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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In Australia, the Albanese government is aiming to appoint a special envoy to combat Islamophobia, following in the footsteps of the Canadian government last year, meanwhile in Germany, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has ordered the closing of the Islamic Centre of Hamburg and it’s associated mosque after accusing the faith based organization with “pursing goals that are anti-constitutional”, and in the U.S., in an address before the U.S. Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unabashedly rebuked those who have criticized Israel’s war in Gaza and called anti-war student protesters “Iran’s useful idiots”. Our recommended read of the day is by Marc Owen Jones for Al Jazeera on research he’s conducted on a global influence campaign promoting the far-right and anti-Muslim conspiracy theories. This and more below:
International
The Qatar Plot: How a covert influence campaign helped Europe’s far right | Recommended Read
My research into a global influence campaign promoting far-right, anti-Muslim conspiracies suggests the unprecedented support the far-right National Rally party received in the July election was not entirely organic. Together with fellow researcher Sohan Dsouza, we uncovered a massive shadowy social media operation funded by dark money spreading far-right narratives on immigration, Islam and Israel’s war on Gaza all across the globe but particularly in Europe. The operation appears to have provided the far right with additional leverage in this summer’s elections, from the European Parliament elections in June to the French elections in July. The content promoted by the extensive operation, dubbed “The Qatar Plot”, is believed to have reached a minimum of 50 million people across Facebook, X, YouTube, Telegram and TikTok. On Facebook alone, we found that the campaign spent between $100,000 to $240,000 on ads, and that is a conservative estimate. Based on Meta’s previous public disclosures on such expenditure, this makes The Qatar Plot the largest known Facebook influence operation ever to target EU countries and European elections in terms of ad spend. From late 2023 through mid-2024, this campaign flooded social media in Europe and beyond with anti-Muslim messaging. Above all else, it peddled the far-right “Great Replacement” narrative, which promotes the idea that global elites are conspiring to replace Europe’s white population with Black and brown people, and particularly Muslims. read the complete article
Benjamin Netanyahu urges global alliance against Iranian 'axis of terror' in US Congress speech
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Gaza ceasefire demonstrators Wednesday and called for a global alliance against the Iranian regime he accuses of funding them, as he addressed a US Congress divided by the war. Washington has become increasingly alarmed by the humanitarian toll of Israel's nine-month campaign in the narrow coastal territory, and protests in Israel and the United States have been ratcheting up pressure on Netanyahu. The prime minister hit back at his critics in a speech at the US Capitol, baselessly accusing Tehran of funding and promoting US-based anti-war protest, calling Gaza peace activists "Iran's useful idiots." In Congress, Netanyahu called on Washington to fast-track military aid to his country to "dramatically expedite an end to the war in Gaza and help prevent a broader war in the Middle East." But his call for support sparked a backlash from Democrats angry that there was little of substance in his speech about securing peace. Influential former House speaker Nancy Pelosi called it "by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary" invited to speak before Congress. read the complete article
Australia
Government continues search for special envoy to combat Islamophobia
Since Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel on the 7th of October there has been a reported rise in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic attacks across Australia. In an attempt to improve inclusion and safety, the Albanese government is aiming to appoint a special envoy to combat Islamophobia, following the Canadian government's own appointment last year. read the complete article
After the defection of Senator Fatima Payman, what are the prospects of a Muslim political party in Australia?
