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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In the United Kingdom, The Women and Equalities Committee launched an inquiry which aims to look into issues surrounding gendered Islamophobia, in a bid to understand the problems facing Muslim women in the country, meanwhile in Australia, police are investigating whether two alleged assaults in Melbourne were Islamophobic incidents after two Muslim women wearing hijabs were attacked at a public shopping center during peak traffic, and in the U.S., new images released by the DHS on the migrants sent to Guantánamo Bay are casting doubt on the assertion by the Trump Administration that those sent to the facility are “high-threat criminals”. Our recommended read of the day is by Esad Širbegović for Middle East Eye about how the normalization of Islamophobia and the adoption of laws criminalizing Muslims in Australia is an example of how the country’s fascist past is re-surfacing despite those in power denying the parallels. This and more below:
Austria
Austria's 'fight against Islam': How a Freudian 'slip' exposes its racist legacy | Recommended Read
Terminology is crucial for clear, concise communication, especially when addressing the The term "Nunzis" derives from the Bosnian phrase Naci-Unuci/Nunci, which translates as "Nazi Grandchildren". It refers to descendants of Nazis who believe they have undergone denazification but have, in fact, failed to confront their inherited ideologies. Despite perceiving themselves as having moved beyond their ancestors' legacy, they remain unaware of the continued influence of those beliefs, thus perpetuating a generational cycle of denial. This term is necessary to better understand what is happening in Austria and the West more broadly. Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the governor of Lower Austria and a politician from the Austrian People's Party (OVP), recently declared in an interview on ORF, Austria's national broadcaster, that the country must "fight against Islam". Her statement was made in the context of defending her party's sudden shift in stance towards Austria's far-right Freedom Party, with which the OVP had previously ruled out forming a coalition due to the severe corruption scandals that had tainted their earlier partnership. The Freedom Party, founded by former Nazis and SS members after World War Two, was long seen as a party created by Nazis for Nazis. In her televised interview, Mikl-Leitner rejected the need for new elections and suggested that a government could be formed with the Freedom Party, led by Herbert Kickl - a politician who has openly embraced the title "Volkskanzler", or "People's Chancellor", a term historically associated with Adolf Hitler. As recently as last year, Freedom Party members attending the funeral of a long-time party figure were heard singing a song glorifying the "Holy German Reich", a piece of music widely popularised during the Nazi era. Yet, for Mikl-Leitner, Islam appears to present a greater threat than Nazis. The governor's statement was left unchallenged during and after the broadcast, exemplifying the normalisation of Islamophobic discourse within Austrian society. Hundreds of media professionals - producers, editors and journalists - had opportunities to question or condemn Mikl-Leitner's rhetoric, yet the silence was deafening. read the complete article
United Kingdom
Study suggests widespread Muslim stereotyping in Western democracies
New research shows that the majority of citizens in four key western democracies may hold the stereotypical and prejudiced view that Muslims are a homophobic threat to LGBTQ+ communities. The study, co-led by the University of Southampton, Harvard University and University of Amsterdam, offers new insights into public perceptions of Muslims and the persistence of prejudicial beliefs in societies that are often considered inclusive. Published in British Journal of Political Science , the research used an innovative experimental design to gather data from Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. Unlike direct questioning, the study’s method allowed respondents to express sensitive views (like holding prejudicial views), without fear of social judgment, with the aim of returning more truthful responses. Participants were asked to count the number of groups (such as, social, political and religious groups,) from a random list and identify those they viewed to be threatening to LGBTQ+ individuals. Whether a list included Muslims as one of the groups or not was randomised. The lists also contained other groups which serve as placebos for comparison. The results were striking, showing that across all four countries a majority share of citizens expressed the stereotypical view that Muslims are a homophobic threat to the LGBTQ+ community. This stereotype was most prevalent in Germany, where nearly 70 percent of respondents implicitly agreed with it, followed by the Netherlands at 66 percent. The UK and USA were 61 percent and 58 percent, respectively. read the complete article
New inquiry launched into gendered Islamophobia
The Women and Equalities Committee on 13 February launched an inquiry which would look into issues surrounding gendered Islamophobia, in a bid to understand the issues facing Muslim women who are living in the UK. The inquiry will consider the obstacles women and girls experience when reporting cases of Islamophobia and the ways in which gendered Islamophobia can be tackled. Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) Chair Sarah Owen MP said: “It’s concerning but sadly unsurprising to hear about women and girls’ experiences of Islamophobia and through this new inquiry, the Committee will explore why they are more likely to be victims of Islamophobia, and what impact this has on them, their communities and wider society.” “WEC’s new work will examine in what ways gendered Islamophobia has an intersectional dimension and ask why some women are more likely than others to be subject to this abuse and prejudice. The inquiry will also explore if there is evidence of Muslim women being harassed from within their communities, for example, for not conforming to expected community norms or due to generational differences.” The inquiry is seeking written submissions addressing a series of questions concerning how Islamophobia impacts women, what can be done to prevent it and whether Muslim women are facing harassment from their communities. read the complete article
