Inform
A key way to increase social awareness is through knowledge, education and information. Islamophobia exists and continues to infiltrate every level of global society. By staying informed we defy and challenge forms of brainwashing, stereotypes and misrepresentation that are pushed on us.
Below are only some examples of ongoing Islamophobia which have negatively impacted Muslims in multiple ways. The sentiments which begin as mockery, sarcasm or light humour can become so powerful that they begin to dictate law, justice and social hierarchy.
The more the world looks past these things, the more they will continue grow.
The Travel Muslim Ban — United States
Within a week of his inauguration, United States President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13769 that banned foreign nationals of seven countries from visiting the United States for 90 days. This included anyone from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, which are all predominantly Muslim countries. The order also suspended the entry of Syrian refugees indefinitely and prohibited any other refugees from entering the country for 120 days.
This Order was set to come into effect ever since Trump’s comments during the Presidential campaign in December 2016, during which he called for, "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on." These comments were no surprise from a candidate who had expressed several forms of Islamophobia on several occasions but to become legal action heavily affected more than 135 million people who lived in said countries. On March 6th, 2017, Trump signed Executive Order 13780, in which Iraq is removed from the banned countries and there is an exemption for those who already have visas and green cards. However, “it is still religious discrimination in the pretextual guise of national security, and is still unconstitutional”, according to ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) Legal Director David Cole.
President Joe Biden revoked the ban on his first day in office, which was greatly appreciated, however does not repair the damage that had already been done. The Muslim ban separated thousands of families, obstructed educational and career opportunities, trapped refugees in inhumane conditions and endangered the safety of American Muslims. Disguising this travel ban as an act of counterterrorism further established the narrative that Muslims do, in fact, equate to safety threats and terrorism - leading to a record increase in hate crimes, violence and discrimination since 9/11.
The ban was cruel, inhumane, and violated international law.
These countries all have one thing in common: most people seeking asylum are trying to escape serious human rights abuses like torture and mass murder. For most, returning home is not a choice.
The Hijab Ban — France
Muslim women and their attire has been a controversial issue in French politics for over thirty years now. Beginning in 1989, when three girls were denied entrance to school due to their Hijab, till 2021, when an amendment was passed by the French Senate that bans girls under the age of 18 from wearing a Hijab in public spaces altogether.
France is home to the largest Muslim population in Western Europe, one that has experienced increased discrimination in recent years ever since the rise of far-right political forces. As part of a proposed “anti-separatism” bill, the 2021 Hijab ban was presented alongside amendments that would also prevent mothers from wearing hijabs on school trips and would ban the “burkini,” a full-body swimsuit to be worn in public swimming pools and beaches.
Several French politicians, including President Emmanuel Macron, have defended the amendment as a reinforcement of the country’s adherence to secularism, while others have also slammed it as yet another instance of part of an ugly strain of Islamophobia in the nation. The amendment was justified to prevent parents from “imposing any dogmas on their children,” and to “stop the wearing by minors of any outfit that would mean the inferiorization of women”, which is interesting as the law itself limits Women’s freedom of choice.
Although many French politicians continue to justify such actions as secularism, the Islamophobic motives behind such actions remain clear and continue to infringe upon the rights of Muslim women overall.
44.6% of the country considered Muslims a threat to French national identity.
58% Muslims reported experiencing discrimination due to their religion.
60% for women who wore a headscarf.
Citizenship Amendment — India
For the first time in Indian history, religion became a condition for granting citizenship. In December 2019, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian parliament passed a bill that offers citizenship to all non-Muslim illegal immigrants and asylum seekers from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. All three are neighbouring countries to India and are predominantly Muslim. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) justified the bill as a way of providing sanctuary to those who are undergoing religious persecution, as they are the minority in said countries. Many critics have attributed the bill to being part of the overall agenda of belittling Muslims.
Although India’s constitution forbids any religious discrimination and guarantees equality under the protection of the law, the Indian government found it unnecessary to include Muslims in the folds of these terms. Not only does this bill discriminate against asylum seekers and migrants, but has also led to fears that millions of Indian Muslims themselves who may have lived in the country for generations, could be stripped of their citizenship rights and deemed stateless.
Protests broke out against the citizenship law in early 2020. In BJP-governed states, police used excessive force, killing at least 52 people during protests and injuring many more, some actively participated in the mob attacks on Muslims. Over 200 people were injured, most of whom were Muslim. Properties were destroyed, and communities were displaced. Many will blame the protestors for these injuries, deaths and losses, however, in reality, the Indian government is to blame. Excluding a religious community from citizenship rights is not only unconstitutional but also a blatant act of Islamophobic discrimination.
Between Dec. 1, 2019 and March 20, 2020, there were 2,768 violent incidents that were recorded related to the Citizenship Amendment Act. Hindutva political rhetoric questions the legitimacy of Muslims’ Indian citizenship and perpetuates the further marginalisation of this faith community.
Voting Rights — Myanmar
More than 1.5 million Rohingya Muslims live in Myanmar, but they are not regarded as citizens by the government and have been stripped of their right to vote. As said by TIME magazine author Wai Wai Nu, “an election that excludes entire communities because of their identity cannot be considered credible, free, nor fair.” A rule which was enforced originally in 2015 and then reinforced in 2020 further alienates the Rohingya from a nation that they have lived in for generations.
Although Myanmar has been internationally condemned for mistreatment of the Rohingya community, the government continues to silence and isolate them. Being able to vote at any level is one of the most basic democratic rights of any citizen. Taking away that right based on their ethnic or religious background is a clear sign of discrimination and an unjust legal system.