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Some French fast food caters to Muslims

Muslims have ritual rules for food. Fish is allowed, pork isn`t. Other types of meat have to be prepared in specific ways, according to Islamic laws. Only then is it deemed halal - fit to eat. A month ago, Beurger King Muslim, an independently owned restaurant that is not related to America`s Burger King chain, set a precedent by selling its halal fast-food products in Clichy-sous-Bois. Never before has anyone in this gourmet country tried to position fast food so explicitly for France`s estimated five million Muslims.

The interior of BKM is not unlike the better known American Burger King chain, except for the fact that most women - customers and employees - wear head scarves. The word Beurger is a play on words, alluding to the young French ethnic minorities from northern Africa - like the majority of the clients and owners of BKM - who are often referred to as "beurs."

Beurger King Muslim appears to have hit a demographic gold mine - one few entrepreneurs have exploited. Ibrahim Dar is one of them. After working at Kentucky Fried Chicken for many years in Britain, he started his own chain of restaurants in London in 1994 with halal chicken fast food. Now he owns 32 Chicken Spots throughout Britain. His restaurants are all set up in migrant areas, with Muslim inhabitants. The rise of these new restaurants, however, does not please everyone. Many French say halal restaurants hinder integration.