The hijab controversy, fueled by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its right-wing counterparts, bears resemblance to the stance taken by right-wing parties in several European nations. Throughout Europe, the right wing has long focused on demonizing Islam and the Muslim world, intensifying after the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq brought about an influx of refugees. Muslim communities, who have resided in Europe for generations, began demanding their rights and a greater role in politics, resulting in a backlash and a rise in blatant racism.
Numerous hate crimes targeting Muslims have surged in Germany, Austria, and France. In Switzerland, a recent opinion poll revealed that the majority of the population is against Muslim women wearing the hijab. Prominent political figures do not hesitate to openly mock Islam and Muslims. For example, in 2018, Boris Johnson, then the UK’s Foreign Secretary, compared veiled Muslim women to “bank robbers” and “letter boxes” in his column for The Daily Telegraph. Despite facing significant criticism for his tasteless remarks, it did not harm his political career.
France was the first European country to prohibit the wearing of full veils in public places in 2012. The decision was made by the center-right government of Nicolas Sarkozy, who claimed it was necessary to preserve French culture and discourage “separatism.” The law did not explicitly mention Islam or women but prohibited the covering of the face in any public setting under the guise of a “public security measure.” The Sarkozy government also banned the hijab and turbans in school classrooms in 2011. While the ban gained support from the French public, it did not contribute to Sarkozy’s re-election. However, the national sentiment has become increasingly extreme regarding the hijab and related issues.
In the current year’s presidential elections in France, candidates from the far right and the center right have prioritized Muslim-bashing, with the “hijab” issue at the forefront. Other pressing matters, including economic concerns, have taken a backseat. France’s economy has shrunk by 8.3% in the past year, with the poverty rate doubling. President Emmanuel Macron, faced with widespread discontent and social unrest, has shifted to the right, focusing more on perceived threats to the secular nature of the French republic from citizens who practice Islam, rather than addressing more crucial economic and political issues. This change in approach has actually increased Macron’s popularity.
The French parliament passed an “anti-separatism” law in July 2021, which the government claimed aimed to strengthen France’s secular system. However, critics argue that it further marginalizes Muslim citizens and restricts religious freedoms. Since then, the government has launched an intimidation campaign targeting the Muslim community, even targeting civil society organizations that aid immigrant populations. The French government dissolved multiple organizations, including the “Collective against Islamophobia in France,” which worked to defend victims of Islamophobia while operating within the legal framework of French law.
France has closed down more than 17 mosques in the last two years, citing vaguely defined “security laws” or lacking proper “safety standards.” The French Council on Islam was forced to adopt a “charter of principles” that obligates Muslim religious officials to adhere to rules set by the French government. The Macron government, after accusing Muslims of harboring separatist tendencies, now requires them to pledge loyalty to the French state. The “Charter of Principles” emphasizes that Muslims, whether citizens or foreign residents, must prioritize national cohesion, public order, and the laws of the Republic over their religious beliefs.
Recently, the French Senate approved a law aimed at prohibiting women footballers from wearing headscarves. The French Soccer Federation already bans players from wearing headscarves during games. However, the lower house of parliament has yet to pass the bill. The government is cautious about passing the measure at this time as France is set to host the Olympics in three years, and female soccer players from many Muslim countries wear headscarves on the field. Last year, the French Senate approved an amendment seeking to ban girls under 18 from wearing the hijab in public places, but this amendment is not yet law pending approval from the French National Assembly.
France’s political establishment, including President Macron, increasingly perceives the immigrant population, primarily hailing from former French colonies in North and sub-Saharan Africa, as a potential threat to the core principles of the state. Macron and his senior ministers argue that “Islamo-Leftism” poses a risk of corrupting and dividing French society. This term was originally used by far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in her 2012 presidential campaign. The government has blamed universities for spreading the alleged ideology of “Islamo-Leftism,” claiming that it leads to secessionism and divides the Republic. Several French historians and researchers challenge the officially sanctioned history of decolonization, advocating for awareness of institutional racism and atrocities committed during French colonial rule. Yet, these progressive intellectuals have faced vicious attacks in the mainstream French media and by right-wing politicians, who aim to associate left-wing parties with Islamism.
Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of the left-wing “France Unbowed” party, is among the few prominent politicians to criticize the stigmatization of Muslims in France and participate in rallies.