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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In India, the West Bengal Police have filed a case against actor and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mithun Chakraborty for alleged hate speech targeting Muslims during a party event on October 27, meanwhile in Germany, a large cross-party majority of lawmakers in the Bundestag has approved a highly controversial resolution to combat antisemitism in Germany — despite vehement opposition to parts of the resolution from legal experts, civil society groups and prominent Jewish intellectuals, and in Canada, the Mayor of Montreal stated that a sign in city hall depicting a hijab-clad woman would be removed, signaling to Muslim women that “they could not depend on civil institutions to include and protect them.” Our recommended read of the day is by Jessica Bateman for Hyphen on three Dutch women’s fight against the rise of Islamophobia in their country. This and more below:
Netherlands
The three Dutch women fighting back against rising Islamophobia | Recommended Read
Samira Boubkari, co-founder of Meld Islamofobie — the Netherlands’ only dedicated organisation recording Islamophobia — shook her head as she relayed a call that had just come in. Last month, a young Dutch Muslim teacher went for a job interview. When the school called to tell her she hadn’t got the job, they explained they didn’t want to employ someone wearing a hijab. If the recently qualified teacher was shocked at such brazen disregard for Dutch religious discrimination laws, Boubkari was not. Ever since the far-right Freedom party — whose leader Geert Wilders once proposed a ban on mosques and the Qur’an — gained influence in the Netherlands, the 44-year-old psychologist has been hearing more and more stories like this. “Ten years ago, this would not have happened so openly,” she said. Meld Islamofobie, which is Dutch for “Report Islamophobia”, started life as a Facebook page created in the aftermath of the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks, which triggered a spike in anti-Muslim hate not just in France but across Europe. Boubkari and her two co-founders — sociologist Ibtissam Abaaziz and anthropologist Rahma Bavelaar — met through anti-racist activism and had all heard stories of Muslims, especially hijabi women, being spat at or called “terrorists” in public. Their idea was to gather evidence of Islamophobic harassment to push authorities to take action. Dutch police only record Islamophobia under the broader offence of “religious discrimination”, but as Boubkari explained: “There is a racial element to Islamophobia, so religious discrimination doesn’t cover it.” read the complete article
International
What does a Trump presidency mean for Israel and Palestine?
DONALD TRUMP’S RETURN to the presidency of the United States will be welcome news to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump is “not going to stop the war in the Middle East”, predicts UCD professor of international politics Scott Lucas. A close personal relationship between Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu – sealed during Trump’s last term in office – will continue to have an impact. Lucas said: “He’s going to back Netanyahu, completely back Netanyahu. “He’ll do that as part of a personal relationship.” The Biden-Harris administration has been fiercely criticised by pro-Palestine activists and politicians for its complete support of Israel throughout the war in Gaza, but Trump has said it hasn’t been enough. In May, Trump promised to crack down on pro-Palestinian protests, saying, “If you get me elected, and you should really be doing this … we’re going to set that movement back 25 or 30 years”. Since the conflict in Gaza began on 7 October last year, Trump has accused President Biden of holding Israel back as it prosecutes its war. Trump has also said he would let Israel “finish the job”, in reference to the war that has left more than 43,000 Palestinaisns dead. Despite the Biden administration’s self-declared “ironclad” support for Israel, Netanyahu has made no secret of his admiration of Donald Trump. read the complete article
Behind the warm words, Labour will worry about a Trump presidency
Despite the odds, the scandals, and relentless controversies, Donald Trump will be back in the White House, once again the most powerful person on Earth. His re-election as the 47th US president — this time as a convicted felon and a twice-impeached leader — is nothing short of one of the most incredible political comebacks in modern history. For Muslims around the world, there will be a real sense of worry, especially given Trump’s previous policies and rhetoric. In 2016, Trump’s so-called “Muslim travel ban” drew widespread condemnation, and his assertion that “Islam hates us” left deep wounds. During his first term, Trump’s administration often cast Muslims in a suspicious light, a position that has continued. JD Vance, now vice-president-elect, recently stirred things up by branding the UK an “Islamist state” under Labour — a remark swiftly rejected by the party but troubling nonetheless. These concerns are not just confined to voters: they’re on the minds of UK officials and public figures. Today a Labour MP told me they were extremely worried about the ramifications here in Britain if Trump or Vance were to make any drastic anti-Muslim policy decisions, or if they upped their rhetoric, especially in the wake of the Southport riots in the UK. read the complete article
United States
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather outside the White House
Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House, blocking the street and chanting slogans like “No justice, no peace” and “Free Palestine.” read the complete article
‘We warned you,’ Arab Americans in Michigan tell Kamala Harris
When Fox News called Pennsylvania for Donald Trump in the early hours of Wednesday, all but confirming that he would be the next president of the United States, there were a handful of Arab activists left at a watch party in Dearborn, Michigan. “Genocide is bad politics,” said one attendee at the event, which had Palestinian and Lebanese flags hanging outside its doors. As the reality of another Trump presidency set off anger and sorrow from many Democratic commentators, at the Arab American gathering there was a sense of indifference – if not vindication. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris had ignored the community’s calls for reconsidering the unconditional US support for Israel. The vice president also continued to assert what she calls “Israel’s right to defend itself” despite the brutal atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon. “It’s not our fault. They cannot vilify our community,” Abusalah said. “We’ve been warning the Democrats for over a year now, and the Democrats continue to downplay what’s going on.” read the complete article
Muslims, Arabs face baseless attacks on social media over Harris election loss
