12. Heroes or Terrorists? Muslim Second Generations in Western Media

Media are the place where the “creation of the Other” takes place, and in the case of Muslims since the 9/11 and the following attacks in Europe, it is where a Muslim identity is pictured considering them as eternal guests and a threat to security (Salih 2004). One of the effects of the New York attacks was in fact the creation of an ideal homogeneous “we” opposed to “they”, the Muslims. But the Muslim second generation appeared to have helped to break down the wall of mistrust erected against them after 9/11. Thanks to all the work done, especially at the local level, by Muslim second-generation associations, the border seemed to have moved to include the second generation in the “we community” through, however, the almost total exclusion of the first generation and the creation of a new line of separation between the first and second generations. Second generations are therefore included in the category of “we”, while first generations are excluded and form the homogeneous group of “they”. But this border has been called into question by the attacks in Paris and Brussels and in the other European cities and the departure of foreign fighters, some of them second and third generations, from Europe to the so-called Islamic State. All these episodes have made the media and the public opinion considering to so include the second generation in that “they” whose religion, values and lifestyle are perceived as dangerous and incompatible with “our” culture and society. This “selection ritual” reinforces the typical selectivity of journalistic narratives, marking the boundary between those who can be included and who is excluded. The second generations can be included if they can show the values of youth, of beauty, of assimilation to Western fashion, but also of individual courage in promoting an innovative transnational and anti-radicalized Islam, even taking the stand against radicalized leaders, and in serving the community as community leaders and activists but also policemen, security guards and soldiers and are excluded if pictured as terrorists and extremists. Here is where the media plays a fundamental role in creating exclusion and inclusion, good and bad, “terrorists” or “heroes” and can help to overcome the “clash of civilizations” (Huntington 1996) macro-frame showing the complexity of Islam and the complex and multi-faced approach and ways to believe, live and practice Islam of the second generations in Europe. The topic will be discussed using data from desk research, media analysis and interviews and focus groups (carried out from 2015 to 2018) and participant observation of experiences and practices developed by second-generation Muslims in Europe (with a focus on Italy).