The Securitization of Muslims in Europe

In episode 6 of the “Islam on the Edges” podcast, Ermin Sinanovic talks to Dr. Farid Hafez (Williams College) about the securitization of Muslims in Europe. In a vibrant discussion, Dr. Hafez speaks about the neo-Nazis and their relationship with Islamophobia in Austria and other European countries. He traces the rise of the New Right and its role in anti-Muslim rhetoric. Dr. Hafez focuses explicitly on Austria, his country of origin, and its increasing anti-Muslim turn. He examines the long-standing presence of Muslims in Austria, dating back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and how the contemporary Austrian state racializes the Muslim presence. With the French presidential elections around the corner, this episode is a timely reminder of the precarious position of Muslims in Europe.