Discrimination and Xenophobia
The Dutch right wing’s use of social media to spread anti-Islam rhetoric
Geert Wilders, leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom in the Netherlands (Partij voor de Vrijheid in Dutch, or PVV), shared a video clip on Twitter earlier this month attacking Islam and its traditions. In the video, released on 12 April – coinciding with the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan – the…
Towards the Ban of the Veil for French Women under 18?
Early April, the French Senate started to discuss the Bill aiming at reinforcing the Republican principles (a novlangue expression to talk about the Bill against “separatism”). In the French legislative system, two chambers are in charge : first the National Assembly, then the Senate that can propose amendments, and third a shared reading of the…
Julie Burchill’s Book Contract Cancelled Over Islamophobic Tweets
The journalist Julie Burchill has had a book contract cancelled after her publisher said she “crossed a line” with her Islamophobic comments on Twitter. Burchill’s publisher, the Hachette imprint Little Brown, said it had decided not to publish Welcome to the Woke Trials because she had used indefensible language when communicating with the journalist Ash Sarkar. Sarkar said…
Two Arson Attacks Against Mosques in Lyon Trigger a Debate on Religious Freedom versus Freedom of Speech
Two criminal fires targeting mosques in the Lyon urban area were reported. Fortunately, the damage remains material and there have been no human victims as both places were empty. However, such attacks contribute to create a climate of anxiety among French Muslims, who have denounced the lack of reaction from public authorities. During the night…
Black Lives Matter in France: Solidarity with US protests but ambiguity on the French “race” question
The Black Lives Matter movement extended to France a few days after the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. The French protests have been fueled by similar tragic cases and have revived the denunciation of police brutality . Additional juridical elements in the investigation of the death of Adama Traoré – a…