Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets across France last weekend in support of a student-led movement demanding improvements in the education system. Among the many signs displayed during the demonstrations was the unusual phrase “Bismillah, c'est les ténèbres,” a blend of the Islamic invocation “In the name of God” and the French for “It’s the darkness.” Though seemingly nonsensical, the slogan has evolved into a symbol of the generational and social divides underpinning the unrest.
The phrase originated on Snapchat in the lead-up to the protests. It was reportedly used by someone attempting to join a private chat group organizing the demonstrations, greeting users with “Bismillah, c'est les ténèbres” before stating, “We are going to break everything.” The message was sent repeatedly under various identities featuring Algerian flags and common immigrant names, such as Mamadou and Abdellah. Screenshots of these messages spread quickly across social media, although their exact origin remains unverified.
Many young protesters interpreted the phrase as evidence of law enforcement’s attempts to infiltrate and disrupt their movement through online impersonation. The slogan quickly became a satirical emblem mocking what some describe as the authorities’ clumsy and prejudiced surveillance. It highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and marginalized communities—particularly the children of immigrants from France’s former colonies, many of whom identify as Black or Arab and allege systemic discrimination.
France’s Interior Ministry neither confirmed nor denied using the phrase but acknowledged that police investigators sometimes create undercover online personas to identify and collect evidence against those suspected of organizing illegal activities during protests. “In this context, the investigator has the option of creating a pseudonym,” the ministry said in a statement.
Student activists see the slogan as a reflection of the generational gap and a government largely unresponsive to their demands. Sabrine Kharbach, spokeswoman for a prominent French student union, said young people have “reclaimed” the phrase to call out attempts to monitor their efforts and to assert their determination to organize regardless. University student Sadanee Sabadi described the messages as revealing “prejudice” about who officers believed were behind the protests. Another student, Phédre Quèmenen, characterized the phrase as a “terrible impersonation” of youth speech and an example of racism that equates vandalism with Arab identity.
The phrase has transcended France’s borders, appearing in demonstrations in Belgium and Germany. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg referenced it in an Instagram video expressing solidarity with the movement, alongside other Gen Z gestures and memes.
The protests began last month in response to deteriorating school conditions, overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and demanding schedules. While many of the gatherings remained peaceful, some escalated into violence, resulting in fires and damage at more than 24 schools. Authorities have made roughly 8,000 arrests, and the unrest expanded to include strikes and demonstrations by labor unions and other groups nationwide.
The police response has itself become a focal point of criticism. France’s police watchdog is investigating 34 allegations of misconduct since the protests began, including an incident where a 14-year-old boy was seriously injured by a tear-gas grenade fired at close range. The contentious law enforcement tactics have further fueled protester resolve, underscoring the deep divisions fueling the ongoing unrest.