French Islamophobia: How Orthopraxy Is Conceptualized as a Public Peril
For over two decades, France’s Muslim population has faced a series of legal measures and hostile public narratives aimed at problematizing their faith. Notable examples include the 2004 national ban on “ostentatious religious symbols” in state schools, which prohibits obligatory religious dress in...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Christina Lienen Samir Sweida-Metwally |
| author_facet | Christina Lienen Samir Sweida-Metwally |
| author_sort | Christina Lienen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For over two decades, France’s Muslim population has faced a series of legal measures and hostile public narratives aimed at problematizing their faith. Notable examples include the 2004 national ban on “ostentatious religious symbols” in state schools, which prohibits obligatory religious dress in various settings. These individual instances are compounded by more recent broader policies, decisions, laws, and executive statements that negatively impact Muslim life. This paper examines France’s trajectory from a new perspective: A Muslim legal viewpoint. It argues that the French approach constitutes a two-step process of institutionalized Islamophobia, understood here as hostility towards Islam as a faith. First, the state redefines mainstream Islamic orthopraxy as “extreme”, pitting ordinary religious practices against averred Republican values. Second, it seeks to promote an alternative concept of a “French Islam”—one that aligns with France’s secular principles and is stripped of its religious essence—positioning it as the only acceptable framework for Muslims to practice their faith in France. We argue that this process is not about upholding laïcité or state neutrality; rather, invoking the latter serves as a smokescreen for the state’s Islamophobia. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8d697b7274b948f3b16d13cf7fbe5376 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-8d697b7274b948f3b16d13cf7fbe53762025-01-24T13:47:29ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-01-011616410.3390/rel16010064French Islamophobia: How Orthopraxy Is Conceptualized as a Public PerilChristina Lienen0Samir Sweida-Metwally1Faculty of Business & Law, The British University in Dubai, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai P.O. Box 345015, United Arab EmiratesSocial Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Marina District, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab EmiratesFor over two decades, France’s Muslim population has faced a series of legal measures and hostile public narratives aimed at problematizing their faith. Notable examples include the 2004 national ban on “ostentatious religious symbols” in state schools, which prohibits obligatory religious dress in various settings. These individual instances are compounded by more recent broader policies, decisions, laws, and executive statements that negatively impact Muslim life. This paper examines France’s trajectory from a new perspective: A Muslim legal viewpoint. It argues that the French approach constitutes a two-step process of institutionalized Islamophobia, understood here as hostility towards Islam as a faith. First, the state redefines mainstream Islamic orthopraxy as “extreme”, pitting ordinary religious practices against averred Republican values. Second, it seeks to promote an alternative concept of a “French Islam”—one that aligns with France’s secular principles and is stripped of its religious essence—positioning it as the only acceptable framework for Muslims to practice their faith in France. We argue that this process is not about upholding laïcité or state neutrality; rather, invoking the latter serves as a smokescreen for the state’s Islamophobia.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/1/64IslamophobiaFrancelawreligionMuslimsextremism |
| spellingShingle | Christina Lienen Samir Sweida-Metwally French Islamophobia: How Orthopraxy Is Conceptualized as a Public Peril Religions Islamophobia France law religion Muslims extremism |
| title | French Islamophobia: How Orthopraxy Is Conceptualized as a Public Peril |
| title_full | French Islamophobia: How Orthopraxy Is Conceptualized as a Public Peril |
| title_fullStr | French Islamophobia: How Orthopraxy Is Conceptualized as a Public Peril |
| title_full_unstemmed | French Islamophobia: How Orthopraxy Is Conceptualized as a Public Peril |
| title_short | French Islamophobia: How Orthopraxy Is Conceptualized as a Public Peril |
| title_sort | french islamophobia how orthopraxy is conceptualized as a public peril |
| topic | Islamophobia France law religion Muslims extremism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/1/64 |
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