The federal government’s response to the terror attack carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023, and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza, have brought long simmering tensions in Australian multicultural society to a boil. In a political moment defined by polarisation and heightened political emotions, the defection of Western Australian Senator Fatima Payman from the governing Labor Party to the cross bench, and rumours of a Muslim political party seeking to exploit grievances over the government’s position on Gaza, seem particularly portentous. Admittedly, this is not the first time that Australian Muslims have contemplated forming a political party. Nor is it, in the context of Australian multiculturalism, the first attempt to mobilise migrant communities as a constituency or to organise a political entity based on religious values. read the complete article
NSW Greens office targeted with Islamophobic and white supremacist graffiti
Police are investigating after the New South Wales Greens’ office was graffitied with Islamophobic and white supremacist messages. The graffiti, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning at the office in inner west Sydney, called an Islamic prophet a white supremacist. The vandalism also criticised the Greens and hit back at vandals for targeting the Australian War Memorial, which was allegedly defaced with pro-Palestine messages in June. In response to the graffiti attack, the Greens deputy leader and spokesperson for anti-racism, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, called on the Albanese government to take action against Islamophobia and white supremacy, saying it had “sykrocketed” since the war in Gaza began. read the complete article
United Kingdom
British Hindus Must Take a Stand Against Groups Promoting Hindu Supremacy in the UK
There are over a million Hindus in Britain, and there is evidence that the advocacy groups claiming to represent us as Hindus are connected to fascist organisations. These groups may have contributed to the “unrest” of Leicester in August-September 2022. They, and their Indian counterparts, have also been linked to serious cases of international repression. And, alarmingly, these groups made their mark on the British general election that has just passed, amassing more than 20 endorsements of their so-called “Hindu Manifesto” from parliamentary candidates across the political spectrum. Amidst the rise of the global far-right and hate politics, it is crucial that we ensure there are progressive, inclusive representations of our Hindu way of life. Here is why. read the complete article
United States
“Shut Up, Asshole”: Democrats Want Delegates Frustrated by Gaza Policy to Just Fall in Line
Last night, the Michigan Democratic Party held a call asking delegates to rally around Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee after President Joe Biden stepped out of the race. During the call, two uncommitted delegates—chosen by voters protesting against Biden’s failure to push for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza—said they would not endorse Harris until they knew her policy on aid to Israel. According to a recent Gallup poll, 55 percent of Americans disapprove of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and only 36 percent are supportive. Delegate Abbas Alawieh, who is an organizer with the Uncommitted Movement, tried to explain his position on last night’s Michigan Democratic Party Zoom call. He says he was told to “shut up, asshole”—an incident which he says is symptomatic of anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism within the party. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said the incident was “unacceptable,” and that “in this moment, we want to reiterate that our Arab American and Muslim brothers and sisters are welcome in this party.” read the complete article
Germany
Germany's Islamic Centre Hamburg shut down, called a 'front for Iran'
Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has closed down the Islamic Centre Hamburg, along with its "Blue Mosque", accusing it of propagating extremism and being "a front" for the Iranian government. On Wednesday morning, hundreds of armed state policemen stormed Hamburg's Imam-Ali-Mosque, commonly referred to as "Blue Mosque" due to its turquoise facade, which is run by the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH). Fifty-three institutions and mosques in five different states across Germany with alleged ties to the centre were also subject to raids. In addition to the centre in Hamburg, authorities banned nationwide subsidiaries in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin. In a video address published on X, Feaser accuses the association of pursuing goals that are anti-constitutional and praises the move as a step towards combatting "Islamist extremism". She accused the association of having close ties with Iran's leadership as well as Lebanon's Hezbollah. Before the raids in November 2023, IZH had said it “condemns every form of violence and extremism and has always advocated peace, tolerance and interreligious dialogue”. read the complete article
France
France struggles with its hijab rules for Olympics opening ceremony
French government and Olympics officials are seeking a creative solution to allow Muslim French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla to wear her hijab at the opening ceremony while still complying with the country's secularism laws, they said on Wednesday. Thousands of athletes, including some who wear a hijab, are arriving for the Paris Olympics, placing an international spotlight on tensions in France over national identity and perceived discrimination against Muslims. Sylla, part of France's 400-metre relay team, wrote on her Instagram account on Monday that her hijab - a head covering worn by many Muslim women - would prevent her from appearing in Friday's blockbuster opening ceremony along the Seine River. "You are selected for the Olympic Games, organised in your country, but you can't take part in the opening ceremony because you wear a scarf on your head," Sylla posted on her account. Eager to avoid an embarrassing domestic flap with the entire world watching, French government and Olympics officials said they were willing to find a solution for Sylla, although it remains unclear what that could be. read the complete article