Islamophobia: A Global Issue
Islamophobia is indeed a significant and growing global issue. It is defined as irrational fear, hatred, or prejudice against Islam and Muslims. Rooted in stereotypes, misinformation, or political manipulation, it manifests in rhetoric, policy, and acts of violence and discrimination.
Many Western countries, including the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, and the UK, have experienced a rise in Islamophobic rhetoric, policies, and violence. Indeed, these have entered mainstream politics and media. The rise of the far right parties in Europe with their racial and anti-Muslim narratives have played a large role in creating an atmosphere of hostility and fear from, and hatred towards, Islam and Muslims. This has led to policies that institutionalize prejudice and discrimination; like the “Muslim Ban” in the United States and the anti-burka laws in parts of Europe.
In Asia, Muslim minorities such as the Rohingya in Myanmar, the Uighurs in China, and Muslims in India face systematic discrimination, violence, and even state-sanctioned oppression. These injustices range from restriction on religious practice to mass displacement and internment.
While many African countries have large Muslim populations, some have witnessed anti-Muslim sentiment fueled by ethnic conflicts, terrorism, and extremist violence. In such contexts, entire communities may be stigmatized and made to pay for the actions of a few.
Islamophobia creates hostile environments for Muslims, as they are often subjected to verbal abuse, discrimination, and physical violence. Muslims are in many instances denied basic rights, such as education, freedom of religion, and even denial of citizenship. Deepening division and hate, some politicians deliberately exploit Islamophobic narratives to gain votes or distract from weak platforms, or economic or governance issues.
Islamophobic ideas run deeply and persistently through media and political discourse in many parts of the West, though the degree and form vary by country, political party, and media outlet. Here’s a breakdown of how and where these ideas are embedded:
In Western Media, framing Muslims as a “threat”:
News coverage often associates Muslims with terrorism, extremism, or violence, especially after attacks involving individuals of Muslim background. Terms like “Islamic terrorism” are used freely, whereas comparable acts by Christians or Jews are rarely referred to as “Christian terrorism” or “Jewish terrorism,” reinforcing bias. Indeed, violent acts by non-Muslims are framed in non-religious terms and usually referred to as lone-wolf attacks, or acts committed by mentally unstable people.
Underrepresentation and Stereotyping:
Muslims are underrepresented in entertainment media. When portrayed, they are often depicted through negative and harmful tropes: the terrorist, the oppressed woman, or the religious fanatic.
In Western film and television, Muslims are seldom depicted as ordinary, normal members of society—neighbours, colleagues, or professionals—whose lives reflect the diversity of their real communities.
Sensationalism and Double Standards:
Media coverage often applies unequal scrutiny to acts of violence depending on the perpetrator’s background. Offences involving Muslims are swiftly framed through the lens of terrorism, while comparable acts by non-Muslims are more likely attributed to personal struggles or portrayed as isolated tragedies. In such reporting, the religious identity of Muslim suspects is frequently emphasised, whereas the faith of non-Muslim perpetrators is seldom highlighted.
In Western Politics, mainstreaming of Islamophobia:
In election campaigns in several Western countries, some politicians use overtly anti-Muslim rhetoric to appeal to right-wing and populist Movements and gain their votes. Policies targeting Muslims—such as the “Muslim Ban” in the U.S. or anti-burka laws in parts of Europe—reflect institutional Islamophobia and normalize discrimination against Muslims.
Right-Wing and Populist Movements:
Far-right parties in Europe such as France’s National Rally or Germany’s AfD) regularly portray Islam as fundamentally incompatible with Western values. This rhetoric fuels conspiracy theories like the so-called “Great Replacement Theory,” presenting Islam and Muslims as cultural and demographic threats.
Surveillance and Security Policies:
Muslim communities are disproportionately targeted by counter-terrorism laws, surveillance, and policing.
Programs like the UK’s Prevent have been criticized for profiling Muslims and discouraging free speech and suppressing legitimate political and religious expression.
Evidence and Studies:
Media studies (e.g., University of Birmingham, 2019) found that over 60% of British media coverage of Muslims is negative. Pew Research consistently finds that Muslims face more discrimination than most other religious groups in the West. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented how laws and policies disproportionately target and harm Muslim communities, particularly post-9/11.
Nuance and Pushback:
Not all media or political actors are Islamophobic. There are many journalists, outlets, and politicians actively working to combat bias and promote inclusion. Social media and alternative platforms have allowed Muslim voices to challenge stereotypes and advocate for fairer representation. Anti-Islamophobia legislation and educational campaigns are gaining traction in places like Canada and some U.S. states.
