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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In the United States, an Illinois woman is charged with hate crimes after, authorities alleged, she attacked a man for wearing a Palestine hoodie at a suburban Chicago Panera, meanwhile in the Netherlands, Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, has backtracked on her previous use of the word “pogrom” to describe violence in the city between Israeli football hooligans and local young people mostly of Moroccan and other Arab descent, and lastly, Murali Krishnan writes for DW on the banning of ‘bulldozer justice’ in the country and how it has left lasting scars on the Indian Muslim community, with many worried the practice will continue regardless of the ruling. Our recommended read of the day is by Freddie Clayton and Martijn van Delft for NBC News on how the violent clashes in Amsterdam have exposed anti-immigrant Islamophobia and the dangers of far-right political domination in European countries. This and more below:
United States
Amsterdam violence exposes anti-immigrant Islamophobia in the Netherlands | Recommended Read
What began as violent clashes between locals and Israeli soccer fans has spiraled into a clash of identities in the Netherlands, leaving many feeling their place in society is precarious, their belonging conditional, and their voices drowned out in a tide of blame. The resignation of a Moroccan-born minister has added yet more fuel to a fire that has exposed deep racial and religious divides from the streets to the Cabinet office, bringing the government to the brink of crisis. Deputy finance minister Nora Achahbar quit the Cabinet on Friday in protest after hearing alleged racist remarks during a closed-door Dutch Cabinet meeting. Amsterdam was gripped by violence this month surrounding a match between Dutch team Ajax and the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv. According to officials, the violence included “rioters who actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them,” sending five to hospital, and inflammatory and violent actions by some of the Israeli fans, who shouted phrases like “Death to the Arabs” and “Let the IDF win. We will f--- the Arabs.” The episode spread fear in the Jewish community — and revealed long-simmering frustrations over anti-Muslim rhetoric and Islamophobia in the Netherlands. A report released this month from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights found that 50% of Dutch Muslims faced discrimination in the past year, significantly higher than the European average of 38%. read the complete article
Woman faces hate crime charges in assault on Palestinian man, pregnant wife at Downers Grove Panera
An Illinois woman is charged with hate crimes after, authorities alleged, she attacked a man for wearing a Palestine hoodie at a suburban Chicago Panera Bread over the weekend. Alexandra Szustakiewicz, 64, of Darien, Illinois, is charged with two felony counts of a hate crime and misdemeanor disorderly conduct, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Downers Grove Police Chief Michael DeVries said in a statement Monday. In court Monday, a judge granted prosecutors' requests that Szustakiewicz have no contact with the victims and that she must stay away from the Panera Bread in Downers Grove where the incident occurred at about noon Saturday, the statement said. “Szustakiewicz was at the Panera Bread when she confronted and yelled expletives at a man regarding a sweatshirt he was wearing with the word Palestine written on it,” authorities said. “It is further alleged that Szustakiewicz attempted to hit a cell phone out of the hands of a woman who was with the man when the woman began videotaping the incident.” read the complete article
Angelo Carusone on MSNBC: Pete Hegseth “sees the world through crusader terms”
MURRAY: Angelo, you and your colleagues at Media Matters have documented much of Hegseth's extremism, including his history of Islamophobic rhetoric. Can you talk a little bit more and maybe augment what Rick has said about the significance of someone who's taken such extreme positions as Hegseth has being considered for this top position in an institution that is populated by a very diverse group of people? ANGELO CARUSONE (PRESIDENT, MEDIA MATTERS): Yeah. I mean, I'll start there. I mean, part of it is, you know, one of the important parts of the military is readiness, is to be prepared. And two of the things that he represents sort of undercut that. One is this idea again, the misogyny, and sort of the reduced role that women would play in the military — that everyone universally accepts that doing that would actually reduce the military's readiness. So that's the first thing. That will absolutely have an effect. But then beyond that, it's his world's view. It is poisoned by not just Islamophobia, it's something even broader and bigger than that, which is that he sees the world through crusader terms. That — and he sees the military, the United States military, sort of as a flaming sword for Christ. That it is engaged in a — not just as, you know, national security, it's also engaged in a religious battle. And that is important to sort of stamp out and snuff out the rise of Islam across the globe; one of the things he's lamented on several occasions is that Muslims are simply having too many babies by comparison to Christians, and that that presents a problem for cultural dominance down the road, and we need to be thinking about this threat now. So that to me is the two big pieces aside from all of the experience questions, but there are plenty of people that sort of assess that. read the complete article
How Much (or How Little) Does the Biden Administration Want Justice in the 9/11 Case?
