The dynamics of radicalisation among Dutch Muslims in <i>Layla M.</i>

This article examines representations of Dutch Muslims in the film Layla M. (2016) and argues that the experiences of the character Layla M. exemplify an extreme version of the type of negative impact that systemic racism and social exclusion can have on young Dutch Muslims living in the Netherlands. Through textual analysis, the article unpacks how the film challenges mainstream portrayals of Muslims in the Netherlands, particularly narratives about integration, extremism, and belonging. Rather than depicting radicalisation as an inherent or inevitable outcome, Layla M. frames it as a layered response to the entrenched discrimination and marginalisation faced by Muslim communities within Dutch society. The film fictionally highlights the frustrations of Muslims who find themselves caught between their cultural identity and a society that often views them with suspicion. In so doing, Layla M. offers a critical examination of the socio-political forces at play, challenging reductive stereotypes and offering a more nuanced, multi-layered understanding of the factors that can lead to radicalisation.