French Muslim businessman bucks the trend

The bittersweet taste of Senni's success is reflected in the title of his memoir, “The Social Elevator was Broken … So I Took the Stairs,” published last year and playing on the French concept of “l’ascenseur social,” by which France’s secular Republican values were supposed to lift minorities into mainstream success.

Awareness of the lack of opportunities for many minorities in France is never far from Senni’s mind. Increasingly, French Muslims are heading to places like Britain and Dubai, where they feel they have a better chance for success.

One of Senni's cousins earned several advanced degrees but was still unable to find work in France. Now, he is running a successful management consulting company in London.

Arrival in Val Fourre
Senni, the eldest of six children, emigrated to France with his family when he was six weeks old.

His family settled in the heavily Muslim neighborhood of Val Fourre, which was to become a hotbed of unrest in the early 1990s.

But the estate has showed signs of improvement: More than 40 cars were torched during November’s riots, which saw a total of around 7,000 vehicles burned nationwide.

Senni is critical of the state’s failure to bring immigrants into mainstream French society, pointing to a dearth of education about the heritage of people from North Africa, Africa or the Middle East.

“Some of us can have a real identity crisis every day of our lives, trying to adjust to the reality of the French society,” he said.

Touch of hypocricy
Part of his own identity crisis was resolved when traveling abroad, particularly during visits to extended family in Morocco.

“My relatives say, ‘You are so French.’ To them, I am just a young Frenchman who is making it,” Senni said.

In France, however, it is often otherwise. He hinted at a touch of hypocrisy among his fellow countrymen who continue to use the “immigrant” label on the second- or even third-generation of non-white French citizens.

“French people don’t have any problem accepting (French national soccer team captain Zinedine) Zidane (who is of Algerian descent) or someone like that,” but that is not the case with noncelebrities, he said.

Yet, Senni is optimistic about the future and about improved opportunities for young minorities, but he knows it is an uphill climb.

He referred to a recent contentious debate over immigration in France.

“(Interior Minister Nicolas) Sarkozy says, ‘France, you love it or you leave it.’ It is very disappointing that he’s adopting far-right slogans,” Senni said.

He suggested a different slogan. “France,” Senni said, “you love it and you change it.”

MORE FROM ISLAM IN EUROPE

Islam in Europe Section Front

Resentment and fear Islam à la française? Readers respond to Islam series Islam in Europe Section Front   Add Islam in Europe headlines to your news reader: