Today in Islamophobia

Today in Islamophobia: In the United Kingdom, a man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm following an alleged assault on a worshipper outside a mosque in Leyton, East London, meanwhile in Northern Ireland, police have arrested a man after a replica of a mosque was placed on top of a loyalist bonfire pyre in addition to what appears to have been anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant signage, and lastly in Canada, the man who recorded the now viral video showing the alleged hate motivated assault of a Muslim family at the Halifax Costco says he’s ‘deeply impacted’ by the incident. Our recommended read of the day is by Agence France-Press for The Guardian on the recent ruling by an Austrian court, which found that a ski resort hotel discriminated against two Austrian Muslim women by banning them from wearing burkinis during their stay. This and more below:

Australia

Austrian court rules ski resort hotel’s burkini ban is discriminatory | Recommended Read

An Austrian court has found an alpine hotel’s ban on burkinis discriminatory, a politically explosive ruling in a country where the far right is on the rise. The full-body bathing suit worn by some Muslim women has become a bugbear of the European far right, which has campaigned to restrict Muslim dress in public spaces. In a ruling made public this week, the Salzburg court found that the hotel in the western ski resort of Saint Johann im Pongau had discriminated against two Austrian Muslim women by preventing them from wearing the garment. After a heated argument with the manager, who said the burkini was unhygienic and made other guests feel uncomfortable, the women filed a complaint last year. read the complete article

United States

Who is behind the 'Muslim anti-BDS' campaign launching in the US?

Israeli and pro-Israeli media outlets on Wednesday announced the upcoming launch of a coalition in New York City aimed at countering the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, as well as anti-Zionist activism. The media push included a blog post by one of the coalition's leaders in The Times of Israel titled 'Why We as Muslims Oppose BDS'. The coalition consists of at least five organisations - the American Muslim & Multifaith Women's Empowerment Council (AMMWEC), the Muslim Women Speakers Bureau, the Global Youth Unity Project (GYUP), the Abrahamic Public Relations Council, and Muslims–Israel Dialogue. It also includes individuals who have advocated for normalisation with Israel. AMMWEC describes itself as a "non-profit women's rights organisation empowering Muslim women to confront bigotry in all its forms". The group regularly hosts multifaith events and earlier this year held an interfaith gathering sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a prominent pro-Israel advocacy organisation. The event featured UAE-based pro-normalisation advocate Loay Alshareef. Another coalition member, the Global Youth Unity Project, is headed by Mansoor Laghari, who describes himself as a "Muslim Zionist". read the complete article

Trump accused of endangering children with Islamophobic post about Twin Cities kindergarteners

Twin Cities community members are speaking out Wednesday against what they're calling growing anti-Somali and anti-Muslim rhetoric. This comes in the wake of a social media post earlier this week by President Trump featuring a photo of a kindergarten graduation with several Somali children at a K-8 school in St. Paul, Minnesota. WCCO has blurred their faces in the attached video. Mr. Trump included a caption from another account that says "Every girl is in a hijab ... in kindergarten." Faith and community leaders, including those from the Somali community, gathered Wednesday morning at Karmel Mall in Minneapolis to condemn the politicization and public targeting of Somali students. "The highest level of our government is attacking children. Imagine that," said Imam Yusuf Abdulle, executive director of the Islamic Association of North America. read the complete article

United Kingdom

UK Faces Increasing Islamophobia & Anti-Immigration Divide

The UK is witnessing a sharp rise in Islamophobia and anti-immigration sentiment, according to a new report that warns social divisions are deepening at an alarming pace. The study claims that two in five Britons believe Muslims cannot integrate into British society, while a majority feel the country’s national identity is disappearing due to increasing diversity. Authored by former UK Counter-Extremism Commissioner Sara Khan, the report warns that the incoming Prime Minister will have only a narrow window to address the growing divide. It also highlights a surge in far-right activity, alongside rising anti-Muslim hate. The report is released at a time of growing anti-immigration protests in the UK and a leadership change. read the complete article

Worshipper hurt in alleged race attack near mosque

A man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm following an alleged assault on a worshipper outside a mosque in Leyton, east London. Officers attended the scene following reports of a racially aggravated assault at the mosque on Leyton High Road, Waltham Forest, at about 22:00 BST on Tuesday 7 July. Noor Ul Islam mosque said CCTV showed the victim, in his 50's, apparently being randomly targeted by the suspect as he was leaving after evening prayers. Police said the 42-year-old suspect was arrested and remains in hospital after suffering a head injury during the alleged assault. Aslam Hansa, operations manager at the mosque, said the CCTV footage leading up to the attack seemed to show the suspect shouting racist and Islamophobic obscenities outside the building. read the complete article

Man arrested after replica of mosque put on top of loyalist bonfire

Police have arrested a man after a replica of a mosque was placed on top of a loyalist bonfire pyre in Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The model was visible on top of the pyre in Moygashel on Thursday. Anti-Islam and anti-immigration signs were also placed on top of the fire. The Independent has chosen not to publish photos of the bonfire, which is made up of pallets and due to be set alight on Friday night. Ammesty International described the bonfire as a “vile display” and a “blatant attempt to stir up anti-Muslim hatred and intimidate local families”. The same bonfire site has attracted controversy in previous years. Last year there was condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on the Moygashel fire. read the complete article

Canada

Man who recorded Halifax Costco racist tirade says he’s ‘deeply impacted’ by incident

The man who recorded a video of a racist, profanity-laden tirade and was allegedly assaulted by the suspect in a Halifax Costco store says he is shocked and angered by what happened. The video he recorded has since sparked conversations across the country about hate-motivated crime. “The incident actually deeply impacted me,” said Fayez Hamam. “Not physically, but mentally.” Hamam says he began recording the video because he heard the suspect “screaming, yelling, and even physically engaging” with a family that included two women in hijabs. While the video is only a couple of minutes long, the man says the incident lasted about 15 minutes. The suspect can be heard telling people to “get out of our country” and threatening multiple times to kill “every one of you.” At one point, the suspect seems to hit Hamam as he’s recording the video, and the phone falls. read the complete article

International

Anti-Palestinian Racism: A Prejudice That Extends Beyond Palestinians Themselves

For decades, Palestinians have described a particular kind of hostility that doesn't fit neatly into existing categories of discrimination. It isn't quite the same as Islamophobia, since not all Palestinians are Muslim. It isn't quite the same as general anti-Arab racism, since it attaches specifically to Palestinian identity, history, and political claims. In 2022, the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association gave this pattern a name: Anti-Palestinian Racism, or APR. Their working description frames it as a form of anti-Arab racism that silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames, or dehumanises Palestinians or their narratives including the denial of the Nakba, the refusal to recognise Palestinians as an Indigenous people with a collective identity, and the branding of Palestinians and their supporters as inherently antisemitic or sympathetic to terrorism simply for asserting Palestinian rights. read the complete article

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