Search
SearchToday in Islamophobia: In the US, in a final push to engage Muslim voters ahead of the election, Tim Walz promises “Muslim Americans an equal role in their administration should they win the election, as Democrats scramble to win back Muslim backing that has eroded over U.S. support for Israel,” meanwhile in the UK, as the Tories coalesce at an annual conference to decide the fate of the party, Conservative British Muslims are seeking change and optimistic about the future of the party despite sweeping electoral losses, and in Germany, a criminal lawyer specializing in cases of anti-Muslim discrimination is raising concerns over the country’s use of Section 130 to suppress pro-Palestinian advocacy in the country. Our recommended read of the day is by Sanya Mansoor for The Guardian on how despite analysts saying the rate of Islamophobia in the U.S. has risen to levels similar to the aftermath of 9/11, many are praising the nationwide movement for Palestinian rights, which is “unprecedented in its size and visibility”. This and more below:
United States
Anti-Muslim hate in US rises since 7 October but advocates praise community resilience | Recommended Read
Arafat Issa hangs Palestinian flags across a pedestrian bridge in Durham, North Carolina, almost every week. But on 28 July, a man in a baseball cap pulled out a knife and cut the flags down from the steel railing. Issa says the man cursed at him and his family before waving the knife in their direction. They had seven children, including Issa’s four-month-old daughter, with them. “He told us: go back where you came from,” Issa says. “I was scared … it’s not like we were doing anything wrong. We were peacefully protesting.” Issa is a 42-year-old Palestinian American barber who has lived in North Carolina for more than a decade. His parents and siblings are in the West Bank, where settler violence against Palestinians is escalating. His experience is one of many examples of anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim hate documented by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) since 7 October of last year. “We are seeing an uptick in violent vigilante response to peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters,” said Nicole Fauster-Bradford, the community advocacy director at Cair. Advocates say the aftermath of 7 October in the US had echoes of the fear that followed 9/11, when the government expanded surveillance powers that were largely wielded against Muslim and Arab communities, and hate crimes against them surged. “Islamophobia comes in cycles – often tied to something in the news,” says Corey Saylor, research and advocacy director at Cair. The last year, he continued, “stands out for its enormity” of anti-Muslim hate. read the complete article
Tim Walz to Muslim voters in push before election: ‘Our hearts are broken
In a final push to engage Muslim voters ahead of the election, Tim Walz called for the end of the war in Gaza and pledged that, if elected, the Harris administration would work “side by side” with Muslim Americans. The Democratic vice-presidential candidate joined Muslim advocacy group Emgage Action’s Million Muslim Votes: A Way Forward virtual summit the day after the vice-presidential debate. During his speech, Kamala Harris’s running mate acknowledged a collective grief among Muslim and Arab American communities due to Israel’s war on Gaza, where more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October. “Our hearts are broken,” Walz said. “The scale of death and destruction in Gaza is staggering and devastating. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians killed, families fleeing for safety over and over again. We all know on here, this war must end and it must end now. The vice-president’s working everyday to ensure that, to make sure Israel is secure, the hostages are home, the suffering in Gaza ends now. And the Palestinian people realize the right to dignity, freedom and self determination.” “We also have to recognize in this election, Donald Trump has made it clear where he stands with his anti-Muslim bigotry, with his threats to a Muslim ban,” Walz continued in his speech. “Vice-president Harris and I are committed that this White House will stand up to it, will continue to condemn in all forms anti-Islam, anti Arab sentiments being led by Donald Trump. But more importantly, a commitment that Muslims will be engaged in this administration and serve side by side.” read the complete article
Walz promises Muslims an equal role in Harris administration
Tim Walz, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris's running mate, on Thursday promised Muslim Americans an equal role in their administration should they win the election, as Democrats scramble to win back Muslim backing that has eroded over U.S. support for Israel. Vice President Harris and Walz, the governor of Minnesota, are trying to woo Muslim voters furious over President Joe Biden's administration's staunch backing of Israel during its year-old war in Gaza against Hamas. Harris has pledged continued support for Israel while emphasizing her push for a ceasefire, words Walz echoed on Thursday, while promising a role for Muslims. read the complete article
