Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Support Imane Boun — Harassed by the Right With Government Support!

Imane Boun, an Algerian-born French student, is being subjected to a right-wing harassment campaign — part of wider anti-Muslim attacks that have been ramping up in France. Here we reproduce a press release from the New Anticapitalist Party (NPA) Youth in her support, to which some explanatory information has been added for a non-French readership.

NPA-Youth

September 17, 2020
Facebook Twitter Share

On September 11, a wave of Islamophobic attacks began to be unleashed against Imane Boun, a precarious Algerian-born French student known for offering low-budget recipe ideas on Instagram. The assault came in the form of a murderous tweet by Judith Waintraub, a journalist for Le Figaro, France’s oldest national daily newspaper, with the largest circulation of any in the country.1Translator’s note: Le Figaro’s editorial line is typically characterized as “center-right,” and the newspaper is notorious for its hostile views regarding immigrants. Waintraub dared to equate Boun with the terrorist attacks of “September 11” because she wears a headscarf.

Waintraub’s tweet aroused the anger of many on social media, with thousands of reactions denouncing her hateful remarks. But a large swath of the political and media class came to Waintraub’s defense, especially after some of the denunciations of her were characterized as death threats. These defenders included many leading figures: Aurore Bergé, a member of the French National Assembly and close ally of President Emmanuel Macron; Gérald Darmanin, France’s minister of the interior; Manuel Valls, prime minister of France from 2014 to 2015; French Senate president Gérard Larcher; and Zineb El Rhazoui, a Moroccan-born French journalist and former columnist for Charlie Hebdo.2Translator’s note: Rhazoui, who is a vocal critic of Islam, notably told one media outlet, “We investigated the ideological background of young Imane, and obviously — like all those who insist on pushing the right to wear the veil — she is an Islamist activist, proselytizing and extremely radical. The media that covered the affair were similarly defensive of Waintraub, including Le Parisien, Le Figaro, HuffPost, and LCI. For her part, Imane, faced with the outpouring of hatred triggered by the journalist’s tweet, deleted her Twitter account after thanking her many anonymous supporters. 

This racist attack against a student is unacceptable. We condemn it.

In the context of Macron’s security offensive, this attack perfectly illustrates the reactionary climate the government, the right wing, and the extreme Right are seeking to impose in France. At a moment when a bill against “separatism” is being prepared that is aimed primarily at Muslims, the politicians and the mainstream media are ready to use any means to advance this dynamic.

Last year, Emmanuel Macron launched open hostilities against Muslims by calling for the expulsion of the “Islamist hydra.” This was followed by a period of Islamophobic tension that culminated in the attacks on the mosque in Bayonne,3Translator’s note: On October 28, 2019, an elderly man tried to set fire to a mosque in the southwestern town of Bayonne. He was interrupted by two men, who he then shot and seriously injured. and then the historic demonstration against Islamophobia that brought out more than 20,000 marchers in Paris on November 10, 2019.

As a new period opens in the security offensive, we cannot just wait for renewed attacks by the extreme Right or the establishment of some system of legal exceptions for Muslims. All the organizations of the Left and far Left, along with the trade unions, must take a stand and denounce this attack, but also open a discussion on how we can create a collective response to the racist policies of the government and its many allies.

First published on September 15 in French in Révolution Permanente.

Translation: Scott Cooper

Notes

Notes
1 Translator’s note: Le Figaro’s editorial line is typically characterized as “center-right,” and the newspaper is notorious for its hostile views regarding immigrants.
2 Translator’s note: Rhazoui, who is a vocal critic of Islam, notably told one media outlet, “We investigated the ideological background of young Imane, and obviously — like all those who insist on pushing the right to wear the veil — she is an Islamist activist, proselytizing and extremely radical.
3 Translator’s note: On October 28, 2019, an elderly man tried to set fire to a mosque in the southwestern town of Bayonne. He was interrupted by two men, who he then shot and seriously injured.
Facebook Twitter Share

Europe

Robert Habeck Wrote a Play Praising a Right-Wing Mass Murderer

Germany's Green vice chancellor strikes many as an idealist who has been struggling with the tough realities of government. Yet before he was a national politician, he wrote a play that opens a window into a dark soul.

Nathaniel Flakin

December 1, 2023

Fact Check: Did German Leftists Try to Bomb West Berlin’s Jewish Community Center in 1969?

Answer: No. The bombing was undertaken by West Germany’s domestic secret service, originally founded by Nazis.

Nathaniel Flakin

November 29, 2023
Tombstones in Germany defaced with Swasticas.

“Stop Thief!” The German State Attacks Migrants to Distract from Its Own Antisemitism

German politicians claim that antisemitism is an “imported problem.” Even a cursory look at the facts, however, shows that anti-Jewish hatred is not caused by pro-Palestinian protests. No, the source is German capitalism.

Nathaniel Flakin

November 21, 2023

Competing Rallies at Berlin’s Free University

On successive Fridays, there was a pro-Palestinian and a pro-Israeli rally at the Free University. One was dominated by international students, including many Jews and Palestinians, calling for solidarity — the other was dominated by German politicians spewing racism. Guess which was which.

Nathaniel Flakin

November 13, 2023

MOST RECENT

All That's Left, the podcast from Left Voice.

#AllThatsLeftPod: What the Historic UAW Victory Means for the Working Class

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss the historic UAW victory, its shortcomings, and the tasks for the future.

Left Voice

December 5, 2023

The New Hollywood McCarthyism Emerging Around Palestine

Over the past week, a new Hollywood McCarthyism has emerged: multiple people in Hollywood have jobs and representation over their support of Palestine. We must denounce and fight these attacks which weaken the movement and scare supporters into silence.

Sybil Davis

December 3, 2023
A UAW sign is held next to a "Free Palestine" sign

The UAW Has Called for a Ceasefire. It’s Time for All of Labor to Stand Up.

The UAW International union has joined calls for a ceasefire and is exploring how to divest from Israel. This is a step which should inspire union activists to take up the fight to bring their union into the fight against Israel's attack on Gaza and the struggle against imperialism.

Rose Lemlich

December 2, 2023

The World Kissinger Built Must Die Too

Henry Kissinger died at 100 years old. But his legacy remains in the brutal world system he built and the future generations of imperialist ghouls he inspired. They all must go.

Samuel Karlin

November 30, 2023