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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In the UK, police forces have been urged to step up patrols outside mosques and asylum seeker accommodation amid plans for at least 19 far-right rallies across England in coming days, meanwhile in India, a court reportedly told a Muslim refugee from Yemen to “go to Pakistan” after he overstayed his visa, a moniker commonly used in Hindu nationalist circles to disparage and alienate Indian Muslims, and in the U.S., a columnist for the Museum Association writes on the importance of the Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn, Michigan, which remains the only museum in the United States dedicated to narrating the stories and experiences of Arab Americans. Our recommended read of the day is by Nadia Ahmad for Middle East Eye on how the hijab ban for French athletes at the Paris Olympics and the way the US Democratic National Committee (DNC)’s handled Muslim representation shows a “pervasive hypocrisy in progressive circles”. This and more below:
International
How Muslim women are targeted in 'progressive' circles | Recommended Read
As a hijab-wearing academic observing the intersection of politics, religion and social justice, I find the current treatment of Muslim women in high-profile arenas deeply troubling. From the hijab ban for French athletes at the Paris Olympics, to the US Democratic National Committee (DNC)’s handling of Muslim representation, we are seeing pervasive hypocrisy in “progressive” circles. The Olympics, supposedly the pinnacle of global unity, has effectively told French Muslim women to leave their faith at the door. This is not merely a dress code issue, but a fundamental violation of religious freedoms and personal autonomy, with roots in broader French policies. In 2004, the French Senate gave final approval to a bill prohibiting the wearing of conspicuous religious symbols in public schools. From a legal standpoint, the hijab ban at the Paris Olympics raises serious questions about discrimination and the limits of secularism in public spaces. It’s a textbook example of how seemingly neutral policies can disproportionately affect minority groups. As both a legal scholar and an American Muslim woman, I find such developments particularly concerning, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by religious minorities in reconciling their faith with societal expectations - even in supposedly progressive environments. We need a deeper examination of how we balance secularism, religious freedom and inclusivity in our increasingly diverse societies. read the complete article
Where lynchings still happen
Twenty-three-year-old Salman Vohra had been married just three months. His relatives had planned a celebratory dinner on June 22 for him and his wife, Mashira, 20, who was newly pregnant. But first, Salman, a fervent fan in cricket-obsessed India, joined friends at a local tournament in the village of Chikhodra in Gujarat state. Several of the players were Muslim, as was Salman. In this heavily Hindu province, he did nothing to hide his religion: He had a flowing beard and wore a skull cap, markers of his faith. During the tournament, the Muslim players performed well, which angered some Hindus in the audience, which eventually grew to about 5,000. As the final match began, a dispute broke out in the parking lot. Salman’s uncle Yasin Vohra told me a mob started chanting “Jai Shri Ram” — “Victory to Lord Ram” — a phrase that has become a rallying cry for Hindu nationalists. His uncle showed me a grainy video that went viral on the internet. You can see the crowd closing in and hear someone screaming for help and others shouting, “Hit him, hit him hard!” Salman died from the beating and a knife wound to his kidney. At least 10 men have been arrested in connection with his slaying. Two days earlier and 800 miles away in Pakistan, Mohammad Ismail, 40, from eastern Pakistan, was visiting Madyan, a popular tourist destination in the Swat Valley known for its tranquil beauty and scenic mountains. News stories reported that someone claimed to have seen burned pages of the Quran in Ismail’s hotel room, rumors that were then amplified by announcements from mosques around the city. Never mind that Ismail was Muslim. The police detained him for questioning on suspicion of blasphemy. He denied the charges. Islamist radicals forced their way into the police station, setting it and several police cars on fire, and the police fled. In a video on Whatsapp, a mob is seen beating and kicking him before setting him on fire. As he begs for mercy, the mob continues to kick him. read the complete article
United Kingdom
Police in England urged to protect mosques as far right plans more rallies
Police forces have been urged to step up patrols outside mosques and asylum seeker accommodation amid plans for at least 19 far-right rallies across England in coming days. Violent demonstrations have spread from Southport to London, Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot after the stabbing atrocity at a children’s holiday club on Monday. Community leaders on Thursday said they were increasingly fearful of further unrest after mosques and asylum seeker accommodation were targeted by crowds of “intimidating” agitators. Mosques in Southport and Hartlepool were attacked by rioters on Tuesday and Wednesday amid unfounded online rumours that the suspect was Muslim, when little if anything is known about his beliefs or motivation. In Manchester and in Aldershot in Hampshire, asylum seeker accommodation was targeted by demonstrators carrying placards that read “deport them, don’t support them” and “no apartments for illegals”. In central London, demonstrators threw flares and cans while chanting “rule Britannia”, “save our kids” and the mantra of the previous Conservative government: “Stop the boats.” Mosque Security, a company that advises faith leaders on protection, said it had received inquiries from more than 100 mosques seeking help in recent days. Shaukat Warraich, its director, said the firm’s online security recommendations had been downloaded “in their hundreds” as a result of “the false anti-Muslim narrative being peddled following the Southport murders”. There were also anecdotal reports of mosques cancelling events this weekend because of security fears. read the complete article
