The Rising Tide of Islamophobia

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THE RISING TIDE OF ISLAMOPHOBIA

By Zaheer Uddin

The United States is a great nation. It is a land of rule of law and its Constitution provides protection to minorities, religious groups and people of all ethnicities. Moreover, the government cannot impose any particular religion or ideology on its citizens nor discriminate on the basis of religion and creed.

The United States of America has been a beacon to the world in defending the rights of religious minorities, yet it is also sadly true that at times in our history particular groups have been singled out for unjust discrimination and have been made the object of scorn and animosity by those who have either misconstrued or intentionally distorted the vision of the Founders.

From start to finish, the 2016 presidential election vividly revealed that Islamophobia is alive, and potent and politically resonant as ever. Scapegoating Islam and vilifying Muslims was far more than merely campaign messaging; for Donald Trump it was winning strategy.

Trump's full-blown Islamophobia resonated deeply with voters. Moreover, it mobilized more than just a fringe or rabid demographic, but a sizable segment of the American polity to cast votes in his favor.

An NBC poll conducted in December 2015 found that 25 percent of Americans supported Trump's Muslim ban. A March 2016 poll indicated even greater support, with 51 percent favoring Trump's “Ban until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on".

This presidential campaign foreshadows what is sure to follow. Hate crimes against Muslims rose considerably in 2015 and statistics showed a similar trend in 2016. If a Trump presidential campaign resulted in an unprecedented number of hate crimes against Muslims, one can only imagine what a Trump presidency offers.

It will bring an expanded surveillance state, where counter-radicalization policing in Muslim communities will be more pervasive and far-reaching. This will make it far more difficult for American Muslims to freely exercise their faith, and the most benign symbols of Muslim identity will trigger suspicion.

It will bring in "extreme vetting" of Muslim immigrants, and very likely, entirely bar the entry of refugees from war-torn states. Therefore, even if a fully-fledged Muslim ban is not enacted - sweeping, strident policies impairing legal admission of Muslim immigrants will be law.

Most alarmingly, it will usher in a cultural movement whereby the highest office in government authorizes discrimination and violence against Muslim Americans. If the president of the U.S. is the very archetype and orchestrator of Islamophobia, then assailing Muslims, torching mosques, and attacking anybody who looks Muslim is fair game.

What seemed a far-fetched idea is in fact America's reckoning. The absurd is reality. Islamophobia is no longer campaign messaging or strategy, but come January, formal, full-blown White House policy.

However, Trump did not invent Islamophobia. And many of those slamming him for his bigotry today remained silent to all the blatant media and political attacks on the Muslim American community throughout the years. What Trump did is unearth the hate and benefit from it. His poll numbers surged during the primaries after he called for banning Muslims from entering the United States in November 2015. He took advantage of the bigotry and misunderstanding that have been brewing in American society for years.

It is rather ironic that Bill Maher, for example, criticized the GOP candidate on the Muslim ban, when the comedian’s rhetoric has helped stoke the anti-Muslim wave that Trump rode all the way to the Republican nomination. Almost a year before Trump announced his candidacy. Maher described Islam as a “mafia” that would kill you if you say the wrong thing.

Trump was not around when seven states passed absurd bans on Shari’a law, furthering the false notion that American Muslims want to impose their way of life on society, which would make them a threat to the U.S. Constitution.

Trump is a product of this irrational fear, not a cause for it. The GOP candidate does not control intelligence agencies that pursue entrapment tactics to incriminate young Muslim men on terrorism charges, making it appear that their communities are a threat to their surroundings. For the years after 9/11 politicians only discussed Muslim communities within the frame of national security.

Even Trump’s opponent, Hillary Clinton said Muslim communities “are on the front lines to identify and prevent attacks.” This is hardly a compliment. All such remarks do is solidify the perception of an association between Muslim Americans and terrorism.

