Dhimmitude: A Historical and Contemporary Perspective with Bat Ye’or
In a world facing a resurgence of jihadist ideologies, the concept of dhimmitude—rooted in Sharia law and tied to historical jihad—casts a long shadow over modern societies. From blasphemy laws stifling free speech to the erosion of Judeo-Christian cultural identities, dhimmitude’s mechanisms are increasingly visible in the West. Unexpected alliances between jihadist movements, the anti-Christian Left, and antisemitic factions further complicate this global ideological war. How do these historical patterns shape today’s conflicts? What’s at stake for the future of Western civilization and global stability?
Bat Ye’or, originally born in Cairo, found asylum in London as a stateless refugee in 1957 and became British on marriage, settling in Switzerland. Since 1971 she has written a number of books and scores of articles on non-Muslims under Islam, adopting a biblical pen name, Bat Ye’or, or ‘Daughter of the Nile’. Her first essay, Les Juifs en Egypte (1971) was followed by a major study, The Dhimmi: Jews and Christians under Islam (English/1985). This is still an essential introduction to her second major work, The Decline of Eastern Christianity under Islam: From Jihad to Dhimmitude (English/1996) that confirmed her reputation as a pioneer thinker in this field. Then came Islam and Dhimmitude: Where Civilizations Collide (2002) which examined the trend toward dhimmitude in the 20th century and facilitated a serious assessment of the traditional ideology of Jihad. Her book, Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis (2005) provided an understanding of the gradual transformation of Europe into Eurabia, a cultural and political appendage of the Arab/Muslim world. Niall Ferguson praises: “No writer has done more than Bat Ye’or to draw attention to the menacing character of Islamic extremism.” She studied at University College London and the University of Geneva.
