A common first question many people ask after a terrorist attack has taken place is ‘why did this atrocity happen?’. In the case of ISIS’s recent string of attacks in France, one must look at this issue in both a historical and modern context. France has always been a country wrought with terroristic threats and violence, often seen as a Western power that is considered the “Capital for prostitution and vice”. France has also been an active participant in Middle Eastern affairs even after the loss of its colonies, this included the war for independence in Algeria that killed over 700,000 people and brought protests to France, leading to the massacre of 200 people as well as a large number of their bodies being dumped in the Seine river. It is through this “mélange” of historical conflict and current tension between the French and Muslim communities that we can identify the reasonings behind why some believe these heinous attacks are merited and why France has often been the target of such attacks.
French Imperialism in the Middle East
The beginning of Franco-Muslim tension unsurprisingly began to manifest itself during the Colonial Period. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, the region was divided into “mandates” under complete control of the League of Nations. Over the next decade, the population was arbitrarily divided by outside forces in order to satisfy the conditions and terms that Europeans saw fit. The English and the French determined the borders of these newly created states, and in Syria, the French even went so far as to create local semi autonomous states within the confines of the national government.
On October 5, 1918, Amir Faysal Ibn Husayni, field commander of the Arab revolt, claimed an “independent Arab constitutional government with authority over all of Syria” as well as a Syrian Congress in Damascus. France knew that their only option was to either take control of the Faysal government or smother it entirely. Later that month, they called, or rather forced, King Faysal to Paris to discuss mutually beneficial terms with Premier George Clemenceau. The French agreed to recognize partial Syrian independence with Faysal as king if they remained under French control and recognized the independence of Lebanon. This mandate would also require Syria to be dependant on France for all military and economic help, as well as letting them control their foreign policy.
With the change of French governmental control into the hands of Alexandre Millerand in 1920, a new, more unfriendly, relationship developed between France and the Faysal government. The Syrian Congress rejected France’s terms and on March 7th unofficially declared the full independence of Syria, including Lebanon and Palestine as a part of their territory, under the command of its monarch, the “King of the United Syrian Kingdom”. Faysal was coronated the following day and an official Syrian government was established in Damascus. France responded by claiming this declaration “null & void” and refused to recognize Faysal as king; thus marking the start of deteriorating relations between France and Syria.
On July 26, 1920, the French overthrew Faysal and the nationalist government and occupied Damascus. Faysal was deposed and sent into exile, and the French proclaimed that Syria would be held by France from then on. (Fildis, 2011)
Current Strained Relations
While conflict between France and its Muslim communities has been an issue throughout history, tensions still continue to rise even today. France’s intense secularism and Islam’s need to publicly display their faith frequently clash causing disdain for the large population of French Muslims. Radical secularism is deeply embedded in French culture as they fight to keep their culture “one” and the “same” (Power, 2015, p.1). Since the law of 1905, France has held a fierce anti-church ideology, labeled laïcité (King, 2004, p.1). The French government condemns any incorporation of church within state matters (King, 2015, p.1). This is inherently different from the ideologies Muslims practices, with Saudi Arabia as a clear contrast to secular France. Many dress in veils, keep facial hair, and take breaks during work to publicly hold prayer (Power, 2015, p.1). France has taken legal action against this public display of faith as in legislation passed by the French Senate; by a vote of 246-1 in 2010 which banned facial coverings including veils, and the traditional Muslim niqab. In 2013, the French Government implemented a Charter For Secularity in School which is a set of guidelines to be taught in classrooms that are meant to keep religions and school separate. Many leaders claim this is a direct attack on their religion. This leaves many French Muslims in a tough position as they feel the impact of the attacks on their country but are also left feeling stigmatized for their religion in comparison to Catholicism. According to the scholar Oliver Roy, a good part the Islamic community is using peaceful, legal proceedings to protest the injustices they experience but the media has focused on the violent acts that have taken place such as the Charlie Hebdo massacre (Power, 2015, p.1).
The Connection
By assessing the motives behind these attacks, we are able to more fully understand why and for what purpose these events took place. Whether considering the colonial conquest and control of the former Ottoman Empire or the modern tensions that exist between the French and their Muslim population, the reasoning behind some Muslims’ anti-French sentiment is apparent. While tensions between these two groups have existed for over a century, a significant amount of French people have been growing more and more Islamophobic over the past several years in response to these attacks. Both parties are, in effect, adding fuel to each other's fire and perpetuating the hostilities between their people.
Until these issues can be sorted out, and groups that intend to harm innocent civilians, whether they be Western or Islamic, are apprehended, the cycle of hatred and conflict will continue to turn. France, along with many other Western nations, and the Islamic world need to publicly show their unity to bring an end to the senseless violence that has taken so many lives.
Sources
Fildis, Dr. Ayse Tekdal (2011). The Troubles in Syria: Spawned by French Divide and Rule. Middle East Policy Council. Retrieved October 22, 2016, from http://www.mepc.org/journal/middle-east-policy-archives/troubles-syria-spawned-french-divide-and-rule
King, T. (2004, March 20). Secularism in France | Prospect Magazine. Retrieved October 23, 2016, from http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/secularisminfrance
Power, C. (2015, January 8). Why There's Tension Between France and Its Muslim Popualtion. Retrieved from http://time.com/3659241/paris-terror-attack-muslim-islam/
Allen, F. (2016). Why is France the target of so many terrorist atrocities?. The Sun. Retrieved 23 October 2016, from https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1449033/why-is-france-the-target-of-so-many-terrorist-atrocities/
Engel, P. (2016). Why France has become a prime target for terrorists. Business Insider. Retrieved 23 October 2016, from http://www.businessinsider.com/why-terrorists-target-france-2016-7
Charlie Hebdo attack: Three days of terror - BBC News. (2015, January 14). Retrieved October 24, 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30708237
The Law of 1905 | Musée virtuel du Protestantisme. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2016, from http://www.museeprotestant.org/en/notice/the-law-of-1905/
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