Article by Imaan Khan

Islamophobia Awareness Month (IAM) is upon us once again. During these weeks, the pervasive and worrying issues of workplace discrimination, street violence, riots and hate crime impacting the Muslim community are all brought to the fore. However, what we often find is that the root causes, that is the structural nature of Islamophobia, tends to regularly receive less attention.

Consequently, even less discussion is allocated to exposing how this facilitates and manufactures consent for the ongoing genocide in Gaza. This pervasive issue creates conditions that have allowed many in positions of power to either remain silent or openly commend the killing of thousands in Palestine.

Given it is the second IAM that takes place amid the ongoing genocide in Palestine, highlighting what Israel has been doing to Palestinians and how this links to the oppression of Muslims more widely, is all the more important to what the month is supposed to serve.

Threads of Oppression

Islamophobia is systemically entrenched and fundamentally rooted in spaces of political power, where policies and narratives are crafted. Limiting the discussions during IAM to hate crime statistics and street-level incidents can distract from its pervasive nature and prominence within the British political landscape.

The PREVENT (CVE) strategy is an example of how those in power have shaped the way that citizens interact with and perceive Islam. This dynamic reached its peak during the War on Terror, which served as a critical driver of global Islamophobia, supported by significant political and economic capital.

High-level discussions across political institutions and the media focused on distinguishing between “good” and “bad” Muslims, a tactic used to divide as well as police these communities. The creation of this binary, along with the punitive measures waged against those deemed “bad,” has been driven by a highly securitized and sensationalized discourse.

Muslims have since been increasingly portrayed as suspicious, which in turn has served to desensitize the public to the political violence being enacted on Muslims abroad under the guise of fighting terror.

Since October 7, we have witnessed these binaries playing out. From Palestinians facing ethnic cleansing being collectively represented as terrorists (or potential terrorists), to protestors being painted as sympathizers of terror for denouncing the assaults on Gaza. The aggressive targeting and even criminalization of solidarity efforts from the UK to Germany has shown that the definition of “good” amongst European states, is becoming increasingly narrow over time.

The demonization of those condemning the genocide and exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly, is being used to increase the repression of all across the Western continent. Indeed, one only has to look at the cases of Majid Freeman in the UK, Elias d’Imzalene in France, and the treatment of organizations like Samidoun in Canada, Germany and the US to see how pervasive this attacks on freedoms is becoming. And of course, all of the cases made against these prominent activists are rooted in Islamophobic rhetoric.

Islamophobia in Britain

The UK has regularly demonstrated how entrenched Islamophobia is. This past summer we witnessed in horror as over 25 Islamophobic and anti-immigrant riots spilled out onto the streets nationwide, marking the most significant unrest since 2011.

These violent events revealed how normalized Islamophobia has become in the UK and how it has been allowed to fester for decades. Yet, instead of alarm being raised by the government, their response was notably dismissive. Both elected officials and the British media avoided using the term Islamophobia to describe the motivations of rioters, and they failed to address the root causes behind the violence entirely.

Worse still, in the wake of the anti-Muslim riots, prominent figures such as the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, called for the revision and strengthening of counter-extremism policies such as Prevent, disregarding the reality that this would only exacerbate Islamophobia and the criminalization of dissent. Not to mention, it would further marginalize Muslim communities.

Another recent example of the widespread Islamophobia that exists is MP Zara Sultana’s interview on Good Morning Britain. Her experience illustrated how readily the oppression of Muslims is downplayed in public discourse, with presenter Kate Garraway questioning Sultana on why the term Islamophobia is even necessary if words like ‘racist’ and ‘thuggery’ have already been used.

The resistance to naming Islamophobia, even when it threatens the country’s internal stability, reflects the extent to which it has become acceptable by both the state and media.

When viewers see prominent political figures and media personalities ignoring, justifying, or even encouraging violence against Muslims abroad—particularly in Palestine—it legitimizes the use of violence against Muslims at home.

Manufacturing Consent

Dehumanization has been a prerequisite for genocide. While this is starkly evident in Israeli discourse, it also occurs within our own borders in the UK. It is the result of decades of persistent dehumanization of Muslims that the killing of Palestinians has been allowed to take place with little opposition from those in power.

Labelling the people of Palestine with Islamophobic and racist tropes decontextualizes their resistance, framing them within an outdated narrative that suggests a primitive desire for violence as a driving force, rather than justice and liberation. Such portrayals depict Muslims as unruly and in need of control, creating justifications for the use of violence against them.

Furthermore, the murder of thousands of Palestinians is downplayed in an attempt to eliminate any potential lingering scrutiny in the minds of the public. We only have to look at how the killing of children is reported, like six-year old Hind Rajab who was referred to by a CNN reporter as a ‘woman killed in Gaza’ while Israeli soldiers are referred to in a since edited Sky News headline as ‘teenage victims’. These representations of violence lay bare the extent to which Islamophobic narratives, grounded in War on Terror rhetoric, are used amidst genocidal violence.

