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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In the United Kingdom, the Muslim Council of Britain has called on the Conservative Party to remove Robert Jenrick from his position as shadow justice secretary over leaked messages showing his admiration for a far-right social media account, meanwhile in the United States, members of a mosque in San Francisco are worried about their safety and security following multiple instances of harassment from one individuals, and in India, Muslims are struggling to access mental health care due to deep biases within the sector. Our recommended read of the day is by Hebh Jamal for The New Arab on how despite the Magdeburg suspect’s clear record of Islamophobia, Abdulmohsen’s identity as an Arab migrant was enough for him to be labelled an Islamist demonstrating the deep anti-Muslim bias in German society. This and more below:
Germany
All Arabs are 'Islamist' by default in Germany, ex-Muslim or not | Recommended Read
On December 20, a horrific attack took place at a Christmas Market in Magdeburg, Germany, where five people were killed, and nearly 200 others injured after a man drove into the crowded event. The tragedy sent shockwaves across the world, but even before the victims’ loved ones could begin to grieve, another story began to dominate the narrative: the false claim that Muslims and foreigners pose a fundamental threat to Germany and must be expelled. Speculation about the attacker’s identity quickly spiralled into assumptions of radical Islamist motives targeting white Germans during the holiday season. One post on X declared, “Europe needs to wake up quickly and start mass deportation.” Another user shared a photo with the hashtag #Magdeburg, captioned, “Remigration. Europe is not your homeland. Stop the integration lie.” Yet, the attacker, Taleb Al Abdulmohsen, was neither Muslim nor an Islamist. A Saudi national residing in Germany since 2006, Abdulmohsen was vocal in his disdain for both Islam and the Saudi government. He expressed support for Israel, aligned himself with Germany’s far-right AfD party, and repeatedly criticised former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to accept Syrian refugees. His social media was littered with far-right propaganda warning of “sharia law” and denouncing Islam. Despite these clear contradictions, the facts seemed irrelevant to the Islamophobic frenzy that followed. Abdulmohsen’s identity as an Arab migrant was enough for him to be labelled an Islamist. The damage was further amplified when X owner Elon Musk shared a video of a woman claiming that Abdulmohsen was secretly a radical Islamist. read the complete article
Germany's far-right AfD holds march after Christmas market attack
Germany's far-right AfD party held what it called a "memorial" rally for victims of a car-ramming attack on a Christmas market that has newly inflamed debate on migrant and security policy. read the complete article
Anti-Muslim attacks reported in Germany after car-ramming attack
Germany's Anti-Racism Commissioner Reem Alabali-Radovan has expressed concern following reports of anti-Muslim attacks in the aftermath of a car ramming last week on a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg that killed five people and left more than 200 injured. "Since the weekend, our anti-racism counselling centres in Magdeburg and the surrounding area have reported an increasingly hostile atmosphere and violent attacks against migrants and Muslims," the press quoted Alabali-Radovan as saying in Berlin on Monday. "Unfortunately, this act is now being used as an outlet to allow racism to run its course. We must not accept that under any circumstances. We must oppose any attempt to exploit this act politically," she added. Alabali-Radovan stressed that "terror always aims to destroy social cohesion, divide people and spread fear." Earlier in the day, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck had warned his fellow citizens against fuelling hatred against Muslims and foreigners in the wake of the attack. read the complete article
India
Muslims in India struggle for access to mental health care
Sana, who, like many people interviewed for this article, asked that her real name not be used, has seen some 12 mental health professionals and, she said, has had her Muslim identity questioned on several occasions. She discovered psychotherapy and mental health counseling during her college days. It took her more than a year "to overcome the stigma and the shame associated with saying that she needed support." In addition to the personal challenges that come with seeking mental health support, Sana faced with the additional challenge of navigating the mental health care space in India as a Muslim. The 32-year-old development practitioner does not consider herself a very religious person, yet, because of her Muslim identity, she has faced hostile conversations while seeking psychological help. "I am a Muslim, but I don't look or sound like the stereotypical Muslim. I am educated, can speak fluent English, am a single child, and at one point I had brightly colored hair," she said. "Often things said to me were very offensive that were rooted in deep biases against Muslims," she added. A report published in 2022 by Bebaak Collective, a coalition of autonomous women's groups working across multiple states, found that "the mental health of Indian Muslims has been severely underrepresented and almost invisible within the mental health or development literature in India." read the complete article
