The report titled "Giaour Discourse in Print Media" examines how the word ‘giaour’ is used, which has various historical, sociological and linguistic connotations, in a context within which non-Muslim identities are associated with mercilessness, cruelty and enmity. We tried to reveal how the usage of the word ‘giaour’, in daily life and media alike, isolates non-Muslims living in Turkey and put them in a fragile position by alienating them.
The report is opened by sociologist Arus Yumul’s article in which she discusses the historical and social background of the ‘giaour’ discourse and etymology of the word. This article is followed by an analysis regarding how this discourse is constructed in print media on the basis of religious references and perception of enmity coming from the past. This analysis, which discusses news articles and columns targeting non-Muslims in Turkey and Western states, ends with a discussion on the expression ‘giaour Izmir.’ In the second chapter, the usage of the word ‘giaour’ is discussed in terms of how and in which context it was used as a political propaganda tool in the process leading to the referendum. After the third chapter, which focuses on the article criticizing the ‘giaour’ discourse, the report ends with the conclusion summarizing the report.
- Report name
- Giaour Discourse in Print Media
- Original name
- Yazılı Basında Gâvur Söylemi
- Price
- Free
- Pages
- 30
- Width
- 210 mm
- Height
- 295 mm
- Printing
- November 2017
- Language
- English
- Authors
- Prof. Arus Yumul, Ezgi Kan
Media Watch on Hate Speech Project is funded by Friedrich Naumann Foundation, British Embassy Ankara, Open Society Foundation and Istanbul Policy Center. The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the funders.
- Introduction
- To call or not to call the giaour 'giaour’, that is the question - Arus Yumul
- Print media analysis
- Construction of context through religious references and historical enmity
- 'Giaours among us': Giaour as the antithesis of Islam
- 'Giaour West' as a threat against 'Muslim Turkey'
- Discussion of giaour as an insult: The example of “Giaour Izmir”
- Giaour as a political propaganda tool
- Criticisms against the giaour discourse
- Construction of context through religious references and historical enmity
- Conclusion
- About the authors