Bridge Initiative

The Bridge Initiative is a multi-year research project on Islamophobia housed in Georgetown University

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Bridge Initiative Research Publications Article

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Critical analysis on contemporary topics related to Islamophobia.

Article

27 Mar 2025 | Policy/Law

Silencing Dissent: The Islamophobia Industry’s Assault on Academic Freedom

In 2025, The Bridge Initiative marks ten years since its launch. Founded by world-renowned Islamic studies scholar Dr. John L. Esposito, the project, housed under the Al-Waleed Center for Muslim Christian Understanding (ACMCU) at Georgetown University, was created in response to the urgent need for a reliable source on Islamophobia. As the issue grew in the United States, Bridge was established with a clear mission: to study, analyze, and provide the public with resources on Islamophobia—how it manifests and the often-devastating consequences it brings to individuals and society. read the complete article

Article

14 Nov 2024 | Policy/Law

Hostile Policies, Daily Struggles: How Islamophobia Shapes Life for Muslims in Europe

Over the past decade, Europe has seen a pronounced shift to the right, as far-right parties across the continent have moved into the mainstream. A significant driver of this shift has been the persistence and visibility of Islamophobia within European society. Anti-Muslim attitudes are widespread, and many elected officials have capitalized on these sentiments. By using Muslim communities as scapegoats, they deflect attention from policy shortcomings, and have instead gained support by appealing to negative perceptions of Muslims.  read the complete article

Article

28 Oct 2024 | Policy/Law

Populism and Prejudice: Insights from Global Islamophobia and the Rise of Populism

In the newly released book Global Islamophobia and the Rise of Populism (edited by Professor Sahar F. Aziz and Professor John L. Esposito), a group of scholars and international experts examine the rise of Islamophobia and populism across various countries, from India to Europe. Each chapter explores how anti-Muslim stereotypes and narratives have been strategically employed by politicians and governments to win electoral support, creating a harmful, discriminatory, dangerous, and sometimes deadly environment for Muslims.  read the complete article

Article

06 Sep 2024 | Politics

Why Muslim Americans Are Losing Faith in the U.S. Election: Disillusionment due to Bipartisan Islamophobia and Gaza Policy

This November, Americans will head to the polls to elect their next president. While several third-party candidates are in the running, the race ultimately comes down to Democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris, and Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump. Amid the election season, one issue that has become central for many Muslim Americans is Israel’s war in Gaza. read the complete article

Article

26 Jul 2024 | Military

UN Creates Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day

To commemorate the 29th anniversary of the “worst single atrocity in Europe since World War II”, the United Nations General Assembly voted in July 2024 to establish the “International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.” This day is meant to honor the lives over 8,000+ Bosnian Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica who were forcibly taken from their homes and brutally slaughtered in mass executions by Serbian ethno-nationalist forces during the genocidal reign of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. read the complete article

Article

28 Jun 2024 | Politics

E.U. Far-Right Parties Dominate 2024 Parliamentary Elections

Every five years, the European Union (EU) holds continent-wide parliamentary elections to select 720 lawmakers to represent them in decision-making at the EU level. In the run-up to the June 2024 EU parliamentary elections, the current EU Parliament President, Roberta Metsola from Malta, urged Europeans to vote, especially given that  right-wing ultranationalist political parties were polling strongly. read the complete article