Racialising French Practices of Secularism (Laïcité): A Portrait of the ‘Cyber-Abuse’ of Muslim and Islamic Attributes on Twitter Platforms in 2023


Kayan Manggala(1), Naflah Rifqi(2*), Ahmad Kholil(3)

(1) Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim, Indonesia
(2) Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim, Kota Malang, Indonesia, Indonesia
(3) Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim, Kota Malang, Indonesia, Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


This study is motivated by the ongoing debates surrounding France and Islam over the past decade, particularly the re-emergence of laïcité as a historical ideology rooted in the late 18th century. The research aims to examine how French citizens express their perspectives on issues related to Islam, Islamofobia, and Muslim identity through narratives on Twitter, and to analyze how the racialization and marginalization of laïcité are perceived comprehensively. Using tweet harvesting for data collection and analysis facilitated by MAXQDA, the study identifies key events in 2023 that sparked public discourse: the ban on the abaya in schools and the celebration of Hanukkah at the Presidential Palace. Analysis of tweet content reveals three primary groups of public opinion: feminists (notably in the context of the abaya), nationalists who advocate for laïcité, and neutral humanists who, while often critical, also challenge the racialization of political actions. In addition to the frequent use of offensive language and calls for the exclusion of Muslims opposing government policies, secondary sources indicate tangible forms of racialization in society. These findings highlight that many view the Muslim population as outsiders, despite being born and raised in France.

Keywords


Laïcité; cyber abuse; Echo chambers; epistemology; evidence; fact-checking algorithms; journalism;

Full Text:

PDF

References


Al Jazeera. 2019. “A Summary of Attacks on Muslims in Western Countries.”

Abdel-Fattah, R. 2020. “Countering Violent Extremism, Governmentality and Australian Muslim Youth as ‘Becoming Terrorist.’” Journal of Sociology 56 (3): 372–87. https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783319842666.

Al-Hamidi, Muhammad al-Hachimi. 2023. “Postingan Twitter 1.”

Ali, Rabia. 2023. “European Countries Legalizing Islamophobia, Limiting Religious Practices of Muslims, Says Expert.” Anadolu Anjasi.

Bayrakli, Enes, and Farid Hafez. 2020. European Islamophobia Report 2019. Istanbul: SETA.

Bayrakli, Enes and Farid Hafez. 2023a. European Islamophobia Report (EIR) 2022. Austria: Leopold Weiss Institute. https://doi.org/10.47951/mediad.1302245.

Bayrakli, Enes and Fariz Hadez. 2023b. “European Islamophobia Report (EIR) 2022.” Medya ve Din Araştırmaları Dergisi 6 (1): 221–25. https://doi.org/10.47951/mediad.1302245.

Bell, David Andreas, Marko Valenta, and Zan Strabac. 2021. “A Comparative Analysis of Changes in Anti-Immigrant and Anti-Muslim Attitudes in Europe: 1990–2017.” Comparative Migration Studies 9 (1): 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40878-021-00266-w.

Corral, Alfonso, David De Coninck, Stefan Mertens, and Leen D’Haenens. 2023. “Gauging the Media Discourse and the Roots of Islamophobia Awareness in Spain.” Religions 14 (8): 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14081019.

Cremer, Tobias. 2023. “The Rise of the Post-Religious Right: Christianism and Secularism in the French Rassemblement National.” Party Politics 29 (1): 40–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/13540688211046859.

Czymara, Christian S., Stephan Dochow-Sondershaus, Lucas G. Drouhot, Müge Simsek, and Christoph Spörlein. 2023. “Catalyst of Hate? Ethnic Insulting on YouTube in the Aftermath of Terror Attacks in France, Germany and the United Kingdom 2014–2017.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 49 (2): 535–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2022.2100552.

EUMC. 2006. Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia. EU Publications.

Farkhani, Farkhani, Zakiyuddin Baidhawy, and Adang Kuswaya. 2021. “Islamophobia in Spain: Inheritance of Reconquista and Hate Political Rhetoric.” Journal of Al-Tamaddun 16 (1): 65–79. https://doi.org/10.22452/JAT.vol16no1.5.

Faure, Justine. 2023. “Bougie d’Hanouka Allumée à l’Élysée : Les Réactions Se Multiplient, Macron Se Défend et Appelle ‘Au Bon Sens.’” TFI Info.

Fekete, Liz. 2004. “Anti-Muslim Racism and the European Security State.” Race & Class 46 (1): 3–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306396804045512.

Fornerod, Anne. 2023. “École et Religion En Droit Français.” Anuario de Derecho Eclesiástico Del Estado xxxix (October). https://doi.org/10.55104/ADEE_00007.

Indira Rafsitahandjani, Nadza, and Aos Y Firdaus. 2017. “Dinamika Pelarangan Niqab Dan Burqa Di Eropa Barat: Studi Kasus Perancis Dan Belgia.” Jurnal Interdependence 5 (3): 109–23.

Islamy, Putri Raisa, and Lusi Andriyani. 2021. “Islamophobia Di Jerman Dan Prancis.” INDEPENDEN: Jurnal Politik Indonesia Dan Global 2 (2): 37. https://doi.org/10.24853/independen.2.2.37-46.

Kalmar, Ivan. 2018. “Islamophobia in the East of the European Union: An Introduction.” Patterns of Prejudice 52 (5): 389–405. https://doi.org/10.1080/0031322X.2018.1512467.