Australia
Woman accused of seven-month, hate-fuelled, anti-Islamic graffiti spree
A woman allegedly embarked on an Islamophobic and anti-Arab graffiti spree at a major Sydney shopping centre and at a sports stadium over more than six months, scrawling messages such as “Arabs are all terrorists” on the walls of public toilets. Bronwyn Elizabeth Nowicki, 53, was granted bail in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday over nine counts of damaging property inside the toilets of Hornsby Westfield shopping centre and CommBank stadium in Parramatta. The court heard she allegedly committed the repeated and deliberate offending between July last year and this weekend at both locations. Court documents allege Nowicki first used a black texta at Westfield Hornsby in July. On August 17 at the same shopping centre, she is accused of writing “Islam is not a religion, it is a satanic cult. Muslims f-k off to Palestine. Scarf = ugly sl-t”. The message continued: “Muslims are terrorists and need to f--k off from our country. Palestine supporters need to f--k off to Palestine. Scarf = ugly slut who f--k their brothers. Islam = terrorist cult”. Over the next several months, she allegedly returned to the same shopping centre to write variations of anti-Arab and anti-Islamic comments, including “Arabs and Muslims f--k off. Go to Palestine if you want to support the dogs there.. Hamas started this… Muslim cult, not religion”. read the complete article
Police investigate potential Islamophobic assaults at Melbourne shopping centre
Police are investigating if two alleged assaults in Melbourne were Islamophobic incidents after women in hijabs were attacked during the day. Victoria police said two women, a 30-year-old from Lalor and a 26-year-old from Wollert, were allegedly attacked by the same assailant at Epping shopping centre on High Street between 1.10pm and 1.20pm on Thursday. Investigators said both victims were attacked by a woman who then left on foot with a man. Police said investigations were ongoing – including “whether these were prejudice-motivated assaults”. The 26-year-old victim, who wears a hijab and asked not to be named, said she had been living in fear since the alleged attack. She said she was randomly hit in the face and then pushed to the ground. “I am terrified to go out, I am terrified to leave these four walls of my house, something I never thought I would say,” she told Guardian Australia on Monday. “My mental and physical health is at zero, even below zero. Every day, it gets worse for me, it was so random it has traumatised me.” The woman said she believed it was an Islamophobic attack. “It is 100% because I am Muslim. I am born here, this is my country. Where do I go when I am attacked in my own country?” The other victim who also wears a hijab is pregnant. Both women were taken to Northern hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) said in a statement: “The … council vehemently condemns the heinous and barbaric attacks on two Muslim women at Epping shopping centre in Victoria. read the complete article
If we want to stem the tide of hate, we need robust definitions of Islamophobia and antisemitism
The terms “Islamophobia” and “antisemitism” have become increasingly prominent in public discourse, yet their meanings remain highly contested and often misunderstood. This ambiguity hinders efforts to address the real harms that the phenomena they describe inflict on both individuals and communities. Robust definitions of both Islamophobia and antisemitism are not merely academic exercises; they are essential tools for identifying, challenging and ultimately eradicating prejudice and discrimination against Muslims and Jewish people, respectively. Given my expertise, I focus here on Islamophobia — but I hope to draw some useful parallels with regard to antisemitism. In particular, I want to argue that having clear criteria for legitimate criticism of Islam, as proposed by the Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia, is crucial in navigating the complex landscape of religious discourse and preventing the weaponisation of criticism to mask bigotry. A major challenge in defining Islamophobia lies in determining the target of the prejudice: is it directed at Islam as a religion, or at Muslims as individuals — or perhaps both? This distinction is important because it speaks to the nature of the prejudice. When the focus is on Islamic teachings, it can be argued that criticism is directed at ideas. However, when the focus is on Muslims as people, it moves into the realm of discrimination and exclusion. Moreover, the issue of distinguishing Islamophobia from other forms of discrimination — like racism and xenophobia — further complicates the matter. read the complete article
Islamophobic graffiti found on footpath near school in Sydney's west
