Islam and Muslims in Charlie Hebdo : legacies of colonialism and orientalism

Abstract

France was a major European imperialist country and increased its reach by colonizing many parts of Africa, Asia, North America, and the Caribbean. This brought the French into contact with different cultures and religions and simplified immigration of the colonists to France, from the French colonies of North Africa. It is in this way that some non -Christian religions were imported to France and that Islam was brought to France from North Africa. This thesis will reflect on the way Islam and its followers were treated by the French satirical magazine, <i>Charlie Hebdo</i>, while living in France’s secular laïcité’s society. Although <i>Charlie Hebdo</i> published other cartoons about Islam and Muslims, it was the publishing of the infamous cartoons depicting Muhammed in an irreverent manner that had deadly consequences, both within France and internationally. The outcomes were difficult to control and supported differing global opinions regarding the republishing of the cartoons, terrorism, and the limits of freedom of speech. Most importantly, the portrayal of the religion of Islam and its Muslim followers by the magazine promoted a perspective that questions if Muslims could indeed become genuine members of French society.