‘Fear, fear and only fear’: Muslims in Sambhal are on edge as government turns against them
A thin smile and a slight nod suggesting a “no”. This was the response Scroll got from many Muslims headed to Friday prayers at Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid last week when asked if they wanted to talk. The strained atmosphere was the consequence of deadly violence on November 24 in which Muslim protesters had clashed with the police during a survey of the town’s Mughal-era congregational mosque ordered by a court after Hindutva claims that it had been built on the site of a temple. This followed a similar court-ordered survey at the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. Hindu groups have also made claims on the famous dargah in Ajmer as well as mosques in Mathura, Lucknow, Jaunpur and Dhar. Nearly a month after the violence in Sambhal, the district magistrate was on the spot, supervising security arrangements outside the mosque, as a posse of armed policemen kept a close watch on those walking in for prayers. These bristling security arrangements were not enough: congregants were also prevented from speaking to the media. After the prayers, the police cordoned off the mosque. Worshippers were forced leave through a lane where no journalists were allowed. The scenes during the Friday prayer demonstrate the tension in Sambhal despite the Supreme Court on November 29 staying further action on the mosque survey. read the complete article
International
I grew up Muslim in a Catholic community – and Mary represented common ground
I had just finished teaching a class on “the Muslim Mary”. Many non-Muslims who attended were puzzled to find out that Muslims had a connection with Mary at all, and had no knowledge of how important she is to our belief and practice. This came as no surprise. Half of Americans report they know “not much” or “nothing at all” about Islam. As a Muslim girl growing up in the overwhelmingly Catholic state of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany, Mary was a constant presence in my life. Her images and statues, dotted across my city, smiled at me as I walked to school. At Christmas time, I joined with my classmates to sing songs such as Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht. At home and in the mosque, I was fascinated to learn about Mary’s exceptional character, courage and devotion. She is one of the most honoured women in Islam and the Qur’an dedicates the entire chapter 19 to show her high status. She is special, not only because she was the mother of Jesus but because of her exemplary spirituality, worship and service to God. For me and many Muslims, she remains a role model of how to cultivate moral character, trust and hope in God in times of despair. She demonstrates that in uncertainty, there is also possibility. Mary was faced with so many struggles, yet she persisted. As a young woman who experienced many obstacles because of my Muslim headscarf, Mary encouraged me not to surrender to prejudice and stereotypes. Like her, I pressed forward in finding my place in the world. read the complete article
Islamophobia rising across Europe amid Gaza conflict
A new report reveals the war on Gaza has fueled anti-Muslim sentiment across Europe, with many countries cracking down on pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Some political parties have even exploited Islamophobia for political gain. TRT World’s Victoria Innes provides more on the report's findings. read the complete article
United States
Members of SF mosque harassed again amid growing anti-Muslim incidents
Members of a mosque in San Francisco are worried about their safety and security. That's after a man was caught on surveillance camera tearing pages out of the Quran. They say that same man has harassed people who belong to the mosque before. The Islamic Center of San Francisco is one of the oldest mosques in the state of California. Members say they witnessed a hateful act on December 24. Half of Muslim college students in CA facing harassment, discrimination: CAIR report. "He's thumbing through our holy book, the Quran," said Zuhaib Siddique with Islamic Center of San Francisco. "He showed up with religious books, the Quran, bible and he started standing in the front, tearing pages from the Quran, waving on the security camera. It kind of looked like a hammer. Though later, it looked like a toy hammer and kind of confronting people coming into the mosque." The suspect is someone with a history of harassing mosque members. Zahra Billoo is executive director of CAIR, Council on American-Islamic Relations San Francisco. "People are fearful that this is becoming more normal. We hear more reports of mosques targeted in the City of San Francisco this year than any other year in existence," said Billoo. Some people worry about the rise of Islamophobia as the U.S. changes leadership. "The rise in hate that we are seeing, it's not just about Donald Trump. But also, the U.S.-backed genocide in Palestine," said Billoo. read the complete article
