Zrodla naukowe na moich studiach/polecone przez dr A.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_tLY-MDA3c
Islamophobia in Europe – an attempt to analyze the problem on youtube material
As the title of my essay is an “Islamophobia in Europe” which is a big wide-world problem nowadays, I found it difficult to base it on provided youtube video, downloaded by anonymous person which background and motivation is not known and clear. The main problem shown in this video is the fact of banning wearing veils in France. I agree that the Europe is facing a problem with accepting Islam and Muslims but the way it was shown on a material I got, is more then controversial.
Before coming to the analysis of the contents of the video I would like to start with definition of Islamophobia. Does it exist? What does it mean? What are signals of it? Why it occurred?
The term is formed of Islam, the post-clasical Latin -o- connecting vowel, and the post-classical Latin combining form –phobia- which is used to form nouns with the sense “irrational fear of” or “aversion to”. In fact, it is a neologism, that refers to prejudice or discrimination against Islam or Muslims. The term seems to back to late 1980 but came into common usage after the September 11, 2001.
In 1996, the Runnymede Trust set a definition of Islamophobia as the “dread or hatred of Islam and therefore, to the fear or dislike of all Muslims which results in practices of exclusion and discrimination”. Following the Runnymede Trust report we can scan perceptions related to Islamophobia what shows views on Islam from European angle. It gives us an answer why, I guess:
- Islam is seen as monolithic bloc, static and responsive to change.
- It is seen as separate and “other”, is not affected by them and does not influence them.
- It is seen as inferior to the West.
- It is seen as barbaric, irrational, primitive and sexist.
- It is seen as violent, aggressive, supportive of terrorism.
These perceptions after terrorists attack on 11th September turned into massive fear of Islam which actually “always been present in Western countries and cultures”. EUMC ( European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia) published “Summary report on Islamophobia in the EU after 11 September 2001” written by Chris Allen and Jorgen S. Nielsen. The report was based on 75 reports – 15 from each EU member nation and showed that ordinary Muslims became targets for abusive and sometimes violent retaliatory attacks. Incidents consisted of verbal abuse, blaming all Muslims for terrorism, forcibly removing woman’s hijabs, spitting on Muslims, calling children “Usama” and random assaults. The report also discussed the portrayal of Muslims in the media. Inherent negativity, stereotypical images, fantastical representations and exaggerated caricatures were all identified. So Islamophobia is a fact.
What facts were shown on mentioned video which was supposed to show me a problem of Islamophobia in Europe? I divided it into parts:
- Introduction: France/banning veils in public places for Muslims’ woman.
- Woman dignity: case of what clothes woman are wearing?
- Short presentation of differences between European and Muslims’ woman:
- a) European sluts
- b) Muslim sisters in religion
- 4. Sheikh Khalid Yasin’ s speech:
- a) Nudity as a problem (for Muslims)
- b) Wearing hijab as a problem (for European)
- c) Example of Christian nuns
- d) No need to excuse, no need to explain.
I need to agree with an author of video – banning veils in France or not mentioned case of voting about building minarets in Switzerland shows a problem – but is it an Islamophobia problem or it is more complex? Someone said it shows Europe’s desperate struggle for its identity. If we would like to refer it to France, we should emphasize the fact of secularism as a main value of this country. “The burkha is an acceptable and contrary to the principles of national identity, of sexual equality and of the French Republic” (by Mr Besson, French immigration minister ). “Veil is as an uniform which empowers Muslims identity” says Turkish professor of sociology Nikifer Gole which means it is strongly connected with religion. Is there a place for it in secular France?
I believe, the way we wear clothes shows our attitude towards world but I believe as well, it is a matter of freedom to choose style of clothing. Does the way of clothing by Europeans give them identity of “sluts”? Considering used in video word “slut” we come to its definition. Slut is a pejorative term meaning an individual who is sexually promiscuous. I wonder if it is an adequate plea to use such a comparison when it is about national values, secularism in France or freedom of choice an appearance.
Even if there are woman fighting about a right to wear a veil in public places in France, we should not forget a voice of others. In these case there are Islamic feminists who admit that: “The veil is the visible symbol of subjugation of woman, and therefore has no place in the mixed, secular spaces of France’s public school system” ( Fadela Amora )
Coming to controversial Sheikh Khalid Yasin it would be helpful to reach for a scientific sources about sexuality in Islam and in the other hand the history of feminism in Europe. As this essay is not about it I would like to remind how dialogue, I mean real, honest and open dialogue may change the point of view. If we would have talked maybe there had not been mistakes as Khalid Yassin made. Comparing nowadays Christian nuns to sexy dolls I found rather populist then funny. Let’s talk. Face to face, like brother and sister, no matter if white or black, no matter if in hijab or without – let’s make a straightforward, fair, open dialogue about our differences. Only in this we may find similarities and make Islamophobia disappear.