CAIR exploring legal action following arrest of Muslim woman in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations held a press conference Wednesday announcing possible legal action against both the Philadelphia and Temple police departments. “We’re pursuing all legal options,” said CAIR Attorney Adam Attia. This follows the arrest of a Muslim woman and Temple alumna, Johara Shama, last Thursday. Video shows Shama leading protesters out of the student center after the demonstration when police appear to arrive and intervene. Shama was one of four arrested. Only one arrest was a current student. Protesters allege groping and brutality. Shama also says Temple police yanked her hijab and Philadelphia police made her remove it during booking, a violation of deeply held religious beliefs and practices. “This act of humiliation left me in a state of distress, feeling as though my fundamental rights had been stripped away from me,” Shama said. read the complete article
United Kingdom
Anti-Muslim posters on lampposts: Chief constable seeks meeting with Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd to address 'this sort of hatred and hate crime'
The Stormont Executive needs to take a “stronger” stance over tackling racist behaviours in Northern Ireland, the chief constable has said. Jon Boutcher made the comments as he faced questions at the Policing Board over delays removing anti-Muslim posters on lampposts in the Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey. Last week Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton expressed frustration at the response of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), branding it “unacceptable” that the posters had been allowed to stay on the lampposts for around seven weeks when he would have anticipated a response from the DfI to remove them within “hours” of them being erected. Mr Singleton said the PSNI ultimately took the decision to take down the posters themselves. read the complete article
‘The right isn’t the same as the far right’: what Muslim Tories think about leadership race
Muslim Conservatives attending the party’s annual conference this week said they were optimistic about the party’s future following its worst general election defeat in history. Thousands of members gathered in Birmingham for the first Tory conference since the party was ousted from power in July. The event has been dominated by discussions around the leadership race to replace Rishi Sunak, with hopefuls Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat attending various fringe events to present their vision and win over supporters. A poll conducted by Savanta for Hyphen earlier this year suggested that just 12% of Muslims who were intending to vote planned to do so for the Conservatives. We asked Muslim party members in Birmingham why they joined, what changes they hope to see from the party over the next five years and who they are backing in the leadership contest. read the complete article
Time to unite against anti-Muslim bigotry
It is open season on Muslims in the Tory leadership contest. The main candidates seem to be conspiring to ramp up Islamophobia, heedless of the consequences. Frontrunner Robert Jenrick was quick off the mark to propose banning the shouting of “Allahu akbar” in public – the Islamic invocation “God is great.” Why it is only Muslims who cannot express their devotion publicly is something Jenrick has not deigned to explain. Then Kemi Badenoch, his main rival on the right, protested that too many immigrants “hate Israel.” The dog whistling here is deafening. By “migrant” she clearly means Muslim, since it is people of that faith worldwide who are generally staunchest in their support for the Palestinian people. Badenoch’s demagoguery is of course an absurdity. Support for Israel is not a “British value” no matter how much she may pretend otherwise. If backing Israel becomes a test of British citizenship then this would become a vastly depopulated island overnight. Not to be outdone, Jenrick then proposed sticking the Israeli flag at every port of entry to the UK, presumably to deter Muslims from proceeding further. And all the candidates have sought to outbid each other in pledging a clampdown on migration. This is dangerous rhetoric, as this summer’s far right riots showed. For those taking part, the categories of migrant and Muslim appeared indistinguishable, and their violence was directed at mosques and refugee centres alike. read the complete article
Germany
Germany's enforcement of criminal code draws criticism for targeting Palestine supporters
Germany's application of its criminal code against Palestine supporters has come under scrutiny, with accusations of unequal enforcement and suppression of free speech. Yalcin Tekinoglu, a criminal lawyer specializing in cases of anti-Muslim discrimination in Germany, has raised concerns about the government's use of Section 130 of the German Criminal Code. This section, which deals with incitement to hatred and denial of genocide, is being employed in a way that Tekinoglu describes as a "weapon" to intimidate and silence supporters of Palestine. According to Tekinoglu, while Section 130 has long existed, its application has intensified significantly since Oct 7. He notes that even social media posts critical of Israel are now being interpreted as potential crimes that could incite hatred or disturb the peace in Germany. The lawyer highlighted the "double standard" in the application of the law. He pointed out that when Muslims or non-Jews face discrimination or insults, the courts are often reluctant to apply Section 130. He also noted cases involving alleged anti-Semitism are now being handled by federal prosecutors, potentially leading to more severe penalties, including deportation. "A man arrested for arson of a mosque might not be labeled as an anti-Muslim offender. However, attending a protest in support of Palestine can immediately result in charges under Article 130 and be recorded as an anti-Semitic offense," said the lawyer. read the complete article