Translated by Irene Cecchi
On April 28, Olivier A. was arrested in Florence after a three-day manhunt. He is accused of killing 23-year-old Muslim worshipper Aboubakar Cissé during a prayer service at the mosque of La Grand-Combe, in southern France. Can this be described as an act of “Islamophobia”? This tragic event has rekindled a debate that has persisted for over twenty years regarding the meaning of the term, exposing rifts between the French population and government that show no signs of reconciliation.
Why is "Islamophobia" considered an unsuitable term?
The debate in France has been ongoing for years and has been reignited by this latest event. The controversy sees those in favor of using the term “Islamophobia” against those who oppose it. The latter argue that the term is ambiguous and prefer instead to use “haine antimusulmane” (anti-Muslim hate), avoiding a word they believe has been exploited by radical Islam to dismiss any criticism of the Muslim community —legitimate or not— originated by the fear of radicalization and conservatism. This belief, although unfounded when examined objectively, remains widespread in France; events like this one often bring the debate back to the surface. The claim that the term has been manipulated lacks factual basis. In fact, “Islamophobia” was already in use in France at the start of the 20th century to describe various forms of Western prejudice against Islam, without necessarily implying a unified ideological agenda. However, terrorist attacks over the past decade have led to a surge in the term's use, which nonetheless remains valid for describing a systemic phenomenon distinct from the broader concepts of racism and discrimination.
The origin of the debate
Vincent Geisser, author of The New Islamophobia (2003) and researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), points out that the debate began around 2003, sparked by a fake news item about the word’s etymology. Essayist Caroline Fourest claimed that “Islamophobia” was a fabrication of the Iranian clerical regime, designed to facilitate the Islamization of Europe. Since then, some have viewed the word as a fundamentally ideological tool used to shield radical Islam and justify the Islamization of European societies. However, this theory is unsupported by evidence and is therefore considered a “myth”. In reality, the term likely has French origins, with its first known appearance dating back to 1910. Still, this clarification has not stopped the spread of misinformation. Among the prominent figures to propagate such views has been Manuel Valls, now Minister for Overseas France, who has been involved in similar episodes since 2012. While Geisser confirms the term’s legitimacy and appropriateness, he also warns against its misuse by those who oppose Islam in general since not all criticisms of Islam stem from racism or discrimination. For instance, the editorial team of Charlie Hebdo rejected accusations of Islamophobia over their satirical cartoons, stressing the danger of equating critiques of Islam with racial hatred.
Who supports and who opposes the term?
The public prosecutor in the city of Alès described the murder of Cissé as both “anti-Muslim” and “Islamophobic”, as did Prime Minister François Bayrou and the leader of La France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon. However, the term was not used by President Emmanuel Macron, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, certain Socialist Party members and several anti-racist organizations that preferred terms like “racist motivation” or “hatred of Islam and Muslims”.
A divisive issue in a secular state
Islamophobia in France has deep roots, including on the political front. In 2004, a law was passed banning the “ostentatious” display of religious symbols in public schools, in line with France’s constitutional principle of secularism. Although this also meant that devout Catholics could not wear crosses and Jewish men could not wear kippahs in class, the primary target was Muslim girls wearing the hijab. Given this context, it is not surprising that the debate over the term “Islamophobia” is highly charged and divisive. Even though some skeptics have begun to reluctantly accept its use, the path toward a shared perspective remains far from clear.
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