In these times of political uncertainty, many people are scared by the rising tide of Islamophobia in the West. The definition of the term may differ from one person to another, but what’s clear is that this prejudice against Muslims has become more widespread than ever before and you need to understand what it means so that you can protect yourself against it. When reading about Islamophobia, keep this simple definition in mind: Islamophobia is discrimination or prejudice against Muslim people based on their religion. Now, let’s look at some of the various forms it takes and its causes and consequences.

What is Islamophobia? Let’s Discuss the Meaning and Definition of islamophobia:

Islamophobia, which can be translated as fear of Islam, refers to negative feelings and thoughts towards Islam and Muslims. The term was coined in 1990 by a British Muslim scholar, Edward Said, who wrote about it in his book Orientalism. It’s estimated that there are more than 1 billion Muslims in the world today, making up more than one-fifth of its population. This means Islam is a major religion. Since September 11th, there has been an increase in violence against Muslims and their places of worship.

Islamophobia? What’s that? The term ‘Islamophobia’ doesn’t exactly conjure up images of an anguished young Muslim woman photographing a burnt copy of the Quran in her kitchen. Rather, it refers to the anti-Muslim sentiment, particularly anti-Muslim sentiment in this country, which has been growing for decades. In the last few years, Islamophobia has become a central part of the public narrative of the Arab-Israeli conflict

Islamophobia has come to encompass not just discrimination against those practicing Islam but also harassment of those perceived as being Muslim or looking Muslim. For instance, many Sikh men wear turbans and so they may become targets of such discrimination based on their appearance alone. There have been cases where people wearing hijabs have had acid thrown at them because they were mistaken for being Muslim women instead of Sikh women. Other reports show that Asian Americans have been targeted because they look Muslim. In these instances, the perpetrators said things like go back to your country, and made remarks about terrorism even though the victims weren’t Muslim themselves.

The Impact of Prejudice Against Muslims in America Today :

In recent years, Islamophobia has become a major problem in America. In particular, since the 9/11 attacks and subsequent wars in Iraq, there have been many instances of Muslims being discriminated against because of their faith. For instance, in 2011, a Sikh man was gunned down in broad daylight by an assailant who mistook him for a Muslim and shot him. This incident caused many Sikhs to wear turbans as a way of identifying themselves as non-Muslims. Sadly, that did not stop more tragedies from happening–in 2012 three more American Sikhs were murdered because they were mistaken for Muslims. It should be noted that these tragedies are not limited to just one religion–there have been many incidents where Christians were targeted by extremists. And yet, Islamophobia continues to be a prominent issue. One study found that about one in four people holds strong negative feelings about Muslims and consider them to be terrorists; this trend continued even after the 2016 election cycle came to an end. As long as such prejudices exist, terrorism will continue to happen all over the world–and it’s something we can’t afford to ignore any longer. We need to work together to put an end to this once and for all.

How Anti-Muslim Prejudice Differs from Other Forms of Racism:

Anti-Muslim sentiment differs from other types of racism because it has become so pervasive in recent years. In contrast, anti-black and anti-Jewish sentiments have been prevalent for centuries. Anti-Muslim sentiment also differs from anti-Mexican or anti-Muslim sentiment in that it often targets those who are not Muslim themselves. People of all backgrounds are increasingly becoming victims of Islamophobic abuse such as vandalism, verbal abuse, physical attacks, and employment discrimination. Such incidents occurred most prominently in France following the November 2015 Paris attacks which left 130 people dead.

What does Law Enforcement need to Know About Anti-Muslim Prejudice?

Islamophobia is a very widespread phenomenon, especially in the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is all about the fear of Muslims and what they are doing, and why they have done it. And the reason behind it is none other than the same as any other religion- they are not a nation, they are a religion. There have been several attempts to help combat this prejudice, but very few are successful. The project was international cooperation between Muslim communities, law enforcement, and politicians from Europe and the US; to make the world a safer place for peace and understanding. Muslims are not a nation.  They are a religion.  Thus, any laws which persecute them for their religion should be prohibited.  Any laws that target their religious practices should be prohibited as well. Islamophobia is a form of racialism.  It is based on the idea that Muslims are a threat to the nation, and should be seen as such.  This assumption is based on the belief that Muslims believe in the same things as Christians, Jews, and others.

Thus, any laws which persecute them for their religion should be prohibited.  Any laws that target their religious practices should be prohibited as well.    It is a form of racism against Muslims and Muslims.  Racism is the use of prejudice, discrimination, and hostility towards one racial group in a way that seeks to harm them for reasons of social or political advantage. Islamophobia is a form of racism based on the idea that Muslims are a threat to the nation, and should be seen as such.  This assumption is based on the belief that Muslims believe in the same things as Christians, Jews, and others   Islamophobia is a form of racialism against Muslims.  Racism is the use of prejudice, discrimination, and hostility towards one racial group in a way that seeks to harm them for reasons of social or political advantage.