Bloodstained hypocrisy: Biden’s bombs are louder than his words on Islamophobia
On December 12, 2024, the Biden administration released its National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate. The document is a moral obscenity that should insult the intelligence and dignity of every self-respecting person of conscience in America. The breathtaking hypocrisy of releasing this document while U.S.-funded bombs obliterate Palestinian civilians in Gaza defies comprehension. The national strategy is a grotesque attempt at laundering the reputation of an administration actively enabling what genocide scholars recognize as textbook genocide in Gaza. The same government that maintains a sprawling surveillance apparatus targeting Muslim communities, operates a discriminatory watchlist system, and continues to run Guantanamo Bay now wants to lecture America about “countering Islamophobia.” The contempt for Muslim lives embedded in this cynical performance is staggering. Hina Shamsi of the ACLU captures the outrageous inadequacy of this document: “While this strategy acknowledges discrimination and its harms, it does little to end them and is a squandered opportunity.” But calling this a “squandered opportunity” is far too gentle. This propaganda is the active gaslighting of Muslim communities while enabling their oppression. The timing of the release is particularly repugnant. How dare this administration speak of “countering hate” while expediting weapons shipments that have killed over 44,800 Palestinians? How dare they preach about religious tolerance while providing diplomatic cover for the destruction of mosques, churches, and entire neighborhoods? The cognitive dissonance would be laughable if it were not so blood-soaked. read the complete article
United Kingdom
UK Muslim group asks Tories to remove shadow justice secretary for 'admiring' far-right
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) on Tuesday called on the main opposition Conservative Party to remove Robert Jenrick from his position as shadow justice secretary over leaked messages showing his admiration for a far-right social media account, Anadolu Agency reports. The MCB issued a statement urging Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch to remove Jenrick from his shadow cabinet position and launch an immediate investigation into his conduct following leaked messages. In the leaked message, Jenrick described himself as a “great admirer” of a far-right account, which is known for regularly posting Islamophobic and far-right content on X. MCB Secretary General Zara Mohammed said it seems “impossible” for the shadow justice secretary to have not seen the account’s regular Islamophobic and far-right hate posts. It seems impossible for Jenrick to have not seen the regular Islamophobic and far-right hate posted by this account. Yet he has declared himself a great admirer and agrees with its far-right views on what needs to happen next, Mohammed said. read the complete article
Netherlands
Dutch parliament is fighting anti-Semitism by discriminating against Muslims, migrants and pro-Palestine activists
The Netherlands is in the midst of a heated public and political discussion about ‘integration’ following streetfights in early November between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax of Amsterdam. November’s fighting, instigated by racist chants and anti-Palestinian violence from Maccabi Tel Aviv’s supporters, who were in Amsterdam for an away game, led to counter attacks by Dutch locals – which the Israeli government, and others, swiftly labelled as “an anti-Semitic pogrom”. In the six weeks since, the Netherlands’ right-wing coalition government, which includes populist Geert Wilders’ unabashedly anti-Islam Freedom Party, passed a series of motions with dangerous implications for protesters, migrants and Muslims, according to advocacy groups in the country. These began, most notably, on November 19, when the Dutch parliament voted two-to-one in favour of Dutch security services “scrutinising” pro-Palestine activists and students, following a motion put forward by the conservative Reformed Political Party (SGP). SGP’s motion is just one of several that have sent chills across migrant communities and civil rights groups in the Netherlands. “After whipping up moral panic around the 'integration' of Muslims following the ‘Maccabi incidents’ in early November, the far-right majority in parliament has used the climate of controversy to pass a spree of motions that propose draconic new surveillance and policing measures on pro-Palestinian organisations and muslim communities,” says Rahma Bavelaar, the chair of Report Islamophobia (Meld Islamofobie), a non-profit documenting and analysing racism and Islamophobia. read the complete article