Islamophobia in France


Islamophobia in France is evidenced by the deliberate segregation and alienation of a minority group of practicing Muslims within the French community. In France, Islam is viewed through a lens dependent on the country’s experience with terrorism and it’s perceived inability to integrate with the French culture. The French associate Islam with negative stereotypes related to fundamentalism and gender inequality. Terrorist attacks in France and the perception that Islam follows chauvinistic values have been used to support right-wing theories regarding the failure of immigration policies, leading to discrimination against Islam.
The French hold a common belief that Islam is opposed to secularism and modernity. This establishes fear and distrust among the French public, allowing Islamophobia to manifest itself through the censorship and political repression of Muslims in France.
Muslims in France desire equality, with 74% indicating that there is a conflict between living in devotion to one’s religion and living in the western society. Muslim individuals’ desire to integrate has been hindered by the French fear of the unknown and reinforcement of cultural differences.

History

French society has been infused with Islamophobic attitudes over the course of many years. Anti-Islamic views have developed through France’s historical tradition of segregation from other cultures and religions, alienating all who possess differences.
The anti-Islamic attitudes embedded in French history have indirectly strengthened the dominating religion of Christianity since the 18th century.
Through the growth in anti-Islamic notions among the French people since the 18th century, intellectual aggression has become a dominant norm against Islam in France.
For a long time, Muslims have been perceived as outsiders by the general French public, due to Islam’s community structure, a threat to individuality - a strong French value shaped by Laïcité.

Colonial roots of Islamophobia

During the 20th century, France was a colonial power which occupied Islamic dominated regions in the Middle East. The French perceived Muslims as being too attached to their religion, which would ultimately affect their ability to integrate in compliance with the Laïcité ideology in French society. This resulted in French occupiers urging the ban of Islamic symbols, including face coverings.
This experience left deeply embedded perceptions of Islam, driven by negativity, perpetuating the growth of the political right in France and their anti-Islamic views. Islamophobic attitudes continue today and this can be attributed to France’s colonial roots which embodied views of segregation.

Islamophobic culinary legends

Discriminatory views are deeply embedded in French history as evidenced by culinary legends, some of which infused with Islamophobic notions. For example, internationally associated with the French culture, the well known croissant pastry holds many Islamophobic stories of origin. One legend identifies the croissant as a symbol created by a French baker in representation of the French defeat of the Christian Ottoman's in the 18th Century. According to this legend, the Croissant shape was created in direct reference to the Islamic crescent on the Ottoman flags.

Algeria–France relations

France’s experience with Algeria and their 1992 elections resulted in violence in 1993. The election was cancelled on the basis that an Islamic party was going to win. Realising the growth in the Islamic religion and the affect it could have on French politics, France began banning what they believed to be Islamic symbols, such as the headscarf as they were deemed dangerous to society and the following of Laïcité.

September 11 and France

The 9/11 terrorist attacks flared tensions between France and Islam, similar to what has occurred in other western countries such as America and Australia, through establishing a rise in fear for non-Islamic individuals. Since 9/11, French politicians are more inclined to emphasise fear-driven views of Islam onto society, perpetuating Islamophobia in France.

Incidence

Incidents of Islamophobia hinder the inclusion of Muslims in France and reflect the poorly managed political and social sphere in relation to the issue of anti-Islamic issues in the country.

Statistics

The Observatory of Islamophobia confirmed a 34.6% decrease in Islamophobic attacks in France in 2017. However, these numbers are not inclusive to the anti-Islamic attacks committed by the French state.

Justice system

Anti-Islamic behaviour in France is often unrecognised by the French justice system. France has a regressive policy-making approach regarding racism. The French fear of terrorism affects France's ability to recognise discriminatory issues regarding Islam.
"French laws are becoming ever more repressive and tackling basic civil liberties."
Fundamental rights for Muslims in France are considerably shrinking. The French adherence to an ideological form of Laïcité has turned into an indirect target of Muslims. In turn, forces resisting it are unable to cope with the strength of the growth in this ideology. Political leaders emphasise that this is a protection of social cohesion within France, however it affects the inclusion of Muslims.
Discriminatory laws in France reflect the country’s inability to consider Islamic beliefs and practices as a positive contribution to society as a force enabling diversity. Rather than attempting to allow for the integration of the Islamic faith within French society, France reinforces its fundamentalist following of secularism.

Discriminatory legislation

towards Muslims is apparent in the French justice system.: Banned in French towns in 2016.
On the 11th April 2011, French Prime Minister François Fillon banned face veils from being worn in public spaces in France other than Mosques, at home or when travelling as a passenger in a car.
On 18 August 2016, Prime Minister Manuel Valls supported bans on Burkini swimwear which had been imposed in several French towns.
In October 2017, France introduced an Anti-Terrorism Bill which authorised power for officials to search homes, restrict movement and close places of worship. The concept behind this bill has been commended by a United Nations human rights expert who also, on the contrary, highlights the negative influence this may have over religious freedom. Additionally, Fionnuala Ni Aolain has raised concerns regarding the reinforced marginalisation of Muslims in France through the introduction of the bill.
In May 2019, France voted to ban Islamic headscarf wearing mothers from attending school trips. This strengthens the war against Islamic dress in France which has developed through the original Burqa and Burkini ban, further emphasising the discriminatory approach of French politics in relation to Islam.