To effectively address Islamophobia, community focus and efforts must go towards dismantling the War on Terror and counterterrorism laws and policies. This involves standing firm against intimidation, knowing our rights, and continuing to advocate for Palestine without restriction.

Finally, we cannot uproot Islamophobia by collaborating with the very institutions that sustain it. We must speak truth to power and organize to defend our communities independently of the state. We must hold the media accountable for misrepresentation and the normalization of the injustice Muslims are constantly subjected to. We must prioritize the root causes of Islamophobia, rather than merely addressing its symptoms.

Source: The New Arab

Article by Raja Abdulhaq

As soon as early election results pointed to a clear victory for former President Donald Trump, liberals took to social media to criticize American Muslims, Arabs and Latinos for not fully supporting Vice President Kamala Harris.

Social media posts ranged from calls to deport Muslims and Latinos to wishing for Trump to unleash more destruction on Gaza.

This backlash tactlessly showed the dynamics of how white liberals view the role of minorities, especially Muslims and Arabs, in American politics. In a classic display of the white savior complex, these communities were blamed for “not knowing what’s best for them”, as though Harris was running altruistically to protect them from the dangers of a second Trump presidency.

The fact that Harris’ presidential campaign centered on countering Trumpism showed a lack of genuine interest in tackling issues important to minority groups.

Democrats actually benefitted from Trump’s rise, which presented an opportunity for them to win votes freely by positioning themselves as the only alternative to outright fascism.

Yet, instead of looking inwards for answers on why Harris lost to a candidate as problematic as Trump, these liberal Democrats chose to reprimand minorities. Signaling a sense of superiority, they could not hide their racism, implying that it was incumbent upon these minority communities to vote within the guidelines provided by their liberal saviors.

By this logic, Arabs, Muslims and Latinos must vote for a Democrat no matter what. This viewpoint strips minority communities of their rights as equal citizens who can partake in the democratic process independently.

While the days of barring Black people and women from voting are behind us, this backlash brings to mind the same white supremacist logic: that non-whites are incapable of voting on their own and require guidance from their liberal saviors.

Arrogant disregard

In the months leading up to election day, Democrats ignored the cries of Muslims, Arabs and their allies to at least recognize the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. They arrogantly disregarded warnings about potentially losing the Arab vote in Michigan due to Israel’s war on Gaza despite desperately needing to win the swing state to have any hope of beating Trump.

To make matters worse, former President Bill Clinton was sent to Michigan to patronize the Arab community, justifying Israeli crimes in Gaza by saying Israel had to kill civilians in order to defend itself.

This attitude towards voters in Michigan stemmed from a racist and orientalist notion that Arabs and Muslims would eventually fall in line, fearing Trump’s presidency.

Blaming Arabs, Muslims and Latinos for Harris’ humiliating defeat highlights the Democrats’ sense of entitlement to the votes of these communities. The rage-filled, racist attacks on social media marked the resulting tantrum of these liberal saviors.

Ignoring the real issues that enabled Trump’s victory, Democrats instead chose to blame those desperately trying to stop the ongoing mass murder of their loved ones in Gaza and Lebanon. Giving nothing in return, these Democrats wanted the grieving masses to forget about the US-enabled genocide overseas in order to defeat Trump domestically.

Both Republicans and Democrats view Israel as a strategic partner in maintaining American interests and hegemony in the Middle East. Opposing their unconditional US support for Israel is therefore portrayed as a betrayal of American national interests that cannot be tolerated in the political discourse.

Despite the lack of major Arab and Muslim endorsements for Harris, the Democratic Party did not entertain any demands of ending the Gaza genocide, asserting instead that the reward for helping Harris get elected would be to prevent another Trump presidency – thus placing the burden of “saving” democracy on to suffering communities.

The Uncommitted National Movement provided a golden opportunity for the Democratic establishment to acknowledge the grievances of Arabs and Muslims without requiring any policy concessions on Israel, especially given how naively loyal the movement proved to be.

But the compromises of the Uncommitted movement, which lowered its demands from an arms embargo on Israel to simply allowing a Palestinian-American speaker at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), were met with rude dismissals.

Calculated strategy

The Democratic Party’s refusal to negotiate with the communities affected by the Gaza genocide was not an oversight. It was a calculated decision based on prioritizing other potential voters, particularly white anti-Trump Republicans, as represented by Harris’ decision to campaign alongside politician Liz Cheney.

If Democrats truly valued Arabs and Muslims, rather than seeing them as secured votes in the bag, they would have, at the very least, found a more empathic way to dismiss their protests instead of shouting over them, as Harris infamously did: “I’m speaking.”

There is no doubt that the collective rage among liberals over losing the election to Trump comes from a place of cognitive dissonance influenced by American exceptionalism. How could the US – a beacon of liberal values and justice – elect a racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, convicted felon as its president?

