Attacking Muslim Minority Women Online

Abstract Against continuing attempts in Europe to draw an “essentialized” picture of Muslims as a group characterized by foreignness, backwardness, threat, and cultural incompatibility with core European values, this article focuses on the implications of a “racialized” representation of Muslims online, placing emphasis on women. An intersectional analysis of the impact of online hate speech is justified by the fact that this category of persons experience harm as a consequence of the interaction of their gender, religious affiliation, and ethnic origin as identity markers that single them out as “targets” for online hate speech. Taking into account the exponential growth of online hate speech targeting Muslims, the aim of the analysis is to show the need for an intersectional approach to anti-Muslim hatred online, especially in connection with the harm that such speech creates for women. By securitizing Muslim communities, online hate speech sets the basis for serious limitations on the freedom of expression, freedom of association, and political participation of a vulnerable segment of contemporary European societies.