Starmer meets police as far-right violence spikes after Southport stabbing
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has convened police leaders for an emergency meeting following a second night of violent far-right protests after a stabbing spree in the town of Southport earlier in the week. Starmer called the meeting at Downing Street on Thursday to demonstrate the government’s “full backing” for police amid “multiple high-profile incidents of extreme violence and public disorder on our streets”, said an official statement. The Prime Minister’s Office said Starmer would tell police leaders that “while the right to peaceful protest must be protected at all costs”, he would make it clear that criminals exploiting that right to “sow hatred” and carry out violent acts would “face the full force of the law”. Even though little was previously known about the suspect other than that he was born in Britain, the stabbing had been used by far-right activists spreading misinformation online to stoke anger at immigrants and Muslims. read the complete article
From rumours to riots: How online misinformation fuelled violence in the aftermath of the Southport attack
In the aftermath of a mass stabbing in Southport, UK, misinformation about the identity of the attacker, who is a minor and therefore cannot be named until criminal prosecution is complete, spread quickly across social media. The following evening, a community-organised vigil for the victims was hijacked by far-right rioting, mobilised through anti-Muslim and anti-migrant narratives with no factual basis. This dispatch explores the events that unfolded, the spread of hateful speech on- and offline, and the part played by platforms’ business models, algorithms and content moderation. read the complete article
‘We don’t want to feel unsafe in the place we love’: Muslims and asylum seekers fear more far-right protests
It was about 6pm on Wednesday when faith leaders at the Nasir mosque in Hartlepool were told by police to close its doors due to a protest by far-right activists in the town. “The police came and said we need to block the gate because there is trouble on the way,” recalled Muhammad Ali Ahmad, general secretary of the mosque. The demonstration, which was attended by about 150 people, quickly descended into violence, with a police car set alight and officers attacked. Several expressed support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and shouted: “Save our children.” Hartlepool was just one of several places, including Manchester and London, to face unrest after false claims circulated online that the perpetrator of the knife attack in Southport on Monday, which killed three young girls, was a Muslim who had arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel on a small boat. The disorder has prompted growing safety fears among Muslim communities and asylum seekers as at least 19 further far-right demonstrations are planned for the coming days. In response, the Muslim Council of Britain organised a briefing on security for faith leaders and urged mosques to remain vigilant. read the complete article
Three steps to mending relations with the Muslim voters who turned away from Labour in 2024
The success of independent candidates in the UK election has sent a strong signal to prime minister Keir Starmer that he should take seriously the sense of marginalisation and frustration among Muslim voters. His government and party will need to repair relations with Muslim communities across the UK if he wants this to be a blip rather than a long-term trend. Several independent candidates beat Labour MPs by running on tickets criticising Labour for failing to take strong enough action on Gaza. Some took seats from Labour, others came close. Their successes reflect a disquiet among Muslim voters and a disengagement from traditional party politics. The Labour party’s manifesto included a commitment to recognise Palestinian sovereignty. A few days after the election, funding was reinstated to the UN Relief and Works Agency, an aid delivery body working in Gaza. This is a start. But the solution doesn’t end at stronger leadership on Israel-Palestine. These should be the first three steps to reassuring the UK’s Muslim citizens that their needs are being taken seriously. read the complete article
United States
In a repressive climate, our museum is a rare safe space for pro-Palestinian voices
After opening its doors almost two decades ago, the Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn, Michigan, remains the only museum in the United States dedicated to narrating the stories and experiences of Arab Americans, from the earliest immigrants and their descendants to the most recent ones. Because of its singular nature, and as a culturally specific museum, we recognise our responsibility to not only shed light on the cultural richness and achievements of our communities, but also to respond to crises that impact Arab Americans directly. Typically, these crises are political, and most often – like the current genocide against Palestinians in Gaza – they are two-fold, bearing tremendous pain, grief and despair within our communities, set against an overwhelming sense of contempt towards our communities, both here in the US and overseas. This crisis is particularly acute, not only because of the genocidal nature of Israel’s violence against Palestinians, but also for the repressive climate we find ourselves in as Arabs, as Palestinians and as supporters of Palestinian rights. This current climate of rising anti-Palestinian, Arab and Muslim hate and biases – which has reached not only the halls of government, but also university and college campuses, museum and gallery spaces, and media organisations– has had a palpable and deleterious impact on Arab, Palestinian and Muslim American communities, their allies, and, ultimately, on American society at large. read the complete article
