![[Farid Hafez]](https://bridge.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-10.45.01-AM.jpeg "Farid Hafez")
The Bridge Initiative is a multi-year research project on Islamophobia housed in Georgetown University.
The Bridge Initiative aims to disseminate original and accessible research, offers engaging analysis and commentary on contemporary issues, and hosts a wide repository of educational resources to inform the general public about Islamophobia.
Research & Resources
Digital Hate and Democracy: Unpacking Islamophobia in the Wake of Mamdani’s Rise
According to a recent report from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH), Islamophobic posts skyrocketed from an average of 56 to over 2,100 per day during the days surrounding the election. The report highlights how a toxic convergence of Islamophobia, ideological fear-mongering, and xenophobic rhetoric shaped online discourse around Mamdani and Muslim communities.
Reporting Gaza: Bias, Silence, and Islamophobia in the BBC
In episode 19 of Unpacking Islamophobia, Bridge Associate Director Mobashra Tazamal speaks with Faisal Hanif, a media analyst at the Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) in the United Kingdom. They discuss CfMM’s latest report highlighting the systemic bias in the BBC’s coverage of Israel’s war in Gaza.
When a Win Sparks Hate: Islamophobia After Mamdani’s Victory
Zohran Mamdani has made history as the first Muslim to become the Democratic candidate for New York City Mayor. The democratic socialist’s campaign centered on a bold progressive vision aimed at making New York City more affordable, including proposals to provide free bus service and childcare, implement a rent freeze, and increase taxes on wealthy corporations. Mamdani succeeded in mobilizing broad grassroots support, ultimately defeating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo—long considered a political heavyweight.