cultural venues in Paris reopened after the attacks, the city mourns for the lives of victims.

Prayer Request from Sophie Tatot, Regent University School of Law LL.M., French citizen and Paris native

“I am far away from my country…I am far away from my French friends. But I can pray for them who are suffering at this moment.

I invite you all to pray for the persons, French and others, who died in Paris because of the terrorist attacks, those who were wounded and their families.

I invite you all to pray for all the people who were the victims of terrorism recently in Lebanon and Turkey.

I invite you all to pray for the Christians all over the world being the victims of religious extremism.

God blesses France, America and their allies.”