Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 American Arabs
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd American Arabs
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022 Activism
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast Arab News
  • State Rep. Cyril Nichols interviewed on live Arab American radio in Detroit with host Ray Hanania Friday Dec. 9, 2022
    Nichols discusses need to improve Arab-Black relations in Chicagoland American Arabs
  • Voting sticker issued to voters in Cook County elections in 2016. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Gov. Pritzker Announces Six Appointments to Boards and Commissions — no Arabs included American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Pritzker again ignores needs of Arab businesses in latest appointments Activism
  • Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) official candidate endorsements for the November 8, 2022 General elections.
    Arab American Democratic Club issues endorsements for Nov. 8, 2022 Cook County Illinois elections Activism
  • Arab Democrats urge NO VOTE on Gov. J.B. Pritzker re-election bid Activism
  • Assyrian American GOP issues endorsements in Nov, 8, 2022 elections
    Assyrian American GOP group endorses candidates in Illinois Activism
  • Abdullah Hammoud, elected Mayor of Dearborn Nov. 2, 2021. Photo courtesy of Abdullah Hammoud Facebook Page
    AHRC’s 2022 Spirit of Humanity Gala a Great Success American Arabs
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts Arab World
  • Rep. Cyril Nichols to be feted by supporters at fundraiser Saturday Oct. 22 Activism
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri Activism
Women in Berqas protesting about ISO at a recent rally in France. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

What’s the Matter with France?

Posted on February 11, 2018February 11, 2018 By Abdennour Toumi 2 Comments on What’s the Matter with France?
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

What’s the Matter with France?

What is wrong with the white xenophobes and France in general toward their fellow Muslims and Arabs?

By Abdennour Toumi

The question of the headscarf (al-Khemar in Arabic) in France is more than just a partisan selling point and an electoral agenda. The aim of the matter is to ban it in universities as it is banned in public servant offices. For instance, Muslim women who have an appointment with their local Mayor in his office or who work in the City hall building should take off their headscarf at the gate, and many Muslim women are suffering from this dress discrimination. On the other hand, it is authorized to be worn by Muslim women employed as cleaners in public train and metro stations.

In the French version of the blind audition of the popular reality show “The Voice” on February 4th, Mennel Ibtissem, a young French Muslim of Arab immigrant descent, an elegant young woman with a velvet voice and an angelic face, sang Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah in English and in Arabic. The four judges, including Lebanese-born singer Mika, turned shortly after the first verse to see the face of this tender and hopeful voice.

Muslim women wearing a Hijab. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Muslim women wearing a Hijab. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Hours later, French white xenophobes launched a bashing campaign on social media and on national TV plateaus after peeling off her activities like an onion on social media (Tweeter and FB). Mennel, a 22-year-old French-Arab/Muslim with a Syrian father and an Algerian-Moroccan mother, appeared well integrated to some point inserted like the Interior Minister Gerard Collomb wants them. In the past she had made a statement about the Nice attack and the cowardly assassination of Father Hamel at Saint-Etienne in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

The white xenophobes portrayed Mennel as a “radical” Muslim and pro-Palestinian because of her colorful, seemingly disguised scarf, a confirmation of her leaning toward radical Islam ideology, according to her foes. Mennel decided to quit the competition; she couldn’t handle the pressure nor the prejudgement, though she stunned the jury and the audience of the show with her performance.

What is wrong with the white xenophobes and France in general toward their fellow Muslims and Arabs?

Women in Berqas protesting about ISO at a recent rally in France. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi
Women in Berqas protesting about ISO at a recent rally in France. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

A secular country like France has a large number of supporters from diverse sectors, such as the liberals, the feminists and the anti-Arab/Muslim immigrants politicians and intellectuals. This political noise that turned into a serious societal topic gives a counter argument to the puritan/Islamists called “Salafists” by the French Parisian elite and media — yet to them any devoted Muslim of either gender are Salafists, a generic adjective and a pejorative connotation to denigrate any eloquent Muslim voice.

I heard a political “analyst” on C-News’ “les Voix de l’info” presented by Sonia Mabrouk who described Tariq Ramadan as a Salafist. This is like calling a Black Panther, the MLK Civil Rights Movement member! Actually, he is e-Khouanist (Brotherist), Frèriste in French), but not Salafist.

