Today in Islamophobia: In the US, Donald Trump has signed an executive order to “combat antisemitism” that asks agencies to explore ways to deport pro-Palestinian activists, including student protesters, meanwhile in the UK, the newly-appointed editor of the Jewish Chronicle (JC), Daniel Schwammenthal, said Palestinian national identity “seems centered on violence” and called headscarves symbols of “oppression” in the Muslim world, and lastly, banks in Britain have been urged to improve their staff training on Islamophobia and racism to prevent debanking and de-risking of Muslim charities. Our recommended read of the day is by the Guardian on how U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the preparation of a 30,000-person “migrant facility” at the notorious Guantánamo Bay prison facility in Cuba. This and more below:
United States
Guantánamo Bay: the US prison camp in Cuba Trump is eyeing for illegal migrants | Recommended Read
As part of his administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, US president Donald Trump has announced that the United States will hold migrants at the notorious Guantánamo military detention facility in Cuba. Known primarily for holding suspects accused of terrorism-related offences, Trump ordered the preparation of a 30,000-person “migrant facility” that he said would be used to “detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.” Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla said the idea “shows contempt towards the human condition and international law”. Below, are some key facts about the detention facility in the US-run military enclave. read the complete article
Trump order targets pro-Palestinian activists to ‘combat antisemitism’
Donald Trump has signed an executive order to “combat antisemitism” that asks agencies to explore ways to deport pro-Palestinian activists, including student protesters. The US president’s order instructs federal agencies to identify available civil and criminal authorities in order to “combat antisemitism”, specifically by deporting resident aliens – such as students with visas – who were found to have broken the law during protests. Department and agency leaders will be required to provide recommendations to the White House within 60 days. It also instructs the Department of Justice to investigate pro-Hamas graffiti and intimidation, including incidents on college campuses. The order appears to target students and other activists who engaged in pro-Palestinian demonstrations following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli war in Gaza. read the complete article
US Muslim civil rights group welcomes recognition of 'World Hijab Day' in New York
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Wednesday hailed a new resolution in the New York State Senate that officially recognized Feb. 1, 2025, as World Hijab Day. The resolution, introduced by Senator Roxanne Persaud, aims to "encourage religious tolerance, cultural understanding and international solidarity." "World Hijab Day, in its 12th year, is a platform to promote understanding, dismantle stereotypes, and celebrate the empowerment of women who choose to wear the hijab," CAIR said in a statement. Noting that "this resolution reflects New York’s celebration of cultural and religious diversity," CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said, "World Hijab Day is an important opportunity to amplify the voices of hijab-wearing women and to combat the prejudice and discrimination they often face." read the complete article
United Kingdom
Banks told to improve Islamophobia training as Muslim charities report access issues
Banks have been urged to improve their staff training on Islamophobia and racism in order to prevent debanking and de-risking of Muslim charities. In a report published today, the Muslim Charities Forum made several recommendations to banks, the government, the Charity Commission and the wider charity sector on how to improve banking issues. Many Muslim charities reported banking difficulties and some a “complete withdrawal” of services in response to a survey conducted for the report. Some reported a strain on human resources due to the added administrative burden of addressing financial issues and negative impacts on their relationships with implementation partners due to problems such as transferring funds or account closures. The report suggests that Muslim-led charities face “disproportionate scrutiny” from banks when attempting to use their services, especially if the charities are operating in “high-risk regions or conflict zones”. read the complete article
New Jewish Chronicle editor said Palestinian identity 'centred on violence'
The newly-appointed editor of the Jewish Chronicle (JC), Daniel Schwammenthal, said Palestinian national identity "seems centered on violence" and called headscarves symbols of "oppression" in the Muslim world. The publication, which is the oldest Jewish news source in the UK, announced on Tuesday that Schwammenthal would replace Jake Wallis Simons, who had served as editor since 2021 before leaving to write a book. On 27 February 2024, Schwammenthal posted on social media platform X that the "Palestinian tragedy" is a "national identity that seems centered on violence-against Israel and those seen as her allies". Schwammenthal has a history of making controversial social media posts in defence of Israel. Schwammenthal has also made a series of inflammatory statements about Muslims. In 2014, he claimed that "murderous, violent Jew hatred" was "mostly Muslim", and in 2017, he said headscarves were symbols of oppression. Schwammenthal posted in response to a call for protesters in a women's rights march in the US to stand "with the Muslim women in the Middle East against Islamism" that "some were donning headscarves, symbols of that very oppression in [the] Muslim world", calling it "Orwellian". read the complete article
Christian preacher arrested with anti-Islam sign at London Cathedral protest loses High Court battle with Met Police
A Christian preacher arrested outside a London cathedral with a placard saying “Love Muslims, Ban Islam, the Religion of Terror” has lost a legal claim that he was unlawfully detained by police. Ian Sleeper was arrested on suspicion of a religiously aggravated public order offence after the incident outside Southwark Cathedral on June 23, 2017. Mr Sleeper, 57, was in possession of two signs when he was arrested - one stating “#Love Muslims, Hate Islam, Jesus is Love + Hope” and the other reading: “Love Muslims, Ban Islam, the Religion of Terror”. The Metropolitan Police defended the rights of officers to intervene and shut down the protest, in the “febrile“ aftermath of a series of terrorist attacks. read the complete article
Suella Braverman says UK could become ‘first Islamist nation with nuclear weapons’
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has told a delegation in Washington that Britain could become the first Islamist nation in possession of nuclear weapons. According to Bill Curtis of The London Economic, she warned that Britain could “fall into the hands of Muslim fundamentalism” and become an Iran-style enemy of America in the next 20 years. She proposed the idea, originally suggested by vice president JD Vance, during a speech last night at the rightwing Heritage Foundation thinktank in Washington. Braverman – one of the most hard right figures in the Conservative Party and rumoured to be a potential defector to Reform UK – also spent much of her speech congratulating Trump, saying that his re-election would spell the end of “progressive thinking” in the West. Braverman said: “Vice-president JD Vance said at the National Conservatism conference, at which I also spoke in the summer, that the UK was going to be the first Islamist nation with nuclear weapons. I don’t think he was joking." read the complete article
Canada
Quebec mosque shooting anniversary renews call to fight Islamophobia in Canada
On the anniversary of the deadly mosque shooting in Quebec, mourners fear the hate and ignorance that led to the attack remain. read the complete article