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France had several colonies/protectorates with predominantly arab population - Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia in northern Africa, Syria and Lebanon in the Middle East. As far as I know in all of those French is still the language of business, and it is possible that parts of French culture have been absorbed as well (although colonial powers are not generally loved by the native population of their colonies, the "dominating" culture always leaves a trace on the native style of life). That's how your friend might have gotten her name.