First, Mennel’s headscarf is anything, but Islamic, according to the Islamic cloth’s (al-Hejab) Sharia conditions. The fact that she appears on camera on a public broadcast before millions is considered a sin (haram) and her voice is a’aoura (exciting), according to the Islamic doctrine. Second, her scarf could be a French turban as it was described by her detractors. So Mennel tried to be an artist and not a polemist; as a result she found herself between artistic assassination by the tongues of the xenophobes and  character assassination by the knives of Muslim radicals.

Third, to some extent, the French elite and the xenophobes ignore the Muslims and the Arabs who have been living in France for a century, seeing them as lazy and Republic profiteers, hence an easy target, and Islam and the Arab/Muslim community in France become the origin of the French “malaise.”

Nevertheless, the question of the al-Khemar (full hair cover) in the eyes of the elite and the xenophobe is an identity marker like a-Neqab (full head cover), which puts women’s freedom of expression and submission in doubt. This would clash with the secularists’ and the feminists’ arguments who don’t want a puritanical ideology taking advantage of Marianne’s generosity and liberty.

Then-Premier Valls wanted to reform Islam of France, which in his eyes is not secularist enough. Hence his statement sparked controversy in the Muslim community by suggesting the Muslim headscarf should be banned in universities. Since a majority of French people think Islam is incompatible with the values of the Republic, recently Mr. Valls a lawmaker vehemently supported the bill to ban religious ostensoria in the French Parliament.

The FN militants and the right-wing partisans of the LR party are already jubilant, and they have every reason to be so. According to CEVIOF (Center for Political Research at Sciences Po) as of January, 2018, 60% of the French consider Islam a threat to the Republic, 37% think that the immigrants’ children born in France are not really French, and 63% think that there are too many immigrants in France.

As a matter of fact, French Muslim and Arab anti-sentiment goes back to then-President Chirac’s administration, when a fiery tactician was appointed for political goals to be France’ Cop-in-Chief to marginalize the score of Jean Marie Le Pen in April, 2002, to clean up the neighborhoods (les banlieues), and stop illegal immigration: his name, Nicolas Sarkozy.

These ingredients were a tasty treat on the tongues of the frontists. Sarkozy’s “tactic” worked in 2007, and he was elected with 10% of the frontists’ vote. But the media and the politicians “buried” the frontists, believing them losing ground. Consequently, the FN came out as a wounded beast and imposed its presence as a popular winner in the finale in every local and national election in French politics, thanks to the French electoral system; otherwise, Marine would be living in 55, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, Paris in the 8th arrondissement.

Subsequently, Mennel’s senseless polemic has come in post-“Charlie,” Paris and Nice attacks that increase France’s elite, politicians and media to panic or “panade” to the implicit Le-Penization of France and Marineland. This has expanded in a decade of French presidents Sarkozy, Hollande and recently Macron’s administrations who have not only echoed far-right rhetoric, but also applied far-right measures vis-à-vis the “Other,” the boggy man of French politicians’ failure and French evil (le mal français).

In this stance, consider the inhumane Roma expulsion to Romania and the Guéant circular, urging graduating foreigners to stay and work in France during the Sarkozy administration and currently with the African, Syrian and Afghan migrants in Calais and across the country.

Restructuring the mindset of the white xenophobes and anti-establishment radical right-elite to view Arab/Muslims as uneducated, mean people, not eloquent and lazy, poses a huge challenge. Like Mounia, a private cardiologist in Seine-Saint-Denis department 93 in a phone conversation put it, “…they want these young women vulgar and half-naked like Nabila…” Ms. Nabila Ben Attia, A French-Swiss model and reality TV persona.

Nabila appeared in l’Amour est aveugle (Love is Blind) and other reality shows, including Touche Pas à Mon Poste (TPMP), a humorist entertainment show as a chronicle on Prime-Time.

To the Arab women I spoke with, Nabila is a product of the tabloid media and paints a portrait of the young Arab woman, pejoratively called “Beurettes,” as “exotic” to appeal to the young girls of the banlieues, though in the eyes of these young women she is a joke, as Linda, an accountant, put it.

