By Malia Bouattia
22 October, 2020
It is
difficult to forget the vicious media campaign that was waged against
Syrian-French singer Mennel Ibtissem in 2018, after she shot to fame after
appearing on France's, The Voice.
Macron is now facing
international backlash for his anti-Muslim rhetoric [Getty]
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The vitriol
may have been reported as having stemmed from her "controversial"
views on counter-extremism, foreign policy and the ongoing occupation of
Palestine, but it was clear that her appearance as a Hijabi Muslim woman
disturbed far too many across France.
The fact
that she was also critical of the government and had expressed anti-colonial
and anti-racist views made it worse. In the end, the singer stepped down from
the show and it felt like once again, the Islamophobes had won.
A couple of
years on, it was surprising to find Ibtissem featured in a recorded interview
on the BBC News website. The coverage, however, centred not on her politics or
the virulent attacks she suffered, but on her removal of the hijab and the
criticism she encountered as a consequence. It is striking to see the media
give this level of attention to the story - especially given they did not do so
when she was cast as France's public enemy no.1 following her performance and
subsequent exit from the televised competition.
This only
reinforces the point that surrounded the initial uproar over the Syrian-French
singer; that in France, as is the case across much of the western world, Muslim
women will be demonised, attacked, and silenced unless their views suit the
status quo.
It is
absolutely Ibtissem's right to choose whether she wears the hijab or not, and
she should not be subject to any forms of hate, sexist or otherwise. It is her
body, it should be her choice.
However,
remembering that the media is also a vehicle in perpetuating stereotypes, and
reinforcing structural oppression, makes any desire by "mainstream"
platforms to put Ibtissem centre stage now - and not then - entirely
disingenuous. In fact, one wonders what the story really is here. A victory of
civilisation over barbarism? Or is it not about her at all, but an opportunity
to amplify the Muslim voices who denounced Ibtissem?
It feels,
once again, like the interest in Muslim women is sparked only when it
strengthens old tropes, such as that which sees Muslims as inherently
misogynistic.
When the
attacks were external, when they defended imperialist and racist policies, then
it was another story. Ibtissem needed to know her place.
In fact,
she stated in her interview: "I just said to myself, OK, enough of this
image of: 'Oh, you have to be the flag of Islam'." When Muslim women's
very presence in the public eye is continuously politicised, continuously
regulated, controlled and disciplined, that does become the choice: whether to
accept to be made a stand-in for an entire community, an entire religion, or
not.
In a
society where Islamophobic attacks are being waged non-stop from the very top,
one can only imagine the level of pressure felt, especially for a young woman
in the public eye. This is not the story we are likely to see prioritised. The
political reality that makes the singer - and no doubt many others - feel this
incredible sense of pressure is overlooked. Because let's face it, the
mainstream media has had a central and detrimental role in perpetuating hatred
towards Muslims.
Furthermore,
it should come as no surprise that holding the weight of being visibly Muslim
in such times is considerable, especially in France, whether people choose to
wear visible signs associated with the religion or not.
There is
currently a war being waged against Muslims in the West, and nowhere more
viciously than in France. Those most visibly associated with Islam are being
targeted across the board: by politicians; by their policies that are forcing
the closure of Muslim community and religious spaces; and by emboldened
far-right thugs on the streets.
Following
the already infamous speech by President Emmanuel Macron over so-called
"separatism" (or rather state-led Islamophobia), tensions have been
rising. Over 70 mosques and private Islamic schools have been shut down in the
attempt to shut down France's Muslim population - the largest in Europe - all
under the guise of combating Islamic extremism.
The
interior minister also went on to criticise the presence of halal and kosher
products in French supermarkets, calling on larger French companies to take
responsibility in fighting separatism… by limiting the availability of those
goods to specific kosher and halal butchers.
Gérald
Darmanin has also recently targeted Muslim groups, including the CCIF - a civil
liberties collective that works against islamophobia, calling for their
"dissolution" following the beheading of Samuel Paty, a school
teacher who had shown caricatures of the Prophet in class. The minister called
the organisations "enemies of the Republic." The fact that there is
absolutely no relationship between the targeted organisations and the attack
does not seem to worry Darmanin. The enemies are Muslims.
The climate
of fear for Muslims only grew upon hearing the news that two Muslim women were
attacked under the Eiffel Tower over the weekend. The women, who are cousins of
Algerian descent, were stabbed repeatedly while being called "dirty
Arabs" and told to "go back
home" according to witnesses.
The
attempts by Macron and his party to whip up Islamophobia in order to bolster
their chances to salvage their careers during the next electoral cycle is
obvious for all to see. His presidency has been a disaster on all fronts - and
will be remembered principally for the massive waves of strikes and Yellow Vest
demonstrations.
But the
consequences of their desperate words and policies are dangerous to Muslims,
and the level of violence already witnessed in the last few weeks demonstrates
this further. Let's hope the BBC and other mainstream media outlets will show
as much appetite for unpacking the experiences of the two women - Kenza and
Amel - who were stabbed in a racist attack, as they did for Ibtissem's
unveiling.
The
liberation of Muslim women, like Mennel Ibtissem, our right to choose what we
wear and what we believe, our right to freedom of expression, our right to
political thought and action are all connected. Championing gender liberation
alone, without taking on racism, poverty, xenophobia and all other forms of
oppression will amount to little. It also creates suspicion, distrust and
binary narratives, which attempt to divide struggles and communities.
Women's
liberation is wielded by the state as a weapon against the spectre of so-called
Islamism, but repeatedly targets Muslim women first and foremost. There should be
no doubt in anyone's mind that either we all get free, or none of us does. And
as long as the BBC and other outlets like it have their way, our liberation
will not be televised.
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Malia Bouattia is an activist, a former
president of the National Union of Students, and co-founder of the Students not
Suspects/Educators not Informants Network.
Original: Macron reminds France's Muslims that
liberty, equality and fraternity are not for everyone
Source: The English Al-Araby
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-west/macron-war-islam-putting-france/d/123365
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Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism