No Country for Muslims? The Invention of an Islam Républicain in France and Its Impact on French Muslims

Nina Käsehage

doi:10.3390/rel13010038

Abstract

Since the beheading of the French teacher Samuel Paty on 16 October 2020, the call for a fight against the so-called ‘Political Islam’ has been heard once again, not only in France, but all over Europe (EU). The politicization of Islam is held to be responsible for the increasing attacks by radical Islamic actors within European metropoles, and the EU states’ call for action and revenge in response to this ideology and its adherents, in order to guarantee public security and democratic values. Starting from the major terrorist attacks in France in the last few years, this paper seeks to compare the interlinking between domestic policy and religious radicalization and its impact on neighboring states. With regard to the attacks on 13 November 2015 in France, the attackers were traced back to radical networks in Belgium and Germany. Based on selected interviews that have been conducted by the author with female adherents of jihadist milieus within the years 2015 and 2016 in France and social media examples of Muslim reactions on the current French law enforcement, the tension between domestic policy and religious freedom related to Islam in France will be highlighted in this article. Among other reasons, the interview quotations and social media reactions can be seen as a result of a specific religious understanding and practice related to Islam by some actors. In addition, the ongoing othering of Muslims by France and other European societies can be seen to be in sum to be responsible for the increasing interest of young Muslims in radical Islamic thought that led to jihadist attacks within France in the not-so-distant past. With respect to the aforementioned development, this article will conceptualize the problematique of a (politically motivated) category formation related to one religion that is currently practiced in France, as seen from the perspective of a religious studies scholar.

Highlights

On 16 October 2020 the French teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded within public view at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a suburb of Paris, by an 18 year old French pupil withChechen roots (FAZ 2020)
This incident can be seen in line with various attacks that were motivated by radical Islamic actors and groups which had taken place in Belgium, France and Germany in the last few years
Europe’s understanding of diversity includes tolerance towards various forms of Islamic communities. It should be no problem for European countries such as France to tolerate numerous shades of Islam, Islamic practice and individual Islamic faith

Summary

Introduction

On 16 October 2020 the French teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded within public view at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a suburb of Paris, by an 18 year old French pupil withChechen roots (FAZ 2020). It is reported that the perpetrator wanted to set an example on behalf of Islam by killing the 47 year old French teacher who encouraged his students to question religious content, including Islamic matters, during his lessons in light of the right to freedom of speech that is guaranteed in public schools in France (cf RFI 2020). This incident can be seen in line with various attacks that were motivated by radical Islamic actors and groups which had taken place in Belgium, France and Germany in the last few years. Examples for this development are the five terrorist attacks that took place in the 10th and 11th arrondissements in Paris and in three places in the suburb Saint-Denis on 13 November 2015 (Seelow 2021), the two bombings on 22 March 2016 in Brussels

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Discussion

Conclusion