Rachida Dati: the 100 Women Interview

Born into poverty, one of twelve children in a devout French/Moroccan Muslim family, the rise of Rachida Dati to high office, has been nothing short of remarkable. A former Minister of Justice, she's now a Member of the European Parliament and a Paris mayor. And yet Rachida Dati has never been far from controversy. She's made a career of challenging the comfortable ways of the French establishment; she rails against what she considers to be French anti-Muslim discrimination and blames it, in part, for the extremism behind the French terror attacks of the last two years.

She's never afraid to challenge the elitism that she says restricts the lives of the poorest. And yet there is nothing soft about Rachida Dati. She remains a tough right wing voice in French politics, always happy to chase the unpopular idea. Single motherhood has kept this politician in the public eye and pitched her against the values of her family. Yalda Hakim talks to Rachida Dati for the BBC's 100 Women season.

Photo: Rachida Dati, June 2016 Credit: AFP/Philippe Huguen/Getty Images