Yet, rather than taking this opportunity to examine the many issues within American democracy and society – ranging from structural racism to economic inequality, monstrous foreign policies, and the malign influence of money and multinational corporations on politics – liberals are taking their frustrations out on disenfranchised communities.

Comments across social media following Trump’s victory showcase a serious resentment towards Arab and Muslim causes, especially the genocide in Gaza, displaying how superficial liberals’ past “support” for such causes actually was. Liberals are simply refusing to admit the Biden administration’s role in losing the Arab and Muslim vote.

This fallout puts Arab and Muslim communities at a critical juncture in terms of how they see themselves in relation to the US as a state and as an empire. The Gaza genocide has brought back discussions about the role of the US in destroying Arab and Muslim nations and the ethical responsibility of holding it accountable for these crimes.

Ultimately, the racism, orientalism and feeling of expendability that minority communities are experiencing after this election challenge the assumption that they can be integrated and included within American society and its supposed democracy. Is it even possible for Arabs and Muslims to be seen as equal citizens without compromising their social and political principles?

Source: Middle East Eye

Sheikh Qaradaghi said: “We must not leave Lebanon or Gaza easy prey for targeting and division, for the sake of a sectarian or political disagreement, as the enemy does not differentiate between Muslims in its genocide against them, as anyone who is not with them is against them.

“What is required by Shari’ah is to stand as one against the Zionist project and against the Zionist genocide in any country. What we are witnessing today in terms of attacks on Lebanon and Gaza is an attack on the dignity of our peoples and our lands, and we cannot allow it to continue.”

The International Union of Muslim Scholars was founded by Sheikh Yusuf Al Qaradhawi and is headquartered in Qatar, but is comprised of leading scholars from around the globe.

Sheikh Qaradaghi is a renowned Kurdish scholar who is now based in Qatar.

Here is a translation of his statement from the original Arabic:

“In the name of God, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. What is happening in Lebanon today is a blatant aggression on land and people, the destruction of people’s homes, the killing of civilians including children and women, and part of the policy of Netanyahu and his extremist right-wing group to expand the State of Israel to include Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, and parts of Lebanon and Jordan. The annexation of the Golan has actually been achieved.

“It is not just a disagreement with a political or partisan faction. Distinguishing between problems of a sectarian nature and issues that affect the Ummah as a whole is a duty upon all Muslims and free people of the world. We must not leave Lebanon or Gaza easy prey for targeting and division, for the sake of a sectarian or political disagreement, as the enemy does not differentiate between Muslims in its genocide against them, as anyone who is not with them is against them.

“What is required by Shari’ah is to stand as one against the Zionist project and against the Zionist genocide in any country. What we are witnessing today in terms of attacks on Lebanon and Gaza is an attack on the dignity of our peoples and our lands, and we cannot allow it to continue.

“Our disagreement with the partisan policies of some Lebanese or Palestinian parties does not give us the right to support any aggression targeting peoples. We must not rejoice when the Lebanese or Palestinian people are attacked under any pretext. This aggression is a blatant assault, and Muslims and their governments must work to prevent it.

“As the President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, I call upon our Islamic and Arab nation to do their duty in the face of the Zionist aggression and genocide, and I also urge that an urgent Arab-Islamic summit be held to discuss and stop this rampant Zionist madness that targets not only Gaza and Lebanon, but also extends to all Arab and Islamic capitals and countries.

“Our responsibility requires us to take immediate action to stop the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, and to demand an end to the brutal bombing of Gaza. We also call for providing our people in Gaza with everything they need to confront the siege, whether on the military, food, or economic level, or any type of support necessary for their continued steadfastness.

“Arabs and Muslims have many cards, including announcing the cutting off of oil and gas until the aggression stops, as well as the political and economic boycott of the Zionist entity, and the severing of diplomatic relations. Our silence in the face of this aggression deepens the tragedies of our peoples, and we must work according to the jurisprudence of priorities and awareness of the present and realise the meaning of God’s saying: ‘And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of God,’ and His saying: ‘And do not dispute and [thus] lose courage. God is the helper.’”

Source: 5Pillars 

While many in the West grapple with an existential anxiety stemming from their belief in a creation without purpose, the unwavering faith of Gazans who have endured every conceivable misery has strongly resonated with those living with the perpetual angst of a meaningless universe.

Despite facing a barrage of bunker-busting missiles and being deprived of every material comfort, their ability to patiently bear calamities by showing gratitude for God’s blessings has galvanized millions of people to decry Israel’s genocide, express solidarity with Gazans and inquire deeper into the beliefs which foster such a mindset.

As a result, internet searches for the Quran have spiked and many non-Muslims have taken to online forums to parse through its passages on salvation and redemption to make sense of why Palestinians do not dread mortality and exude such optimism when their lives have been shattered.

Not only are Palestinians acknowledging the mental health benefits of faith in a transcendent reality which many implicitly desire, they are appreciating the intrinsic value of being God-conscious in a materialistic world and turning to Islam to anchor their psychological well-being.

Source: 5pillars