CAIR Maryland director won't serve on state hate crime panel but vows to work alongside it
After numerous calls for removal during the last legislative session, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, was left off the latest round of appointments for a state hate crimes panel. Zainab Chaudry, director of Cair Maryland, faced backlash during her tenure on the Maryland Attorney General's Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention. But even though she won't be on the commission, Chaudry Thursday affirmed she'll continue to help it and its mission as much as possible, especially through her work at CAIR. Chaudry said she chose not to reapply for the commission, worried that new laws and policies for the commission wouldn't allow her to help her communities. "It was really important for me personally to be able to be in a space where I can continue to advocate unapologetically for my communities without potentially facing censorship," she said. Muslim and Arab Marylanders are facing more hate than ever, according to data from CAIR Maryland. Between January and June of this year, the organization reported 413 complaints -- putting it on track to beat 2023 numbers. Nationally, CAIR has tracked more than 4,900 complaints. read the complete article
Guantanamo detainees agree to plead guilty to 9/11 charges
Three Guantanamo Bay detainees accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks in the US, and who were previously tortured at CIA black sites, have agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and murder charges, the US Department of Defense said on Wednesday. The three men, who include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 2001 al-Qaeda attacks in which 2,976 people were killed, agreed to the plea deal in return for assurances from prosecutors that they would not face the death penalty, according to a letter sent by US military prosecutors to families of 9/11 victims. The plea deal appears to offer the prospect of a resolution to legal proceedings that have been mired for years in pre-trial arguments over whether evidence obtained from the defendants through torture was admissible in court. In the letter, seen by Middle East Eye, prosecutors said the three men, who have been detained at Guantanamo Bay since 2006, could enter guilty pleas as soon as next week. “The decision to enter into a pre-trial agreement… was not reached lightly; however, it is our collective, reasoned, and good-faith judgment that this resolution is the best path to finality and justice in this case,” they wrote. read the complete article
India
‘Nobody knows what I know’: how a loyal RSS member abandoned Hindu nationalism
On its front was the full title, In the Belly of the Beast: The Hindu Supremacist RSS and the BJP of India, An Insider’s View. I read the first page, and then the next, slowly, with rising giddiness. This was the closest that any writer had come to describing the organisation from within. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s members have long seen themselves as servants to an imaginary Hindu motherland that stretches from the Middle East to the far east. Its members would go to any lengths to protect this ideal from imagined threats. It was an RSS man who murdered Gandhi in January 1948. Forty-five years later, the RSS was one of the key forces behind the demolition of the Babri mosque, an event that triggered riots in which thousands of people were killed. There is no official list of members, but the RSS is usually said to be 4 million strong. The Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), the party that rules India at present, is the RSS’s political arm. Since its foundation in 1925, the organisation has existed as a kind of LinkedIn for the rootless, or a talent scout for people of a certain nationalist temperament; Narendra Modi, the prime minister, was a product of the organisation. Partha told me he had left the RSS behind almost 40 years ago, and he said it as if he had firmly closed the door to that chapter of his life. But RSS people like to say that an RSS man will always be an RSS man, and there is a reason for this – it seduces through community and family, exerting a gravitational force on individuals. That was why, even though he had left the RSS, he thought about it often. He was once an insider marked for future greatness. Now, thanks to his book, he was an outcast. Its critique of the organisation was so clear-eyed that his father, an unbending RSS man, distanced himself from him. “He was completely heartbroken,” Partha said. “We stopped talking to each other for a very long time.” read the complete article
Indian court tells Yemeni Muslim refugee to ‘go to Pakistan’ after overstaying visa
A court in India reportedly told a Muslim refugee from Yemen to “go to Pakistan” after he overstayed his visa, echoing a crass Islamophobic dog whistle that is more commonly deployed in online debates by Hindu nationalists in the country. A judge at the Bombay High Court made the remark while hearing a plea by Khaled Gomaeai Mohammad Hasan challenging a “Leave India Notice” issued to him by police in the western Maharashtra state, according to local media reports. He pleaded for protection from forcible deportation to his home country of Yemen, which has been engaged in an active civil war since 2014, saying it would pose a “threat to his life” and the lives of his wife and children, Indian legal website Live Law reported. read the complete article