In the Shadow of Gaza: Islamophobia and Visions of Purity and Danger

The recent escalation in hate crimes against Muslims in the United Kingdom is a stain reminding us of our failure to construct a multicultural society. Hateful acts against peaceful communities are propelled by a narrative that associates the entire Muslim population with the actions of a few individuals engaged in faraway conflicts. What is happening in the UK is not an isolated phenomenon; rather, it reflects a larger pattern of Islamophobia that has surged in the wake of geopolitical events.

With statistics indicating a 140 per cent increase in hate crimes against Muslims as well a staggering 1,350 per cent increase in antisemitic crimes compared to last year, we must confront the reality that our communities are facing extreme adversity as our political class prefers to silence concerns instead of addressing them with an open mind. Without wanting to underplay the alarming magnitude of antisemitic prejudice in our societies to which I will return, there is no avoiding the fact that the Muslim community is facing extreme adversity that is both unprovoked and unwarranted. 

The vast majority of Muslims are peaceful citizens, contributing to the cultural richness and economic prosperity of nations. Yet, they are being unfairly targeted as a result of actions that they neither support nor have any part in and their sensitivities concerning the carnage in Gaza are dismissed and criminalized in the discourse of many politicians, especially Tory magnates who are out of touch with reality in any case and who see in the protests taking place throughout the UK "Islamist attempts to dominate public debate" and to spread fear. The recent Hamas-triggered conflict has, unfortunately, added fuel to the fire of existing Islamophobic (and antisemitic) sentiments, with deeply distressing consequences. As the Palestinian population of Gaza is experiencing unprecedented and unchecked genocidal violence, our political class has not distanced itself from the dehumanizing language adopted by certain officials within the Israeli cabinet derogatorily describing them as "human animals." Benjamin Netanyahu, reinforcing this negative stereotype, invoked a biblical reference from the Old Testament, likening the Palestinian people to "Amalek," a figure etched in Jewish lore as the quintessential adversary of the Jews, renowned for their ability to metamorphose into beasts to elude capture. This troubling allegory was utilized by Netanyahu to rationalize a strategic approach decried by his critics as tantamount to genocide and violations of war ethics. Politicians in the West have chosen not to challenge such rhetoric and to dismiss any critique of the brutal war as irrational Islamist terrorism reducing Muslim citizens to a profound aporia and frustrating their attempts to gain a voice. 

Such attitudes embolden acts of hatred. We do witness hate crimes not just as mere statistics but as everyday stories of those whose lives are irrevocably changed: the victim of vandalism, the student labelled a terrorist, and tragically, the life of six-year-old American-Palestinian Wadea Al-Fayoume ended too soon due to a hate-filled perception of his religious identity. Towards the end of 2023, another tragic incident unfolded in Vermont where three men became victims of a shooting. Concurrently, footage emerged showing Stuart Seldowitz, who previously advised President Barack Obama, engaging in the beratement and intimidation of a fast food vendor in Manhattan, with the exchange steeped in Islamophobic vitriol. These are not abstractions; they are human lives damaged by ignorance and bigotry.

It's worth noting, although to me it seems a platitude, restating an ever-recurring story, that the irresponsible narratives spun by parts of the media and political leaders often exacerbate these issues. The media, craving sensationalist headlines, can amplify an unvetted piece of news, cementing falsehoods in the public psyche that paint Muslims with a broad, violent brush. It's a gross misrepresentation that ignores the diversity within the Muslim community and overlooks the peaceful teachings of Islam.

The intertwining of politics and media has revealed a systematic, dialectic between institutional or structural and social islamophobia whereby the state and prominent politicians spread Islamophobic rhetoric to nefarious ends, further demonizing Muslim communities, thus shaping, reshaping & confirming popular bias about Islam & Muslims and leading to deliberate or bias against Muslims. 

CAIR 'Confronting Fear' Report

Research has shown substantial funds funnelled to promote fear and hatred, manipulating public perception and reinforcing stereotypes about Muslims that endanger lives and fracture communities. Between 2008 and 2013, 33 Islamophobic groups in the US had access to US$205,838,077 to reinforce their misinformation and spread fear of and hatred against Muslims. This financial machinery of fear must be exposed and dismantled, for it feeds the cycle of hate and misinformation that leads to real-world consequences.

What, then, must be done? Governments need to unequivocally condemn all forms of hate crimes and ensure that communities are protected by the full extent of the law. Leaders must use their platforms to unite rather than divide, thwarting attempts by extremists of any ideology to sow discord. Clear distinctions must be made by those in power between the perpetrators of violence and the followers of Islam. Education is pivotal – in our schools, among our policy-makers and within the media. A nuanced understanding of Islam and the recognition that the faith itself is not monolithic are crucial. 

The fabric of our communities is at risk if we fail to address and rectify the erroneous conflation of a few with the many. For every Muslim unjustly labelled as a terrorist, for every child who grows up fearing for their safety because of their faith, for every act of vandalism against a place of worship, we are all diminished. And for every Jewish person considered responsible for the suffering of the Palestinians of Gaza, we all fail to learn from a long history of homogenizing and blaming, and we casually consign to oblivion a shameful and unforgivable past of bias, discrimination and genocidal brutality. And, more importantly, the readiness of our political leadership to sweep under the carpet the ongoing wave of Islamophobic hatred and to attribute the current surge of antisemitism to hateful Islamists and their "fellow travellers", ignoring the racism rooted in our societies which targets the "other", any "other" but Muslims and Jews in this instance as sacrificial victims in the pursuit of a closed, monocultural society. As we engage in this battle against prejudice and unfounded hatred, it is essential to remember the words of George Santayana: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Through understanding, dialogue, and intentional action, we can choose not to repeat the tragedies born of ignorance and intolerance.