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin put his thumb on the scale in United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad on Aug. 2 when he revoked plea agreements that the government and three defendants on trial in the Guantanamo military commissions had signed just 48 hours prior. The pleas would have brought the 9/11 case to a close for three of the four remaining defendants after 12 years of interminable pretrial litigation (the presiding judge found the fifth defendant, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, incompetent to stand trial in September 2023). The defendants would plead guilty in exchange for life imprisonment, without guarantees for certain conditions of confinement that they had sought throughout nearly two years of plea negotiations. For those familiar with the 9/11 case’s myriad and, at times spectacular, defects, it was remarkable that the government was able to get such a good deal. Austin’s decision to intervene in the litigation at the 11th hour, to scuttle the pleas, fatally compromised the case’s independence, and may have squandered the only remaining chance at judicial finality and some measure of justice. But then, on Nov. 6, military judge Colonel Matthew McCall ruled that Austin did not have authority to withdraw from the pleas and, accordingly, he reinstated them. The ruling offered the Biden administration, whose stated policy position has been to close Guantanamo (which requires ending the military commissions), a lifeline. read the complete article
United Kingdom
Like Michael Gove, Starmer is treating Tower Hamlets as a colonial outpost
Michael Gove was education secretary in early 2014 when the first allegations of an Islamist conspiracy to take over schools in Birmingham became public. He responded by instigating, in alliance with Britain’s deeply Islamophobic media, a state-sponsored attack on Muslim schools. The careers of numerous teachers were ruined, while irreparable damage was done to educational standards. The prospects of thousands of schoolchildren were damaged. The so-called Trojan Horse plot to infiltrate Birmingham schools was, as has now been established beyond reasonable doubt, a fabrication. Fast forward 10 years. This past February, in one of his last significant acts in government, Gove struck against another Muslim target, dispatching inspectors to report on Lutfur Rahman’s record as mayor of Tower Hamlets, which has the largest concentration of Muslims in Britain. The report was published last week. The findings were devastating for Rahman, with inspectors citing a “toxic” council culture involving a “suspicious and defensive” administration, amid concerns over patronage. In a further humiliation for Rahman, the Starmer government has ordered “ministerial envoys” into Tower Hamlets to monitor management decisions. Almost every detail of this attack on an elected and popular Muslim politician stinks. The first problem is glaring: Sir John Jenkins, former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, was a member of the inspection team. Jenkins, a distinguished diplomat, has zero knowledge of local government. read the complete article
India
What's next after India outlaws 'bulldozer justice?'