Anti-discriminatory legislation

Discriminatory acts against religious groups in France are denounced by legislature which promote equality. Some legislation and political groups which address the issue of discrimination against religious freedom in France include:
Islamophobic notions are perpetuated through the media’s negative exploration and demonic depiction of the Islamic religion in France.
French media portrayals of Islam often depict mainstream anti-Islamic views.
"...negative outlook on Islam is conveyed by the French media — something both logical, and worrying. Logical, because the media have to sell, and so they have an incentive to adopt a discourse that echoes what potential readers, TV viewers, and listeners find appealing. Worrying, because this tendency legitimizes negative stereotypes about Islam, and thus helps to anchor them solidly in French public opinion."
State-owned media reinforces the presence of Islamophobic attitudes in France. For example, ‘France 2’ has allowed one of it’s well-known talk-shows to serve as a place safe to the representation of anti-Islamic ideas without backlash. On this show, Islam is a permanent topic.
This trend is also seen in state-owned radio in which Alain Finkielkraut speaks volumes on violent anti-Muslim rhetoric on his weekly show. Despite numerous direct attacks at the Islamic religion, host Finkielkraut has not been held accountable for his public display of discriminatory views by co-workers and managers or by the Ministry of Culture.
French individuals in support of anti-Islamic notions emphasise their right of freedom of speech to justify their hate-speech. However, these groups thrive on the pursuit to censor the public display of the Islamic religion.
For example, in 2012 the French Charlie Hebdo newspaper published satirical cartoons depicting Islamic Prophet Muhammad. These cartoons received backlash from the Islamic community who claimed that this was a disrespectful portrayal of a religious figure and thus a discriminatory act against Islam.
"Hebdo cartoonists and editorialists are part of France’s long tradition of anti-clericalism – they would be the first to admit that they despise religion and Islam in particular."

In employment

Islamophobia in France perpetuates discrimination toward Muslims in all aspects of life including their experience with employment. Discrimination against Islam hinders practicing Muslims' access to opportunities in the workplace. For example, Marie Anne Valfort reports that Islamic individuals are 4 times more likely to be discriminated against than those practicing other faiths.
There have been many reported cases of workplace Islamic discrimination against individuals.
“In La Rochelle ...a man’s employment was terminated by his employer after weeks of harassment for having a beard that was deemed a sign of religious extremism”.
“The Coordination against Racism and Islamophobia has reported 15 cases of anti-Muslim hate speech at work which went unreported.”
French law indicates two main guidelines regarding religion and employment. The “Protection of Individuals” indicates that one’s religious beliefs must not disturb the functioning of the workplace, including views regarding hygiene and safety requirements. The “Proper functioning of the firm” highlights that religion must never interfere with performance or one’s relationship with work. These French policies conflict with Islam, ultimately dismissing one’s ability to practice the religion. For example, prayer breaks may be disapproved and a request to not be on project with the opposite sex may denied - two fundamental practices in Islam.
The French perceive Islam as degrading women with a lack of rights and thus believe that the practice of Islam is impossible in France as it conflicts with the country’s values. This perception of equality, or lack there of, creates fear through a belief that Islam will disturb workplaces in France through a following of chauvinistic values. The view that Islam is a male chauvinistic religion perpetuates discrimination in the workplace as it leads to the perception that a woman wearing a headscarf is a symbol of oppression against females.
In a study conducted by Dounia Bouzar and Lylia Bouzan presented in their book "Allah a-t-il sa place dans l’entreprise?" French managers indicate that a covered female interviewee is a “nightmare” leading them to feel “embarrassed”.

“...you don’t know what to say, you don’t even dare to gaze at her for fear that your expression will give you away”.
The managers indicate that they decline covered Muslim female interviewees using generalised reasons regarding their job application, with attempt of steering away from Islam as the cause. They indicate that a fear of not wanting the organisation to appear as supporting the oppression of women through this Islamic “symbol” is what causes this discriminatory reaction. This fear perpetuates discrimination against Muslims in the French workplace, as preconceptions automatically limit their chances of attaining employment.

Islamophobic groups and notions

Anti-terrorist coordination unit – UCLAT

fights against violent radicalisation and jihadist groups through raising awareness of the threat of radicalisation and the fight against jihadist activities. This initiative represents the French anti-terrorist community who aim to protect the social cohesion and safety of the French society. Although UCLAT is beneficial to the safety of the wider French public, it holds Muslims as a direct target, affecting innocent Islamic French citizens and their attempt to integrate into France peacefully.

Great Replacement

The term "Great Replacement" was created by Renaud Camus in 2011 identifying immigration policies as the main issue affecting the shift in the demographics of France.
This term has since been used as the name of the manifesto for the Christ Church Mosque shootings.
As a result, this term is becoming increasingly recognised, with white supremacist groups and right-wing politicians now using it to spread their anti-Islamic ideologies in France. Muslim immigrants and refugees are at the core of this notion, identified as the main issue being addressed.
The Great Replacement strengthens the fear of Islam through focusing on Muslims as a problem, mobilising the debate about the need for military intervention. This allows for the spread of Islamophobic attitudes which condone limitations on the fundamental rights of Muslims.