SEKULARISME DAN ISLAMOPHOBIA DALAM KEBIJAKAN PUBLIK PRANCIS TERHADAP MUSLIM

Studi Transformasi Laïcité dan Diskriminasi Terlembaga Pasca 2020

Abstract

This paper discusses the dynamics of the application of the principle of laïcité or secularism in French public policy and its relationship with the rise of Islamophobia against Muslim communities. Laïcité was originally intended as a principle of state neutrality towards religion, but this principle has undergone a shift in meaning and function from protecting religious freedom to becoming a tool of social exclusion against Muslims. This study employs a qualitative method with a single-case study approach, focusing on French state policies from 2004 to post-2020. The research findings indicate that various policies, such as bans on the hijab, niqab, and abaya, indirectly reinforce discriminatory practices legitimized by an exclusive interpretation of laïcité. This phenomenon is exacerbated by political rhetoric, the role of the media, and national identity dynamics that stigmatize Islam. Additionally, the response from the Muslim community and international criticism underscore the importance of re-examining the principle of laïcité to ensure it does not conflict with democratic values and human rights. This study concludes that laïcité in French public policy has shifted into an instrument that reinforces Islamophobia and threatens social integration in an increasingly multicultural society.

Keywords: France; Laïcité; Secularism; Islamophobia; Public Policy; Discrimination