Page - 107 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 07/02

Making Space, Claiming Place | 107www.jrfm.eu 2021, 7/2, 107–131 Sakina Loukili Making Space, Claiming Place Social Media and the Emergence of the “Muslim” Political Parties DENK and NIDA in the Netherlands Abstract In the Netherlands, two new political parties have emerged within the last decade against the rising influence of right-wing populism. DENK and NIDA, founded by mainly Dutch Muslims with a migration background, have increasingly countered right-wing rhetoric in Dutch politics (verrechtsing) in which Islam is problematized. The role of me- dia is fundamental in understanding these parties and their success in politics, as they are known for the ways they use social media as a venue for political and social engage- ment and their critical attitude towards mainstream media. In this article, I explore the relationship between DENK and NIDA and mainstream media, and analyze some of the ways DENK and NIDA use social media platforms to foster resistance to dominant narratives on Islam and Muslims in Dutch society. This analysis shows that social me- dia function as “third spaces” where these parties can “talk back” and discuss issues that concern Muslims, breaking free from places where their voices are marginalized. Keywords Islam, Politics, Media, Social Media, The Netherlands Biography Sakina Loukili is a PhD candidate at the Meertens Institute and VU University in Am- sterdam, The Netherlands. Her dissertation focuses on issues of religion, politics, and media in the Dutch context, with regard to the political parties DENK and NIDA in particular. She is a member of the research group NL-Lab of the KNAW Humanities Cluster and is affiliated with the research project “Populism, Social Media and Reli- gion”, both based in Amsterdam. Introduction For the first time in Dutch national election history, not one but two par- ties with a majority membership of Dutch Muslims with a migration back- ground will officially participate in the 2021 elections for the House of DOI: 10.25364/05.7:2021.2.6