Claire Koç, the daughter of Turkish immigrants to France, wrote a book that was published in 2021: Claire, le Prénom de la Honte, translated as “Claire, the name of shame.” The title is a reference to the fact that Claire is not her given name; rather, Claire, who was born in Turkey and brought to France as an infant, was born Çigdem. The name she took on later in life, in 2008, was a symbolic change that came with her attainment of French citizenship. In her book, she details her desire to eschew a culture she saw as restrictive and close-minded in order to become a “free French woman,” along with all the backlash from her family that came with her decision. When she chose to pursue her own education and marry a French man, her ties with her family were sundered completely.

“I wanted to work. I wanted to decide whom to marry and I wanted to go to university. My family told me that it wasn’t for an Anatolian woman to decide these things.” - Claire Koç

Because of her rejection of conservative Islamic values, especially regarding women, her book received a hostile response from some French Muslims, particularly Turkish nationalists. Her desire to leave an environment she viewed as “archaic” and live a life in the mainstream of French society, and especially her criticism of what she sees as her community’s insularity, led some to accuse her of giving oxygen to anti-Muslim bigotry. Within the community of Turkish “ultranationalists,” this censure has escalated to harassment as Claire has received a deluge of online abuse and even death threats.

“I am not denying my origins. But I am proclaiming my love for France, which has allowed me to be free.” - Claire Koç

Since her case received international attention, several French politicians, including President Macron, voiced support for Claire and condemned her harassers. In response to the threats against her, Claire registered a criminal complaint.