Kalmar, Ivan. 2020. “Islamophobia and Anti-Antisemitism: The Case of Hungary and the ‘Soros Plot.’” Patterns of Prejudice 54 (1–2): 182–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/0031322X.2019.1705014.

Käsehage, Nina. 2022. “No Country for Muslims? The Invention of an Islam Républicain in France and Its Impact on French Muslims.” Religions 13 (1): 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13010038.

Khamis, Sahar. 2023. “Effective Countering Islamophobia Strategies in the Digital Age: Three Approaches.” Islamophobia Studies Journal 8 (1): 25–41. https://doi.org/10.13169/islastudj.8.1.0025.

Labidi, Imed Ben. 2021. “Hollywood’s Bad Muslims: Misrepresentations and the Channeling of Racial Violence.” The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture 33 (3): 126–37. https://doi.org/10.3138/jrpc.2020-0068.

Lauwers, Anna Sophie. 2019. “Is Islamophobia (Always) Racism?” Critical Philosophy of Race 7 (2): 306–32. https://doi.org/10.5325/critphilrace.7.2.0306.

Leyva, Karel. 2016. “Multiculturalisme et Laïcité En France : Les Trois Républicanismes Du Rapport Stasi.” Dialogue 54 (4): 647–84. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0012217316000020.

Malogne-Fer, Gwendoline. 2017. “Jean Baubérot, Les 7 Laïcités Françaises. Le Modèle Français de Laïcité n’existe Pas.” Archives de Sciences Sociales Des Religions, no. 180 (December): 275–78. https://doi.org/10.4000/assr.33377.

Massoumi, Narzanin. 2020. “Why Is Europe so Islamophobic?” The New Work Times.

Mawad, Dalal, Niamh Kennedy, and Jack Guy. 2023. “French Schools Turn Away Girls Wearing Abayas as Muslim Rights Group Challenges Ban.” CNN World.

Mendelski, B. 2019. “Islamophobia as an Illiberal Action: The Case of Germany and France.” In Global and Regional Powers: Relations, Problems and Issues in the 21st Century, edited by Fulya Köksoy, 187–266. Peter Lang D. https://doi.org/10.3726/b16239.

Mudzakkir, Amin. 2013. “Amin Mudzakkir Sekularisme Dan Identitas Muslim Eropa.” Jurnal Kajian Wilayah 4 (1): 92–105.

Omar, Sayfo. 2020. “Hollywood (Mis)Representations Of Arabs And The Middle East From A Production Perspective - The Case Of Fx Channels Tyrant.” SERIES: International Journal of TV Serial Narratives 6 (1): 43–56. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2421-454X/10285.

Peker, Efe. 2021. “Right-Wing Populism and the Securitisation of Laïcité Narratives in French Education Policy.” Social Policy and Society 20 (2): 326–39. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746420000652.

Politzer, Malia Nora, and Antonia Olmos Alcaraz. 2023. “Islam, Media Framing and Islamophobia in the US Press, before and after the Charlie Hebdo Terrorist Attack.” Critical Studies on Terrorism 16 (2): 351–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/17539153.2023.2207164.

Ragazzi, Francesco. 2023. “Counter-Radicalization, Islam and Laïcité: Policed Multiculturalism in France’s Banlieues.” Ethnic and Racial Studies 46 (4): 707–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2022.2032248.

Rofiqi, M. Aris. 2002. “Benturan Peradaban Islam Dan Barat.” Jurnal Studi Islam 2 (1): 1–21.

“Sarkozy Speaks Out Against Burka.” 2009. BBC. 2009.

Scrinzi, Francesca. 2023. “France.” In Routledge Handbook of Violent Extremism and Resilience, 113–24. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003267102-9.

Simpson, Patricia Anne. 2020. “Gendered Identities and German Islamophobias.” Journal of Contemporary European Studies 28 (1): 57–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/14782804.2019.1679099.

Sukabdi, Zora Arfina, Muhammad Adlin Sila, Chandra Yudistira Purnama, Fathul Lubabin Nuqul, Seta Ariawuri Wicaksana, Ali Abdullah Wibisono, and Yanwar Arief. 2023. “Islamophobia among Muslims in Indonesia.” Cogent Social Sciences 9 (1): 29. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2209367.

Sukarwo, Wirawan. 2020. “Hambatan Integrasi Identitas Muslim Di Barat: Penelusuran Konsep Humanisme, Perang Salib, Dan Tantangan Masa Depan.” Human Narratives 2 (1): 15–25. https://doi.org/10.30998/hn.v2i1.584.

Wijaya, Subur, and Mirza Nursyabani. 2022. “Menangkal Islamofobia Melalui Interpretasi Ayat-Ayat Moderasi Perspektif Mufassir Kontemporer.” Hikami : Jurnal Ilmu Alquran Dan Tafsir 3 (1): 19–32. https://doi.org/10.59622/jiat.v3i1.58.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.15575/jispo.v14i1.38478

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


Copyright (c) 2024 Naflah Rifqi, Kayan Manggala, Ahmad Kholil

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

________________________________________________________________________

P - ISSN : 2303-3169

E - ISSN : 2579-3098


JISPO is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.>

 

Published by : Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Flag Counter

 

View My Stats