Islamophobic ideas in Western media and politics are deep-rooted but not absolute. They often reflect historical biases, post-9/11 security fears, and populist politics—but they are also being actively challenged by civil society, scholars, and some political leaders. The struggle is ongoing, and awareness is rising.
Islamophobia in Western textbooks:
In Western countries, Islamophobia in textbooks operates as a subtle yet powerful form of bias, shaping how generations of students perceive Islam and Muslims. Although overt hostility is rare in modern curricula, many textbooks still contain skewed narratives, selective omissions, and frame things in a way that quietly reinforces Islamophobic ideas.
Here’s a detailed look at how this appears in practice:
How Islamophobia Appears in Western Textbooks
- Selective Historical Narratives
Islamic history is often reduced to military conquests or the “rise and fall” of empires.
Contributions of Muslim civilizations in science, medicine, architecture, philosophy, and art are minimized or ignored. The Crusades are often presented from a Eurocentric lens, portraying Muslims mainly as enemies. - Association with Violence and Extremism
Modern references to Muslims tend to emphasize terrorism, jihad, or radicalization.
The concept of “jihad” is frequently misrepresented as synonymous with holy war, ignoring the stringent rules that govern it, and its broader spiritual meanings in Islam. Discussions about the Middle East or conflicts involving Muslims often lack context and nuance regarding colonialism, Western interventionism, or political and economic motivations. - Stereotyping and Cultural Reductionism
Islam is sometimes presented as a monolithic religion, and its rich and dynamic diversity is ignored.
Cultural practices (like dress codes or gender roles) are framed as oppressive without offering Muslim perspectives or comparative contexts. Muslim women are frequently portrayed as passive or oppressed, without highlighting agency, diversity, or the voices of actual Muslim women from within Muslim communities. - Omissions and Silencing
Muslim communities in the West are often absent from social studies or citizenship education, reinforcing the idea of Muslims as “outsiders” or “foreigners.” Positive Muslim role models in history, politics, or civil rights are rarely included or celebrated in public discourse.
Evidence from Studies and Reports
“Islamophobia in the Curriculum” (Canada, 2017): Found that Canadian school curricula and textbooks often portray Islam through the lens of violence, oppression, and backwardness, lacking a balanced perspective.
Runnymede Trust (UK): Reported that religious education books in the UK often misrepresent Islam as rigid and outdated, failing to capture its modern or diverse expressions.
Studies by the Council on Islamic Education and the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) found distorted representations of Islamic teachings and history. Some textbooks used in U.S. schools have been challenged for including biased or factually incorrect material on Islam.
Consequences of Islamophobia in Textbooks
The portrayal of Islam in biased textbooks carries far-reaching consequences. By embedding prejudice into learning materials, such narratives normalise discriminatory attitudes from an early age and foster fear and misunderstanding among non-Muslim students. For Muslim students, these depictions can be alienating, making them feel “othered” or misrepresented within their own classrooms. Over time, such patterns undermine the goals of multicultural education and hinder genuine efforts towards inclusion and mutual respect.
Reform and Pushback
Community and academic advocacy has led to some curriculum changes in Canada, the U.S., and Europe.
Teacher training programmes are increasingly incorporating anti-Islamophobia modules, equipping educators to address bias in the classroom. And some publishers, have begun revising textbook content—often prompted by public pressure or legal challenges, as seen in the actions of school boards in Texas and California.
What an Inclusive Textbook Should Do:
An inclusive curriculum should present Islamic civilisation as an integral part of global history and culture, situating it alongside other great traditions in the human story. It must offer multiple perspectives, amplifying the voices of Muslim scholars, artists, and activists, and address current issues—such as Islamophobia, immigration, and identity—with both sensitivity and depth. Equally important is the recognition of the diverse contributions of Muslims within Western societies, ensuring that their presence is portrayed as woven into the social, cultural, and intellectual fabric of the modern world.
To combat Islamophobia, it is essential to promote religious literacy and cultural awareness as a means of countering harmful stereotypes. The media carry a significant responsibility to avoid sensationalist or biased reporting that too often links Islam with terrorism. Equally urgent are legal measures that enforce anti-discrimination laws and protect religious freedoms. Interfaith dialogue remains a powerful and effective tool for fostering cooperation and understanding between different faith communities. Ultimately, Islamophobia is more than a matter of personal prejudice—it is a global human rights issue. Confronting it demands the combined efforts of governments, civil society, educators, and the media to build a world grounded in respect, understanding, and peace.
Abdulaziz Altwaijri
Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri served as Director General of ISESCO and ex officio Secretary General of the Federation of Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) from 1991 to 2019. A distinguished academic, writer, poet, and senior lecturer, he shaped Islamic education, culture, and science for three decades