Muslim community leaders say Islamophobic graffiti found near a school in Sydney's west is a "stark symbol of the escalating hatred and bigotry manifesting in Australian neighbourhoods". A slur referencing the Islamic prophet Muhammad was found spraypainted on a footpath between Chifley and Virgil Avenue in Sefton, near the local high school, last week. In a joint statement, the Alliance of Australians for Muslims and the Australian National Imams Council condemned the "reprehensible act of Islamophobic vandalism". "The offensive graffiti, sprayed in black across a popular local footpath, is not just a personal affront but a stark symbol of the escalating hatred and bigotry manifesting in Australian neighbourhoods," the statement read. "Despite repeated occurrences, there remains a troubling lack of adequate response or acknowledgment from political leaders, law enforcement, and media. "This ongoing negligence contributes to a dangerous perception that Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate are not significant enough to warrant real action. read the complete article
United States
Relatives and records cast doubt on Guantánamo migrants being ‘worst of the worst’
When the first flight of migrants arrived at Guantánamo Bay, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem said they were “the worst of the worst.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called them “high-threat” criminals who had crossed the border to bring “violence and mayhem to our communities.” All were members of a Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua, the Trump administration said, invoking the name of a group the president mentions frequently to explain why a mass deportation is needed. Officials put them in a prison on the U.S. naval station in Cuba created for suspected terrorists after Sept. 11, 2001. Little was known about the men when they were initially sent to Cuba. Human rights lawyers called Guantánamo a “legal black hole” and lambasted the U.S. government for not allowing them access to the migrants. But through photos released by DHS and accounts from family members, their names have begun to emerge. In one of the images is a man with his head bent as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer holds the back of his collar. Relatives have identified him as Luis Alberto Castillo. Despite the impression given by Homeland Security officials and others, these three men were taken into custody after crossing the southern border, according to court records and family members — not during a targeted immigration operation in a U.S. city or at a jail or prison while serving a sentence. The Washington Post could not find any violent federal criminal record for Castillo and Gómez, while Durán was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer during a riot at a detention center. An ICE official said that the agency stands by its assertion that all the migrants aboard the initial flight to Guantánamo are Tren de Aragua members. Their relatives firmly deny the accusation. read the complete article
International
JD Vance breaks taboo by meeting with leader of Germany’s far-right party
JD Vance has met with the leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland party, breaking a taboo in German politics as the Trump administration continues to court and promote far-right populist parties across Europe. At the meeting in Munich on Friday, the US vice-president and AfD leader, Alice Weidel, reportedly discussed the war in Ukraine, German domestic politics and the so-called brandmauer, or “firewall against the right”, that prevents ultra-nationalist parties like AfD from joining ruling coalitions in Germany. Vance met with Weidel just weeks before a German election in which the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim party appears poised to take second place on a wave of growing anti-establishment sentiment. The meeting was not the first contact between the party and a figure close to Donald Trump. Elon Musk, the billionaire now leading a purge of the US federal government, has repeatedly claimed that “only the AfD can save Germany” and last month hosted Wiedel in a 75-minute live conversation on his social media platform, X. Addressing the Munich security conference earlier on Friday, Vance admonished Europe’s leaders for refusing to work with their far-right parties. “If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you,” said Vance. “You need democratic mandates to accomplish anything of value in the coming years.” The move sent shockwaves through German political circles as the Trump administration appeared to be making a large bet on some of the continent’s most toxic parties in opposition to the sitting governments in the UK, Germany and other major allies. read the complete article
New Zealand
Government accused of 'othering' Muslim community after failing to provide halal-certified school lunches
The government is being accused of racism and 'othering' the Muslim community, after failing to provide halal-certified school lunches. RNZ reported yesterday that school lunch provider, Compass, has admitted that halal meals it delivers to schools are not halal certified - instead calling them 'halal-friendly'. The meals use halal certified chicken and beef, but their facility is not halal certified. In a statement, Associate Education Minister David Seymour said to go fully halal certified would be an unjustified expense. "To go to fully Halal certified would require the massive expense of separate preparation facilities, packaging, and distribution processes. I don't believe that expense would be justified," he said. But FIANZ spokesperson Abdur Razaaq is calling Seymour's comments a bluff, and said it doesn't require a new kitchen at all. "The Minister just has to pick up the phone, talk to MPI. He hasn't done his homework. He's just relied on laziness, I'd say - 'oh, you need a whole new kitchen', that's absolute rubbish." Khan said the federation has been certifying halal providers since 1979, and there are many kitchens that produce both halal food and non-halal food out of the same facility safely, even using the same cutlery - and getting all the certification. read the complete article