Today in Islamophobia

In the United States, a man was arrested in Utah for stabbing a Muslim ⁠man multiple times and ⁠stating that he “targeted the victim because of the victim’s religion”, meanwhile in the United Kingdom, a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged with a crime related to “terrorism” over an alleged plot to target local mosques in London, and lastly in Australia, police are asking the public’s help to identify a man accused of calling a man wearing a keffiyeh a “terrorist” and threatening him with violence outside a Canberra shopping center. Our recommended read of the day is by Anam Alam for The New Arab, on a new report from The Centre for Media Monitoring (CFMM), which finds Britain’s oldest magazine The Spectator, guilty of systemic bias against Muslims. This and more below:

United Kingdom

'Muslim bashing has gone on too long': Major study finds systemic anti-Muslim bias at UK's Spectator | Recommended Read

Britain's oldest political magazine has spent years publishing harmful anti-Muslim narratives that have become normalised in public debate, researchers and media experts told The New Arab, as a major new report accused The Spectator of systemic bias against Muslims. The Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) on Tuesday published the most extensive independent analysis ever conducted of a single British publication's coverage of Muslims, examining almost 4,000 articles published by The Spectator over the past eight years. The report, No Mere Spectator: Anti-Muslim Hostility in Britain's Oldest Political Magazine, found that more than half of the articles analysed, over 2,100 pieces, were rated either "biased" or "very biased" against Muslims, with only a small proportion meeting standards of balanced and fair representation. "Our findings have shown that on so many levels, in terms of the kind of themes, patterns, narratives that they're regurgitating on a daily basis, not only is it not acceptable, but it's really harmful," CfMM director Rizwana Hamid told The New Arab. "This kind of Muslim bashing has gone on for too long, and it's no longer acceptable and [The Spectator] need to be made aware of that," Hamid said. read the complete article

World Cup: Djed Spence, England’s first Muslim player, lifts hopes

Djed Spence kneeled on the pitch and raised his hands skyward to thank God after England beat Norway in the World Cup quarterfinal. The July 11 match set up Wednesday’s semifinal date with England’s archrivals Argentina. For millions watching, it was the first time an England international had offered Muslim prayers on the field, on the biggest stage in football. “Being the first Muslim player to represent the Three Lions, it meant everything. Something I’ve always wanted as a kid. But what makes me happy is a lot of kids can look at it and be inspired. I feel it’s bigger than me and it’s great for generations to come,” the 25-year-old England defender said late last year. “Djed’s England journey is about more than just football. It’s a reminder to young Muslim players and families across the UK that your faith and religion doesn’t limit ambition; it can only strengthen it,” he said. read the complete article

After £250m for Jewish security, UK offers no new funding for Muslim communities

The UK government has declined to say whether it will increase funding to protect Muslim communities despite a series of anti-Muslim attacks and a record £250 million security package announced for Britain's Jewish community, telling The New Arab it is instead focused on existing measures. The response comes after police arrested 12 people across England on Monday over a suspected far-right terror plot targeting a gathering attended by thousands of Muslims at a country house in Suffolk, the latest in a string of anti-Muslim incidents in the UK. In response to questions from The New Arab on whether ministers planned to introduce additional protections or funding for British Muslims similar to those announced for Jewish communities, the Home Office pointed to existing schemes but did not indicate that further resources would be allocated. By 26 June, Amnesty International warned that Islamophobic attacks had reached "emergency levels", and urged the government to take urgent action. However, Muslims in the UK have expressed concerns that Islamophobia is not being treated with equal importance by the government — a sentiment captured by Leicester South MP Shockat Adam in a question to Prime Minister Keir Starmer last month. read the complete article

Fourteen-year-old boy charged over alleged plot targeting London mosques

A 14-year-old boy arrested by British police has been charged with a crime related to “terrorism” over an alleged plot to target local mosques. London’s Metropolitan Police revealed the charge against the unnamed boy on Wednesday, saying he was suspected of preparing to carry out an “act of terrorism” in connection with “extreme right-wing” ideology. Police said they did not believe the ‌case pointed to a wider threat, but added that they had contacted the mosques, located in south London’s Sutton area, and offered advice and support. “We know this will be particularly concerning to the Muslim community and we are working closely with the venues affected to ensure they are kept updated and to provide advice, support and reassurance, and this will continue,” said Flanagan. read the complete article

United States

Muslim man stabbed multiple times in Utah over his religion, police say

A man was arrested in Utah for stabbing a Muslim ⁠man multiple times and ⁠stated that he targeted the victim because of the victim’s religion, police said in court records on Tuesday. Police said the suspect told them he “intends to kill Muslims” and that ⁠he constituted “a substantial danger to the public if released based on his violent actions ... ideologies and pre-planned mass casualty events”. The incident took place inside the Valley Fair Mall ⁠in Utah’s West Valley City on Monday. The male victim had “multiple stab wounds all over his body and was bleeding profusely”, police said in an affidavit. The suspect said “he had targeted the victim with intent to kill him because of his religion [Muslim],” according to the police booking affidavit. The suspect approached the Muslim man, asked for his name, asked about his religion and indicated he wanted ‌a bottle of water, the Salt Lake Tribune reported, citing comments from Imam Shuaib Din, who leads the Utah Islamic Center and had been in contact with the victim’s family. As the victim turned to get the water, the attacker began stabbing him, according to Din. read the complete article

Australia

Office of the Islamophobia Envoy defends controversial Royal Commission submission after backlash

Islamophobia Envoy Aftab Malik expressed concern defining terrorists by motive stigmatised the Muslim community in a submission to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. He suggested government officials cease using “ideological labels” in response to terror incidents and amend the definition of “terrorist act” within the criminal code. The office on Wednesday afternoon posted a clarification to a social media account, and pointed SkyNews.com.au to the document in response to a query regarding the “definition” recommendation. It defended the submissions did not state “terrorism should be excused” or “police should ignore ideology”, and agreed “ISIS is a terrorist entity”, “modern terrorism is complex and should be understood through evidence rather than assumptions or single-factor explanations”, and “Australia’s legal framework should reflect contemporary research”. read the complete article

ACT police seek man after video of alleged racism, threats surface online

Police are asking the public's help to identify a man accused of calling a man wearing a keffiyeh a "terrorist" and threatening him with violence outside a Canberra shopping centre. It comes after Shane Bazzi, a Lebanese-Australian man from Sydney, shared a video of the incident on social media claiming police had not progressed his complaint against the unidentified man. Mr Bazzi told The Canberra Times he was wearing a keffiyeh and a hoodie featuring the Palestine flag when the stranger allegedly accosted him outside the Canberra Centre on Bunda Street. Mr Bazzi said he began filming the interaction on his phone after the man allegedly called him "terrorist" and "Hamas". read the complete article

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