French academic warns of escalating ‘murderous Islamophobia’ in France at UK Parliament panel
The situation today in France is extremely alarming, as we observe a clear shift from institutional Islamophobia to murderous Islamophobia
LONDON (MNTV) — Dr Kawtar Najib, a human geographer from the University of Liverpool, has warned that France is witnessing a dangerous shift from institutional to “murderous Islamophobia,” citing recent violent incidents targeting Muslims.
Speaking at a recent panel discussion on the European Islamophobia Report (EIR) in the House of Commons, Dr Najib presented her latest findings on Islamophobia in France for the year 2023. The event was hosted by Afzal Khan MP, Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims.
Dr Najib, who authors the annual EIR chapter on France, highlighted three defining moments in 2023: the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk in June, the French government’s ban on the abaya in public schools in September, and the criminalisation of pro-Palestinian solidarity.
She said these events illustrate the intensification of Islamophobic policies and rhetoric in France.
“The situation today in France is extremely alarming, as we observe a clear shift from institutional Islamophobia to murderous Islamophobia,” Dr Najib said.
“Many violent attacks, supported by far-right politics, are causing the killings of innocent Muslims, especially in the last two months.”
Dr Najib appeared alongside Professor Enes Bayrakli of Turkish-German University, who discussed structural Islamophobia in Europe; Professor Aristotle Kallis (Keele University) and Dr Amani Hassani (Brunel University), who spoke on the U.K. and Denmark respectively.
“There was agreement across the discussion that Islamophobia has increased after 7 October 2023 and is negatively influencing mainstream media and political discourses,” Dr Najib said.
“I highlighted how Islamophobia is everywhere, and that global Islamophobia has a local impact on the everyday lives of Muslim populations. However, if there is an ‘Everywhere Islamophobia’, then there is also an ‘Everywhere Resistance’.”
The event also featured contributions from Lord Wajid Khan, Minister for Faith and Communities, Turkish Ambassador Osman Koray Ertaş, MP Naz Shah, and Lord Qurban Hussein.
Dr Najib’s written evidence on gendered Islamophobia in the U.K. has also been published by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Gendered Islamophobia.
Her research continues to document the lived experiences of Muslims, particularly women, in spaces where discrimination intersects with race, religion, and gender.
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