Napoleon exploited praise for Islam rather than its demonization to colonize Egypt.

Evidence

Other than the obvious fabrications about the French being Muslims and destroying the papacy, what is noteworthy about this manifesto is its attempt to win over Egyptians through praise for Islam. Napoleon repeatedly insisted that he was fighting for Islam. He invited sixty Muslim scholars from al-Azhar to his quarters and impressed them with his knowledge of and respect for the Koran. Everything that Napoleon said was translated for popular consumption into Koranic Arabic. This strategy worked: the people of Cairo lost their distrust of the French colonizers. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 111 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Napoleon co-opted Islam to win over Egyptians rather than demonizing it — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 157; Napoleon justified invading Egypt by claiming to defend Islam from the Mamluks; Napoleon praised Islam instrumentally while Cromer later demonized it — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 169 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Napoleon’s pro-Islam propaganda successfully won Cairo to French rule #exemplifies (0.92) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 111