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The Burqa Ban in France and Its Potential Implications on Islamic Terrorism

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The Burqa Ban in France and Its Potential Implications on Islamic Terrorism Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2015 The urB qa Ban in France and Its Potential Implications on Islamic Terrorism Ifeanyi Valentine Madu Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Public Administration Commons, and the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Ifeanyi Madu has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Lori Demeter, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Jason Lum, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Anthony Fleming, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2015 Abstract The Burqa Ban in France and Its Potential Implications on Islamic Terrorism by Ifeanyi V. Madu MA, Morgan State University, 2008 BA, Abia State University, 1996 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University June 2015 Abstract Islamic terrorism has become a global problem which has resulted in human, social, political, and economic costs. Many Islamic terrorist organizations have focused their attacks on the West and its interests. They justify these acts by making reference to policies of the West, which they believe are inimical to Islam. France, a Western country, recently introduced a law which bans the Islamic face veil (the burqa) in public places in the country. This study examined the implications of this law. The research question focused on the perceived relationship between this law and increased acts of Islamic terrorism. The theoretical construct of this study was based off Huntington’s clash of civilizations theory. Data were collected through in-depth, open ended interviews with 23 Muslim participants who were identified through a snowball sampling technique. These participants represented a variety of nations, including France. Data were inductively coded and then organized around key themes and ideas. Findings indicate that participants did not perceive a relationship between increased acts of Islamic terrorism and the burqa ban specifically, but they did feel the burqa ban undermines Islam. These findings were consistent with the study’s theoretical construct as they revealed an underlying conflict between some Western countries and Islam. These findings contribute to positive social change as they highlight areas where policy makers have opportunities to build more culturally sensitive relations between the West and Islam, perhaps eventually serving to reduce future radicalization and religious extremism. The Burqa Ban in France and Its Potential Implications on Islamic Terrorism by Ifeanyi V. Madu MA, Morgan State University, 2008 BA, Abia State University, 1996 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University May 2015 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my family for their support, understanding, and encouragement. I wish to also thank my family members and friend who provided me with information and advice that contributed to this study. Acknowledgments I will like to thank Dr. Demeter and Dr. Lum. The support and the assistance these committee members gave me immensely contributed to the development of this research study. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background of Study .....................................................................................................3 Provisions of the Act No. 2010 – 1192 of 11 October 2010................................... 5 Potential Implications of this Legislation ............................................................... 5 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................7 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................9 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................10 Research Question .......................................................................................................11 Conceptual Framework: Samuel Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations ........................12 Theoretical Framework: Terror Management Theory .................................................14 Religion, Culture, and Cultural Worldviews ........................................................ 15 Differences in Cultural Worldviews as the Foundation of Conflicts .................... 15 Definition and Explanation of Terms ..........................................................................17 Limitation to the Study ................................................................................................18 Ethical Concerns ..........................................................................................................18 Significance and Implications on Social Change.........................................................19 Summary ......................................................................................................................20 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................22 Introduction ..................................................................................................................22 The Study’s Research Question ...................................................................................23 Terror Management Theory .........................................................................................23 i Historical Perspective ..................................................................................................24 Islamic Terrorism and Culture Wars ............................................................................25 The West as the Target of Islamic Terrorism ..............................................................26 Islamophobia and the Burqa Ban in France .................................................................28 Islamophobia Explained........................................................................................ 28 Xeno-Racism and Muslims in Europe .........................................................................29 French Public Opinion and the Burqa Ban in France ..................................................31 The Burqa Ban and Islamophobia in France................................................................32 Profiling of Muslims in Europe ............................................................................ 34 The European Convention on Human Rights ..............................................................35 The Burqa Ban and Article 14 of the ECHR ...............................................................36 Article 9 of ECHR .......................................................................................................38 Section I (First Clause) of Article 9 of the ECHR ................................................ 38 Section II (Second Clause): Limitations to the Freedom of Religion ................... 38 Gender Equality and the Necessity of the Burqa Ban in a Democratic Society....................................................................................................... 39 The Quran and the Islamic Face-Veil (the Burqa) .......................................................41 The Salafists .................................................................................................................43 Salafi Jihadi Terrorism .......................................................................................... 44 Stigmatization of Muslims in France ...........................................................................45 Human Rights Violations and Islamic Terrorism ........................................................46 Physical Integrity Rights ....................................................................................... 47 ii State Repression of Rights .................................................................................... 48 Discrimination and its Potential Implications on Islamic Terrorism ...........................49 Relative Deprivation and Political Violence ......................................................... 50 Social Exclusion, Religious and Economic Discrimination of Minorities ..................51 Domestic and Transnational Terrorism .......................................................................52 Alleged Violations of the Human Rights of Muslims by the West: A Muslim’s Perspective .......................................................................................................53
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