Beyond the Headlines: Deconstructing European Media’s Islamophobic Discourse

Abstract

This study investigates Islamophobia as prevalent in Europe. In this connection, it deconstructs the portrayal of Islam and the Muslims by the British, French and German media through their discourse strategies. It also examines the counter-narrative by the Middle Eastern and Pakistani media. This qualitative research applies a triangulation of framing theory and critical discourse analysis to highlight the media's subtle use of discourse strategies to advance their agenda. The analysis of the study reflects how the European Media reflects a negative role of Islam and Muslims by using discourse tactics. They exploit lexical selection and other tactics, such as visuals, headings, captions, and sub-captions, in ways that influence the cognition of the general public, who feel cognitively compelled to believe what European Media wants to promote. The study also finds how the Media of the Muslim countries, such as Al Jazeera and Dawn, continue to counter the European narrative on Islam and the Muslims to challenge the European agenda. This study is significant because it deconstructs the manipulative strategies used by the European media for the promotion of Islamophobia. It adopts a critical discourse analysis perspective, which helps break the power structure based on discourse.