The discrimination and bigotry are worse for American Muslims today than they were in the months following 9/11. The current atmosphere being perpetrated by Islamophobes and bigots give rise to people to think that it is ok to commit any heinous crime against Muslims even to take their lives.

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND THE ROLE OF MEDIA

In recent years, many have argued that Western media coverage of Islam has been almost exclusively negative. Numerous studies conducted by MediaTenor, an international research institute led by Roland Schatz, now provide hard data that confirm and elaborate on this commonly-held notion, which before was only bolstered by anecdotal evidence or more limited research.

In the years after 9/11, MediaTenor examined 2.6 million Western news stories from 10 American, British and German outlets, and found that the media’s coverage of Islam has rarely, if ever, been positive. The average tone of coverage, which has always been poor, continued to worsen in the decade after 9/11. Most coverage depicted Islam, Muslims, and Muslim organizations as a source of violence and a security risk, but seldom dealt with the lives of ordinary American Muslims. In 2014, negative coverage of Islam reached an all-time high, as ISIS gained a foothold in Iraq and in American news headlines.

According to data MediaTenor collected on “religious protagonists” in 2013 news stories, Christianity, Judaism and other religions received considerable positive coverage in American news, while Islam received virtually none. While mainstream religious leaders like Pope Francis were often the face of Catholicism in the media, fringe extremists like Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi became the face of Islam.

American Muslims should recognize the rising tide of Islamophobia in the radio talk shows, electronic and print media, social media, and negative portrayal of Muslims in the Hollywood films. The image of American Muslims continues to decline in the news media. Let us accept the fact that the general public does not receive the counter narrative from Muslims. There is hardly a radio, television or newspaper articles showing the positive side of Muslims as law abiding citizens. Those few positive articles that are produced do not make the front page but are buried in the back pages or lost in the constant flow of social media. It is a very difficult task indeed to create quality and fair radio or television programs without proper understanding of Islam, American Muslim culture and traditions.

SOLUTION

American Muslims need to push back against the Islamophobic assault. To do so, we need allies of other religions and communities to come forth to defend the rights of Muslims. Such allies are ready at hand. We receive numerous overtures by people of various faiths who want to work with Muslims to combat Islamophobia. These allies are ready to stand with Muslims; but are Muslims ready to stand with them?

This upsurge in anti-Muslim bigotry isn’t going to go away by itself; we have to confront it and push back against it. A handful of Muslims can’t do it alone, and Muslim communities can’t do without allies. Therefore, there is an urgent need of Muslim mobilization with the support of other faith groups. For that we have to educate and convince American Muslims to play their important part.

Moreover, as people of faith, Jewish, Christian and Muslim people we find common ground in our common origin. We are followers of Abraham, committed to the human family and therefore adhere to a common core of ethical standards. We shall pursue friendship, peace and justice with members of diverse faith traditions and backgrounds. We should speak out against all forms of prejudice, hatred, and discrimination.  

Earlier minorities who ultimately won acceptance in this country understood this. American Jews built a network of communal institutions (above and beyond their local Synagogues) that not only enabled the community to speak with one voice but also actively pursued relationships with the non-Jewish world, including Christian clergy.

** The only way to accomplish lasting world peace is to ensure justice and fairness for all.

** The media double standard must be exposed and addressed. 

** The “Radical Islamic Terrorism” has no place in Islam. There is nothing “Islamic” about terrorism.  These terms are being repeated purposely and if not stopped, we will remain branded by them.

** Islamophobes are scaring people with “Shari’ah” which is simply the Islamic terminology for the way Muslims interpret the law, example in marriage and divorce etc. And it is no different from the way the Jews and Christians conduct their affairs. So let us not let anyone make us feel any less.

** Change the peoples’ perception: There is a lot of misinformation and lack of understanding about Islam and Muslim culture and traditions. It is important to reach out and share Islam that breaks down negative stereotypes and makes people reconsider their views. Media and policymakers must also be educated.