explainer
For students, the slogan has become representative of the various grievances at the heart of the protest movement.
As violent protests roiled France, uniting students demanding better educational conditions and groups rejecting high living costs, one chant became an unlikely rallying cry.
The unofficial slogan doesn’t mean much when taken literally, but students are channeling the various grievances at the heart of the protest movement into this meaningless expression. This is meant to mock racial stereotyping by police.
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Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across the country over the weekend, the largest mobilization since protests over education reform and price increases began last month. Protests have been sparked by grievances ranging from overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages to systemic inequality and lack of opportunity.
Police actions are also under scrutiny. France’s police inspectorate, IGPN, has opened dozens of investigations into allegations of police violence since the protests began.
What does the slogan mean?
“Bismillah” means “in the name of God” in Arabic, and is an expression used by Muslims before starting their activities. In French slang, it has lost some of its original meaning and has become more like “let’s try.”
“C’est les ténèbres” literally means “darkness” and suggests a dark and hopeless situation.
Therefore, this slogan is translated as “In the name of God, it’s darkness,” but in itself it does not convey a clear message.
Where did this slogan come from?
Students claim the phrase is mocking police who have tried to break into social media chats used by protesters to coordinate.
Screenshots of Snapchat conversations containing this expression began circulating in early October. In it, a user named Mamadou requests to be added to the group and says, “Hello, in the name of God, it’s darkness. When’s the lockdown, wallah, brother?”
The message also included an emoji of the Algerian flag.
According to the students, the message was sent by an undercover police officer who tried to infiltrate the chat using an unconvincing combination of Arabic and slang. This claim has not been verified and French authorities have not issued a statement.
Youssef El Chazri, associate professor of Arab and Mediterranean sociology at Université Paris VIII Vincennes Saint-Denis, said the term “reinforces the stereotyped image of insensitive police officers.”
“These stereotypes seem to disproportionately target young people of Arab and African descent,” El Chazri told Al Jazeera. “This seems to be another example of how state agencies are out of touch with the current movement.”
What does this slogan say about the protest movement?
The slogan appeared on cardboard placards as a mockery of racial stereotypes and a symbol of how authorities ignore the realities of young people.
The slogan has spread to Italy and Belgium, where similar protests over high living costs and poor education occurred over the weekend.
El Chazri said satirical memes and internet trends have become a tool for expressing political discontent during protests, which have traditionally been “original and creative.” “With youth mobilization, the creativity of protests will rely heavily on youth subcultures,” he says.
Debate over Islamophobia has also taken center stage in public debate. French authorities have been reluctant to comment publicly on the significant spike in Islamophobic acts in the country. A report cited by Reuters last year found that such incidents increased by 72% in the January-March 2025 period compared to the same period in 2024.
France’s far-right was quick to use racist language and blame young Muslims for the violence, a move echoed by US President Donald Trump, who claimed this meant “Islam wants to take over.”
“What wasn’t an issue 20 years ago is now a topic of discussion,” El Chazri said. “For younger generations, Arab and African influences are becoming mainstream in youth subcultures, thanks to figures in sports and the arts, as well as new radio programs and social media content.”
