Not just any order!: Revealing identity constructions of Muslims in the Mohammad cartoons

The article analyses how the Mohammad cartoons enforced stereotypes of Muslims. It provides in-depth analysis of the cartoons based on opinion material from public debate and cognitive discourse analysis of “common sense knowledge”. The article shows that the main themes of interpretation were Muslim male and female identities. These were presented in a stereotypical way, downplaying agency and critical reflection among Muslim believers. Moreover, many citizens pointed out similarities between the Abrahamic religions. Such interpretations may be traced to mental models that perceived the cartoons as either humorous, a matter of Freedom of speech, or as an expression of values supportive to multiculturalism. Thereby the public debate drew on discourses about terrorism, veiling, child marriages, mother tongue education, and Turkey’s possible EU-accession. In general, the cartoons as well as the public debate about them enforced new racist ideas of Muslims.