Despite the Democrats losing the popular vote in the election to the Republicans for the first time since 2004 - and by more than five million votes - many pro-Kamala Harris social media users aimed their frustrations at pro-Palestine voters, specifically Arabs and Muslims, on Wednesday. Although many Arab and Muslim Americans voted for the Green Party’s Jill Stein, she received only 0.4 percent of the national total, amounting to 628,525 votes. This is less than half of what Stein received in 2016 when she received 1,449,370 votes. Former President Donald Trump overperformed across the electorate. The Financial Times reported that Trump gained ground in all but two states, specifically among those in the working class who care most about the economy and immigration. Even if Harris had managed to win Michigan in the electoral college, which is home to a significant Muslim and Arab voting bloc, she would have still lost the election. "Asian, Black, Hispanic and white voters all moved towards Trump. "Harris only increased her vote share among the over-65s and with white college-educated women," the FT report said. A lot of the liberal critique of the outcome has fallen on the shoulders of those who abandoned the Democrats for Trump or third-party candidates, in response to the party's ongoing military and financial support for Israel and refusal to engage in any conversation on an arms embargo. Many have posted that they hope Gaza is made into a parking lot as punishment. In response to this, many Arab and Muslim social media users have pointed out that the amount of votes for third parties was minuscule in comparison to Trump's nearly five million lead in the popular vote. In response to this, many Arab and Muslim social media users have pointed out that the amount of votes for third parties was minuscule in comparison to Trump's nearly five million lead in the popular vote. read the complete article
Germany
Germany passes controversial antisemitism resolution
A large cross-party majority of lawmakers in the Bundestag has approved a highly controversial resolution to combat antisemitism in Germany — despite vehement opposition to parts of the resolution from legal experts, civil society groups and prominent Jewish intellectuals. The cross-party resolution is the result of months-long, closed-door negotiations between the ruling center-left coalition government and the center-right opposition. "The Bundestag reaffirms its decision to ensure that no organizations or projects that spread antisemitism, question Israel's right to exist, call for a boycott of Israel or actively support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement receive financial support." Ahead of the vote, Amnesty International Germany said that while it welcomes the aim of introducing measures to combat antisemitism and racism and to protect Jewish life, in its view the resolution "not only fails to achieve this goal, but also raises fears of serious violations of fundamental human rights and legal uncertainty." read the complete article
India
BJP’s Mithun Chakraborty booked for alleged anti-Muslim hate speech in West Bengal
The West Bengal Police have filed a case against actor and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mithun Chakraborty for alleged hate speech targeting Muslims during a party event on October 27, PTI reported. The case, filed at the Bidhannagar South police station, pertains to remarks that Chakraborty made at an event to launch a BJP membership drive in the North 24 Parganas district. At the event, Chakraborty referred to remarks made by Trinamool Congress leader Humayun Kabir before the Lok Sabha elections.“If I do not throw you in the Bhagirathi [river] within two hours, I will leave politics,” Kabir had said, according to The Indian Express. “You are 30% [Hindus, but we are 70% [Muslims]… If you think you can demolish mosques and Muslims will sit back and relax, you are mistaken.” Kabir was subsequently censured by the Election Commission for his remarks. “A leader says there are 70% Muslims and 30% Hindus [and] that he will ‘cut’ and throw them in the Bhagirathi,” NDTV quoted Chakraborty as saying on October 27. “We will chop them [up] and bury them in the ground,” he added in an apparent reference to Muslims. read the complete article
Switzerland
Switzerland Announces Constitutional Face-covering Ban Targeting Muslim Women Will Go Into Effect in the New Year
In the New Year, Switzerland will implement a new constitutional ban on face-coverings in public, a measure stemming from a 2021 referendum known as the "anti-burka" initiative. Approved by 51.2% of Swiss voters, the law prohibits covering the face in public spaces, with violators facing fines of up to CHF1,000 (around $1,143 US). The law is part of the Federal Act on the Prohibition of Covering the Face. The Swiss government clarified that, to minimize bureaucracy, fines will initially be issued at CHF100 ($114 US) and can be paid on-site. Those who refuse to pay the administrative fine on the spot may face the higher penalty under standard procedures. Exemptions to the face-covering ban include places of worship, airplanes, and consular and diplomatic spaces. Face-coverings are also permitted for health, safety, weather, or traditional Swiss customs. The new law has stirred controversy for its impact on Muslim women who wear burkas or niqabs as expressions of faith. read the complete article
Canada
Montreal’s hijab decision shows how institutions fail to protect Muslim women
Oct. 27 marked the beginning of a hebdomadis horribilis for Muslim women in Canada, as they learned they could not depend on civil institutions to include and protect them. Let’s begin in Montreal. Appearing on the current affairs show Tout le Monde en Parle, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante was asked about a pencil-sketch poster featuring a hijab-clad woman standing between two men. The sign says “Welcome to city hall.” Some had expressed discomfort with the sign for showing religious garb in a municipal building. Ms. Plante acknowledged the discomfort, reiterated the laïque (lay) nature of city hall, and stated that the sign would be removed. The Mayor’s message was clear: all people are welcome at City Hall, except if you wear a hijab. This hits deep. I arrived in Montreal at the age of three from India. I experienced first-hand the openness, inclusivity and vibrancy of a special city, which allowed me to thrive in the dynamism of a francophone culture. The decision to remove a welcome sign because it features a woman in hijab goes against everything I know and love about Montreal. The arguments have been tiresome: the hijab is a symbol of oppression; women who wear it have been brainwashed; they serve unwittingly as tools of Islamists, and so on. There is no willingness to respect the intelligence of Muslim women and their agency to make deeply personal choices about their faith. It is a patronizing attitude, which we hear even from some feminists: the need to protect these women from the evils of religion. It echoes Donald Trump’s unnerving promise to “protect women, whether they like it or not.” read the complete article