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A French high school teacher was beheaded by a teenager on Friday, apparently because he had shown satirical images of the Prophet Muhammed in class. The extremist killing came two weeks after French President Emmanuel Macron had declared in a major policy speech that Islam was “in crisis” and announced his government’s plan to “build an Islam in France that is compatible with the Enlightenment.”
Ahmet Kuru, a global expert on religion and politics, examines Macron’s claim and explains why secular France has had such a difficult time making Muslims feel welcome.
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An homage to Samuel Paty, a teacher murdered after showing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed from the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, Oct. 18, 2020.
Adnan Farzat/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Ahmet T. Kuru, San Diego State University
Macron wants to 'build an Islam in France that can be compatible with the Enlightenment.' But that goal assumes France is compatible with Islam, says a Muslim scholar of religion and politics.
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Economy + Business
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Laura Caron, Columbia University; Erwin R. Tiongson, Georgetown University
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Politics/Election '20
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Mona Lena Krook, Rutgers University
Misogyny combined with partisan vitriol is a dangerous combination for women politicians and American democracy, says a recent House resolution denouncing 'violence against women in politics.'
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Kristin Kanthak, University of Pittsburgh
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Keith Brown, Arizona State University
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Chris Lamb, IUPUI
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W. Joseph Campbell, American University School of Communication
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Science + Technology
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Gabriel Kaptchuk, Boston University; Elissa M. Redmiles, Max Planck Institute; Rachel Cummings, Georgia Institute of Technology
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Health + Medicine
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Lynne Anderson, The Conversation
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Elizabeth Cantwell, University of Arizona
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Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology
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