Confronting Islamophobia: A cloaked reality behind free speech debates
Sofia Benesty explores the nuanced mechanisms of Islamophobia, often cloaked in ideals of freedom and progressive rhetoric. With keen insight, she uncovers how discrimination, masked as noble causes, exposes deep societal tensions.
Every morning before school, my mother straightened my curls. During those moments when my mother carefully applied heat to my hair, I would stare at my reflection and wonder out loud why I couldn’t look more normal, why I couldn’t look more like everyone else. Throughout my teenage years, I went to great lengths to conceal what I believed made me stand out. I avoided the sun, wore foundation shades lighter than my natural skin tone, and even tried unconventional methods, like bathing in milk after reading about skin-lightening techniques on a Korean website.
“Despite attending schools that valued creativity and autonomy, my appearance made me stand out among my peers who were mostly white, middle-class, and progressive-leftist.”
I dreaded the question, “Where are you from?” If it came up, I would deflect by saying, "I was born in Belgium," only to be met with dismissive eye rolls and the follow-up comment, "You know what I mean." My family background is a mix of Moroccan heritage on my mother’s side and a combination of Western, and Southern European roots from my father. Despite attending schools that valued creativity and autonomy, my appearance made me stand out among my peers who were mostly white, middle-class, and progressive-leftist. I longed to assimilate, growing resentful of my Moroccan-Muslim heritage due to negative stereotypes and prejudices faced by Muslims in Belgium.
Although I wasn’t raised in the Islamic faith, I was surrounded by family members who practised it. As I matured, I grew to appreciate the beauty of my diverse background and family history, embracing my roots and all my relatives. Yet, the shadow of Islamophobia persists not just in Belgium but across many parts of Europe—a stark reminder of societal prejudices that still endure.
“(…) within this narrative of progress lies the unsettling reality of an ongoing type of discrimination aimed at the ‘Other.’ This is notably visible in today’s landscape of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim rhetoric.”
When discussing the achievements of Western liberal democracies, what is often highlighted are victories over historical injustices: abolishing slavery, defeating fascism, and the pursuit of universal suffrage. Yet, within this narrative of progress lies the unsettling reality of an ongoing type of discrimination aimed at the ‘Other.’ This is notably visible in today’s landscape of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim rhetoric.
The term ‘Islamophobia’ extends beyond mere fear. It’s a product of racism, a construct imposed upon individuals through sweeping generalisations and stigma. Crafted by those in power, this narrative finds its footing in societal misconceptions, reinforced by laws and perpetuated through media coverage. It is a biased portrayal that unfairly depicts Muslims and subjects them to discrimination.
David Theo Goldberg highlights in his book The Threat of Race: Reflections on Racial Neoliberalism how Islamic faith is often construed in the European imagination as a collection of lacks: a shortcoming of freedom, scientific inquiry, civility, and equal respect for women and LGBTQIA+ individuals. This type of racism seemingly supports movements such as women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights while covertly advancing discriminatory intentions.
Sara Farris and Jasbir Puar unravel these complex notions through femonationalism and homonationalism. Femonationalism appropriates women’s rights to vilify Muslim communities, and more specifically Muslim men. It hides discrimination beneath the facade of a seemingly noble cause. Similarly, homonationalism co-opts LGBTQIA+ rights to fuel nationalist agendas, cherry-picking acceptance based on conformity to national values.
The defence of these rights becomes a way for liberal racists to separate themselves from their more extreme counterparts. They conveniently ignore breaches of human rights by certain governments or generalise conservative behaviours to the entire Muslim community, ignoring its diversity. When challenged on these contradictions, the response often echoes the traditional racist myths of Orientalism, a framework by Edward Said that portrays Eastern societies as backward, exotic, or oppressive, contrasted with a supposedly enlightened and progressive West. Once again, there’s an ongoing assumption of a ‘typical Muslim,’ perpetuating myths of sexism and control, and reinforcing an ‘us versus them’ narrative.
“A lot of the time, regressive ideas are camouflaged under the veil of free speech advocacy, perpetuating Islamophobia and racism.”
Within this debate, the discourse on free speech, defined as the right to express any opinions without censorship or restraint, takes centre stage. The post-9/11 world witnessed the manipulation of free speech to push reactionary agendas. Today, the so-called ‘marketplace of ideas’ has become a breeding ground for legitimising debunked or minoritarian notions, blurring the lines between meaningful debate and the propagation of hate speech. A lot of the time, regressive ideas are camouflaged under the veil of free speech advocacy, perpetuating Islamophobia and racism. As Mondon and Winter illustrate, racism isn’t a singular entity. Instead, it evolves, often blending into liberal or progressive discussions.
A contemporary example that illustrates the challenges surrounding free speech and its intersection with discrimination can be found in the case of Geert Wilders, the Dutch far-right extremist party leader of Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV). Often considered by many as a politician ‘bravely’ defending freedom of expression, Wilders is regarded as someone not afraid to tackle contentious issues others might avoid. He strongly believes in the right to freely criticise Islam and Muslim communities, arguing it’s essential for free speech, especially in the aftermath of Europe’s terrorist attacks.
David Horowitz, a right-wing activist supporting Wilders in the United States, has hailed the Dutch politician as ‘the Paul Revere of Europe,’ applauding him as a hero in the pivotal battle to defend free speech. However, disagreements arise regarding Wilders’ portrayal as a defender of free speech. Despite his claims, Wilders has made proposals to ban the Quran, shut down mosques, restrict the establishment of new mosques, and amend the Dutch Constitution to disallow faith-based schools for Muslims while allowing them for Christians and other religions. Wilders attempts to deflect discrimination allegations by characterising Islam as a totalitarian ideology, akin to fascism or Communism, having compared the Quran to Hitler's Mein Kampf.
In the context of Western liberal democracies, the link between free speech and discrimination becomes clear. Instances where free speech is invoked to propagate Islamophobia and discrimination, as observed in figures like Geert Wilders, highlight the disconcerting paradox between advocating for absolute freedom of expression and perpetuating discriminatory agendas.
As I reflect on my own personal journey, from resenting my heritage to embracing its diversity, it serves as a stark reminder that the fight against Islamophobia isn’t just theoretical. It’s a lived reality, a call to challenge these paradoxes and ensure that free speech is not used as a veil for perpetuating discrimination, but a tool for fostering genuine dialogue and inclusivity.
Sofia Benesty is a writer and researcher from Antwerp, currently based in Dublin. With a Master’s degree in Equality Studies, her work delves into themes of identity, social justice, and the transformative power of storytelling. Her master’s research explored internalised racial oppression and assimilation pressures faced by mixed-race individuals, a subject she continues to engage with through her writing. Sofia is currently working on her debut children’s book, which brings these themes to life with nuance and creativity. She is deeply fascinated by how (counter-)stories can foster a deeper understanding of the social world and its complexities.