LONDON: The main English-language daily in the Middle East, Arab News — and its French-language digital edition Arab News en Francais — have partnered with the prestigious Arab World Institute (IMA) in Paris to launch a far-reaching study on the perceptions of French citizens of Arab origin on life in France.
They will host a debate on the issue at a virtual conference later this month to be attended by keynote speakers.The event will launch the YouGov study of nearly 1,000 French people of Arab origin residing in France
“When emotions run high, visions may be scattered, and opinions might be easily mistaken for facts. This is why we at Arab News are very proud of our partnership with the leading polling agency YouGov to produce solid research-based reports which have become a hallmark of the way we cover some of the most sensitive topics we are living through today,” said Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas.
“The findings of the YouGov poll our French news site has commissioned and will be discussed in the panel and reflected in the report are fascinating.
“We invite readers to challenge any long-held stereotypes they may hold and allow the numbers to speak for themselves as they reveal just how integrated or marginalized French citizens of Arab origins feel they are,” he added.
The conference event will bring together top speakers and include a keynote speech from IMA President Jack Lang, and a special welcome address from French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ludovic Pouille.
Other prestigious speakers will include French Senator Nathalie Goulet, Jean-Pierre Sakoun, president of the Comite Laicite Republique, Dr. Melyssa Haffaf, director of the gender and justice initiative at Georgetown University, Dr. Ghaleb Bencheikh, president of the Fondation de l’Islam de France, French journalist and film maker Dr. Myriam Francois, and Alexandre Devineau, the French general manager of YouGov.
The virtual event will take place on Nov. 30 at 2 p.m. Paris time via Zoom.
Arab News Research and Studies Unit (RSU) partnered with YouGov for the survey which was carried out between Sept. 8 and 14 and was based on a representative sample of 958 French people from Arab countries, living in France.
Previous studies with YouGov have included, the 2020 US Elections — What do Arabs Want?, Mosque and State — How Arabs See the Future, How Arabs view Japan and Saudi Women Can Drive.
Following the launch of the 2020 US elections study, Arab News RSU hosted a virtual debate to discuss its results. The event featured experts from throughout the US and Middle East, including former US ambassador, Robert Ford.
