(from Equinox, Initiative for Racial Justice)
'DECONTRUCTING FASCISM'S PLAYBOOK: THE FAR-RIGHT'S OBSESSION WITH "UNVEILING" MUSLIM WOMEN
On 31 August, French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen tweeted that if elected, she would criminalise Muslim women for wearing the headscarf in public spaces through a referendum.
Le Pen's plans are not unique to France - many far-right parties across Europe are fixated on turning what Muslim women wear into a "security" issue especially around election time.
How and why do they do this?
They draw on colonial practice Europe's fixation on the veil is rooted in colonialism. In Algeria, French hijab as "backwards" "extreme" for Muslim women in order to paint France as an "emancipatory" force.
In reality, Algerian women faced violence, exclusion and discrimination from French occupation. When anti- colonial sentiment began to grow, French colonial authorities staged public "unveiling" ceremonies as propaganda.
Today, the far-right deploys the same colonial logic. Julien Odoul, a far- right National Rally MP, used Al to digitally undress a hijabi woman, altering her photo to expose her hair, arms and shoulders without her consent.
They portray Muslim women as a security threat The far-right frames the hijab ban as a necessary measure to combat "extremism" or "fundamentalism" By falsely equating a piece of clothing with terrorism, the far-right intentionally casts Muslim women as outsiders to be simultaneously feared, policed and paternalised.
This "security" rhetoric is On 31 August, French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen tweeted that if elected, she would criminalise Muslim women for wearing the headscarf in public spaces through a referendum.
Le Pen's plans are not unique to France - many far-right parties across Europe are fixated on turning what Muslim women wear into a "security" issue especially around election time.
How and why do they do this?
They draw on colonial practice Europe's fixation on the veil is rooted in colonialism. In Algeria, French hijab as "backwards" "extreme" for Muslim women in order to paint France as an "emancipatory" force.
In reality, Algerian women faced violence, exclusion and discrimination from French occupation. When anti- colonial sentiment began to grow, French colonial authorities staged public "unveiling" ceremonies as propaganda.
Today, the far-right deploys the same colonial logic. Julien Odoul, a far- right National Rally MP, used Al to digitally undress a hijabi woman, altering her photo to expose her hair, arms and shoulders without her consent.
They portray Muslim women as a security threat The far-right frames the hijab ban as a necessary measure to combat "extremism" or "fundamentalism" By falsely equating a piece of clothing with terrorism, the far-right intentionally casts Muslim women as outsiders to be simultaneously feared, policed and paternalised.
This "security" rhetoric is not only racist, but studies show it actively fuels Islamophobia and division rather than reducing extremism.
They use "secularism" as an excuse In France, the far-right often claims they are defending "secularism" in public spaces.
They claim these bans apply equally to all religions. In practice, the obsession with policing religious attire overwhelmingly impacts Muslim women and headscarves.
While other religious clothes are also banned in positions of public service and state schools - like the Jewish kippahs, Sikh turbans, and nuns' habits - they do not draw the same level of scrutiny in public spaces.
They discredit opposition with smears The far-right systematically discredits opposition to hijab bans by painting critics as extremists to silence defenders of Muslim women's rights. In France, the far-right have used "islamo-gauchisme" to paint defenders of Muslim women as complicit with extremism. This attempts to frame hijab bans as normal and even progressive while delegitimising opponents.
Muslim women are used as scapegoats for the real issue The far-right stokes upcontroversy around the hijab to scapegoat French Muslims and distract from real crises: falling wages, rising costs, and unemployment.
Marine Le Pen revived her ban proposal after struggling in a public debate on the economy; a subject where she had no solutions. The hijab allowed the RN to change the topic and dominate headlines instead.
Muslim women and girls bear the brunt Restrictions on what Muslim women and girls can wear have been expanding across Europe. France bans hijabs in schools, full-face veils, burkinis on public pools, and hijabs in sports.
Austria now bans head coverings for girls under 14 whilst Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands restrict full-face veils.
Despite claims to "liberate" and "integrate", the ban simply discourages Muslim women from participating in everyday life. Studies find that banning religious items in schools and sports is overwhelmingly enforced on young Muslim girls, and makes them less likely to participate.not only racist, but studies show it actively fuels Islamophobia and division rather than reducing extremism.
They use "secularism" as an excuse In France, the far-right often claims they are defending "secularism" in public spaces.
They claim these bans apply equally to all religions. In practice, the obsession with policing religious attire overwhelmingly impacts Muslim women and headscarves.
While other religious clothes are also banned in positions of public service and state schools - like the Jewish kippahs, Sikh turbans, and nuns' habits - they do not draw the same level of scrutiny in public spaces.
They discredit opposition with smears The far-right systematically discredits opposition to hijab bans by painting critics as extremists to silence defenders of Muslim women's rights. In France, the far-right have used "islamo-gauchisme" to paint defenders of Muslim women as complicit with extremism. This attempts to frame hijab bans as normal and even progressive while delegitimising opponents.
Muslim women are used as scapegoats for the real issue The far-right stokes upcontroversy around the hijab to scapegoat French Muslims and distract from real crises: falling wages, rising costs, and unemployment.
Marine Le Pen revived her ban proposal after struggling in a public debate on the economy; a subject where she had no solutions. The hijab allowed the RN to change the topic and dominate headlines instead.
Muslim women and girls bear the brunt Restrictions on what Muslim women and girls can wear have been expanding across Europe. France bans hijabs in schools, full-face veils, burkinis on public pools, and hijabs in sports.
Austria now bans head coverings for girls under 14 whilst Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands restrict full-face veils.
Despite claims to "liberate" and "integrate", the ban simply discourages Muslim women from participating in everyday life. Studies find that banning religious items in schools and sports is overwhelmingly enforced on young Muslim girls, and makes them less likely to participate.'
#fascism #France #muslimHate #colonialism #hijab #MarineLePen