Postcolonial Enlightenment: Reformers of Islam in Sarkozy's France

This article presents the emergence of a problematic language of mimicry and political conformism amongst a group of French-based reformers of Islam. It focuses in particular on the increased use of the term 'enlightenment' when putting forward their ideas for reforming Muslim communities and sacred scriptures. This trend emerges against a backdrop of mounting political pressure against Muslims in France exacerbated by public explorations of Frenchness that intensify in their racial and historical exclusiveness, particularly with the rise of Nicholas Sarkozy starting around 2005. Reformers of Islam seem keen to apply the term to any suggestions they make, showing little engagement with the historical Enlightenment, and little questioning of the contemporary interpretations of it by the French political establishment. In the work of these reformers, enlightenment merely becomes an ill-defined process through which Muslim communities may gain access to French identity.