GRSJ224/Rise of Islamophobia in Europe

The Rise of Islamophobia in Europe

Definition

Islamophobia, a term first coined in the early 1900's, has grown in circulation due to the rise of terrorist activity in the past two decades. Such terrorist activity is often associated with Islam, as in some cases the perpetrators are followers of the ideology. Islamophobia, in its simplest and most general sense, is described as prejudice and hostility towards Muslims- not an irrational fear of Islam [1] .

Origin

Long before Islamic notions and perspectives of hate were established in contemporary Europe and the Western world, opposition towards Islamic people can be dated back to the Crusades and inter-religious conflict between Muslims and other religious groups. In addition, the concept of "Orientalism" further perpetuated a negative view towards people of Islamic faith, particularly in the Middle East [2] . It is evident that Islamophobia is not a contemporary issue, only one that has gained popularity and coverage within recent years due to increased terrorist activity.

Rise of Islamophobia in Europe A new study surveyed from 27European countries has discovered that Islamophobia as a phenomenon is thriving in Europe, threatening the livelihood of people of Muslim faith all over Europe. The cultivation of hate has sparked anti-Muslim protests, and violence towards the religious group. Furthermore, the study finds that attitudes of Islamophobia are getting worse as statistics show that the problem has become more severe from 2015 to 2016. The problem can be described as systemic, as Donald Trump's Islamophobia comments from the Western world have seemed to spread across the Atlantic. Such comments are evident through his Anti-Muslim tweets or his Muslim ban proposal [3].

Based on the 2016 European Islamophobia report, Islamophobia has become a real danger to he foundations of democratic order and the values of the European Union. It has created social issues of diversity, seen through the co-existence of different religions, cultures, and ethnicities in Europe . Levels of Islamophobia are on the rise in many sectors of society, such as: education, employment, media, politics, the justice system, the internet, and everyday life [4].

Although some governments have made efforts to push back and fight against misrepresentations and institutional barriers of Islam, there has not yet been a general change in trend. Instead, Europe has begun to enshrine Islamophobia into law. For instance, the decision by the European Court of Justice to allow employers to ban staff from wearing a headscarf is testament to the fact of inequality towards Islamic people. Such laws further marginalize and push Muslim (women) out of public society and life [5].

Islamophobia after 9/11

To view the issue with a contemporary lens, the racialization of Muslims and Islamophobia drastically increased after 9/11 (6). The events of September 11, 2001 changed the world forever. The atrocity radically changed Western and European perceptions of Islam and Muslims. Muslims, who were already considered a minority group in Europe, experienced heightened levels of hostility, intimidation, discrimination, and persecution (7). This places Muslims residing in Europe in a vulnerable position, as their civil liberties and human rights can easily be violated by the justice system.

To encapsulate, it is clear that the events of 9/11 have negatively impacted Muslim communities throughout the world. After 9/11, the world responded with measures of law and security that continue to change our ways of life this day. Most notably, security measures at international airports have severely increased. Perhaps the biggest impact of 9/11 on Muslim people is evident through racial profiling and challenges in global travel. For instance, the federalization of airport security was a response by the American government that spread to other governments in Europe through the enactment of new laws and legislation to combat terrorism. Other changes are visible in areas such as immigration, tourism, and deportations [6].

Although terrorism has been a fixture of European life since the 1960's, 9/11 shocked the European Union. For instance, following the US, the EU began a military campaign against Afghanistan- a large Muslim population. Media poorly portrayed Islam and created false public perceptions of the peaceful religion. These poor portrayals of Muslims are seen through media, social media, news outlets, and newspapers [7].

References

1) Basu, Tanya. “What Does 'Islamophobia' Actually Mean?”The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 15 Oct. 2014, www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/10/is-islamophobia-real-maher-harris-aslan/381411/.

2) Said, Edward W.Orientalism. Vintage Books, 2004.

3) Ahmed, Akbar Shahid. “Islamophobia Thriving In Europe, New Report Says.”HuffPost Canada, HuffPost, 31 Mar. 2017, www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/islamophobia-thriving-in-europe-new-report-says_us_58dd909ce4b05eae031e8eb4.

4) “European Islamophobia Report 2016.”European Islamophobia, 2016, www.islamophobiaeurope.com/.

5) Ahmed, Sofia. “Europe has started to enshrine Islamophobia into law – history tells us this can't end well.”The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 14 Mar. 2017, www.independent.co.uk/voices/europe-islamophobia-headscarf-eu-court-ruling-hijab-a7629531.html.

6) Garner, Steve, and Saher Selod. “The Racialization of Muslims: Empirical Studies of Islamophobia.”Critical Sociology, vol. 41, no. 1, July 2014, pp. 9–19., doi:10.1177/0896920514531606.

7) Rehman, Javaid. “Islamophobia after 9/11: International Terrorism, Sharia and Muslim Minorities in Europe ― The Case of the United Kingdom.”European Yearbook of Minority Issues Online, vol. 3, no. 1, Jan. 2003, pp. 217–235., doi:10.1163/221161104x00129.

8) Villemez, Jason. “9/11 to now: Ways we have changed.”PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 14 Sept. 2011, www.pbs.org/newshour/world/911-to-now-ways-we-have-changed.

9) “The European Union's Response to 9/11 and its Aftermath.”History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide, Encyclopedia.com, www.encyclopedia.com/history/energy-government-and-defense-magazines/european-unions-response-911-and-its-aftermath.