Charlie Hebdo Attack: An Analysis of Consequences and the Role of Political Islam in the EU

Was the attack on Charlie Hebdo offices in January 2015 an act of violence against media freedom or was it an act of revenge for presumed blasphemy? This article, employing a poststructuralist discourse analysis tries to find a broader meaning for Charlie Hebdo Attack (CHA). In this article, texts from EU, media, militant organisations and scholarly works are selected and it is argued that CHA was an act of political violence aimed at achieving certain political goals. It is claimed that post-CHA statements, narratives and discourses from EU or militant organisations create ‘self/other’ dichotomy as dividing practices which have certain power effects and implications. The ‘identity/difference’ debate is elaborated through existing discourses and scholarship showing that the ‘self/other’ dichotomy is multi-layered and multifold. This article analyses the role of political Islam in Europe through scholarly discourse and argues that the practices of Muslims in Europe are better understood if seen as political and not as religious or cultural. Finally, the article argues that the security risk narrative in Europe is magnified that brings the faulty Clash of Civilisations discourse into action which is in sharp contrast to the EU foundations and ideals of freedom and integration.