Ali Sahud is a mechanic from India's northern Haryana state. In August 2023, bulldozers thundered through his predemoninantly Muslim neighborhood of the town of Nuh and removed or demolished houses, stalls and kiosks, around 30 shops and a four-storey hotel. The official reason given was to clear illegal construction. However, the demolitions followed communal violence that had flared up between Hindus and Muslims a month earlier. In what has been termed " bulldozer justice" in India, Muslims say homes and businesses are being destroyed in the wake of communal conflicts and political dissent under the pretext of illegal construction or encroachment. Many of the incidents have been reported in states governed by the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "My tin shed workshop was destroyed in a flash and it was a tough time for many families here. Nobody was given time, and we were helpless because of a curfew imposed," Sahud told DW. A similar demolition drive took place in New Delhi's Jahangirpuri area, which is home to a large Muslim population, following communal violence in April 2022. The demolitions took place on the same street as a mosque and temple complex, days after a clash at the mosque. The BJP-run local civic body claimed the drive was to clear illegal constructions. However, last week, India's Supreme Court ruled that the government could not order the demolition of property belonging to people accused of crimes without allowing for due judicial process. It also laid down guidelines, including issuing prior notice and taking a video of the demolition process. read the complete article
International
The Muslim Electorate and Islamophobia in the 2024 Elections in France and Britain
The 2024 elections in France and the United Kingdom marked a watershed moment in the political engagement of Muslim communities and the ramifications of Islamophobia on electoral dynamics. These pivotal events illuminated the intricate interplay between religious identity, national politics, and international conflicts, particularly the Gaza war. The contrasting approaches to secularism and multiculturalism in France and the U.K. offer a compelling lens through which to examine the evolving dynamics of democracy, representation, and social cohesion in two of Europe’s most influential nations. As Western democracies grapple with shifting demographics, surging populism, and the integration of diverse communities, the experiences of France and the U.K. provide critical insights into the intricacies of contemporary multicultural societies. The elections in the two countries underscored stark differences in the political experiences of Muslim voters, reflecting the distinct historical, cultural, and legal frameworks of each country. In France, where the principle of laïcité has long shaped the relationship between state and religion, the Muslim population of approximately 5.7 million faced unprecedented challenges. The far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, secured a significant portion of the vote by advocating policies that explicitly targeted Muslim communities, such as banning hijabs in public spaces and restricting dual nationals’ eligibility for certain professions. The political climate intensified existing tensions regarding the visibility of Islamic practices in public life, forcing many French Muslims to navigate a precarious balance between their religious identity and civic engagement. In contrast, the United Kingdom’s multicultural framework facilitated a markedly different mode of Muslim political participation during the 2024 elections. British Muslims, numbering approximately 3.9 million and constituting 6.5% of the total population, demonstrated remarkable political organization and activism. The emergence of grassroots initiatives such as “The Muslim Vote” and the success of various independent candidates in traditionally safe Labour constituencies signaled a departure from conventional party allegiances. This phenomenon was particularly pronounced in constituencies with significant Muslim populations, where concerns about the Gaza conflict and perceived inadequacies in Labour’s response led to a realignment of political loyalties. The election results highlighted the growing electoral clout of British Muslims and their capacity to influence political decisions on issues of importance to their community. This newfound political assertiveness not only revealed fissures within the Muslim electorate but also prompted questions about the long-term implications for mainstream political parties’ engagement with minority communities. read the complete article
Netherlands
Amsterdam mayor regrets using the word 'pogrom' to describe Israeli-instigated football violence
Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, has backtracked on her previous use of the word "pogrom" to describe violence in the city between Israeli football hooligans and local young people mostly of Moroccan and other Arab descent. She told the Dutch television programme Nieuwsuur (News Hour) on Sunday that if she could have repeated a press conference she gave the day after the match between Dutch side Ajax and Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv, she would not use the word "pogrom" in relation to the violence ahead of and after the match. "Boys on scooters crisscrossed the city looking for Israeli football fans. It was a hit-and-run. I understand very well that this brings back the memory of pogroms," Halsema had said at a press conference on Friday 8 November. The violence, however, was instigated by Israeli football fans who tore down Palestinian flags, attacked taxis operated by drivers of Moroccan origin, and chanted racist and genocidal slogans including: "There are no schools in Gaza because there are no children left", "Let the IDF win to f**k the Arabs" and "F**k you, Palestine". Halsema, who is from the GroenLinks (Green Left) party, said that politicians in the Netherlands had "hijacked" the word pogrom to target Moroccan and Muslim residents of Amsterdam. "If I had known that it would be used politically in this way, also as propaganda, I don't want anything to do with that," she told Nieuwsuur. read the complete article