The parallel between Mennel’s story and Nabila’s history reflects a country in multi-dimensional malaise, a suffering driven from diverse directions by the rejectionist politicians, arrogant journalists’ opportunism, some of the lefty media and politician leaders’ reality detachment. Now, more than ever, France needs a reality show like “The Voice”, whose jury is not without vision, but whose vision allows soft voices like Mennel’s to sing about inclusion.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi:
- France correspondent for The Arab Daily News.
- www.bareed-areej.com Editor-in-Chief
رئيس تحرير مجلة بريد الأريج
- Political consultant at IMPR a Think-Tank based in Ankara, Turkey.
- Member at the European Observatory for Arabic Language Teaching based in Paris, France.
- Affiliated with Sociology of Islam Journal and contributor at Middle East Studies / International Studies, Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Center, Portland State University in Portland, OR.

EDUCATION: Diplôme des Études Approfondies (DEA) in Political Science from Toulouse University I, France. Master’s degree in Law from Algiers University, Algeria.

Email im at: nourhty@gmail.com
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Latest posts by Abdennour Toumi (see all)
  • The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is the Neither-Peace-nor-Security As-sumption Dominating Again? - June 7, 2021
  • Algeria: “I Can See Clearly Now” - August 5, 2019
  • Majesty Mohammed VI and General Gaïd Salah Tear Down This Wall! - July 29, 2019

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Abdennour Toumi, Arab World, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Middle East, Opinion, Paris, racism, religion Tags:anti-Muslim backlash, France, French public, French version of Voice, Hijab, Islamic clothing, Islamic headscarf, Mennel Ibtissem, xenophobia

Post navigation

Previous Post: ” الحشمة ” هو منتج Macy الجديد لملابس المحجبات
Next Post: Controversial Israeli film “Foreign Land” in U.S. in March

Related Posts

  • Elysee Palace, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi
    “Olive Branch” Paris Position: Reticence and Opacity Arab World
  • Photos: Palestinians show support for Freedom Flotilla Arab World
  • Arab American Institute President Jim Zogby addresses the Arab American Democratic Club brunch March 19, 2017. Photo courtesy of Steve Neuhaus
    Zogby named to Democratic Unity Commission American Arabs
  • Israel controls Palestinians physically, but Palestinian fanatics control their minds Arab World
  • Hirak 19 Algeria. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi
    Algeria: “I Can See Clearly Now” Abdennour Toumi
  • Faith groups oppose denial of civil rights to critics of Israel American Arabs

More Related Articles

Terrorist Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad, who have used chemical weapons and violence to destroy any Syrian civilian who challenges his atrocities. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) State Department release Joint Statement on crisis in Syria by government leaders  Arab News
9/11: We will never forget, but will we ever learn? Arab World
Front page banner Ray Hanania column June 1, 2019 in the Arab News Newspaper on how Begin tried to use money to buy off Palestinian statehood Kushner and Greenblatt making same mistake Begin made in 1977 Arab News
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Will Khashoggi’s demise at least help end the Yemen war? Arab World
CNBC, the world’s number one business and financial news network in Dubai. The network opened offices in Abu Dhabi in April 2018. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia CNBC goes live from Abu Dhabi Arab World
The Black List and This American and Israel’s Nuclear Whistle Blower Vanunu Mordechai Arab World

Comments (2) on “What’s the Matter with France?”

  1. Pingback: What’s the Matter with France? – Straturka
  2. Pingback: Qu’est-ce qui est important avec la France? – GoodClick

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Tiktok.com/@RayHanania
    Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States
    January 19, 2023
  • Ghassan Rubeiz
    To what extent is Hezbollah responsible for the current crisis in Lebanon?
    January 17, 2023
  • Image from Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's "A Compendium of Chronicles. Image courtesy of Wikipedia
    Why allow religious extremists to re-define Islam in the West?
    January 10, 2023
  • CAIR Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad
    This Thanksgiving, let’s use our Blessings for good
    November 23, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022
    January 4, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri
    October 19, 2022

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme