The American Muslim (TAM)

Islamophobia: Real or Imagined - Article collection

compiled by Sheila Musaji

Posted Apr 19, 2008 • Permalink • Printer-Friendly Version

Islamophobia: Real or Imagined - Article collection

by Sheila Musaji

The American Muslim has many article collections in its Resources section. To understand something about Islamophobia in America and the West, first read Islamophobia and Arabophobia: Laying The Groundwork - Us vs. Them which includes many quotes that have been made about Muslims, Arabs, and Islam, and which have received little or no condemnation from the society at large. For responses by to allegations by specific individuals, and to specific claims, and for the numerous Muslim condemnations and fatwas against violence done in the name of Islam see our Resource section.

When Muslims raise the issue of the existence of Islamophobia, we are most often accused of trying to stifle dialogue (confused with polemics) or to undermine free speech (confused with incitement), or told simply that we are whining in order to make ourselves into the victim rather than the perpetrator of all that is wrong with the world. We are even told that Islamophobia is a “myth” or that it is a reasonable position to hold.

Negative perceptions don’t exist in a vacuum - they affect our perceptions, and may lead to prejudice, discrimination, unequal treatment, injustice, and even violence. When our negative perceptions become entrenched they often allow us to justify and explain away actions that would otherwise be unacceptable. And, when our focus is only on finding examples the prove our pre-existing point, we tend to see only the negative and nothing positive about the group that we perceive in a negative light.

Whatever you believe about Islamophobia, for many of us (Muslims in America and the West), it is very real and a concern. This collection of articles about Islamophobia in the society at large will be updated regularly. It was split from our resource section on Islamophobia in the media on 4/18/08

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Daud Abdullah, Incitement to Violence http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1924197,00.html

Firas Ahmad, Is One Offensive Cleric More Important Than 38 Reasonable Ones? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/is_one_offensive_cleric_more_important_than_38_reasonable_ones/

Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad, Confronting Islamophobia, It’s No Dog and Pony Show http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/confronting_islamophobia_its_no_dog_and_pony_show/ \

Parvez Ahmed, Attitudes of Ignorance http://www.iviews.com/Articles/articles.asp?ref=CD0408-2420

M.T. Akbar, Islamophobia: We are not done with racism yet http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/45736

Dr. Javeed Akhter, RAND Corporatiion’s ungracious stragety for a “Civil Democratic Islam”: Muslims searching for partners http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/rand_corporations_ungracious_strategy_for_a_civil_democratic_islam_muslims/

M. Shahid Alam, Is there an Islamic problem? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/is_there_an_islamic_problem/ - A Predatory Orientalism: What Went Wrong? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/book_review_what_went_wrong_bernard_lewis_m_shahid_alam/ - America’s new civilizing mission http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/americas_new_civilizing_mission/

Ali Alarabi, Islamophobia and self-hating Arabs http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamophobia_and_self_hating_arabs/

Abukar Arman, The MM-Factor: Who is the moderate Muslim? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_mm_factor_who_is_the_moderate_muslim/

Dr. Aslam Abdullah, How to Deal with Islam and Muslims http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/how_to_deal_with_islam_and_muslims/

Azizah Y. al-Hibri, Rev. Franklin Graham: Of Condemnation and Divinity http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/rev_franklin_graham_of_condemnation_and_divinity/

Salam al Marayati, Anti-Muslim Rhetoric Undercuts Moderates http://www.mpac.org/news_article_display.aspx?ITEM=306

Waleed Aly, Rwandan Muslims: Hatred in a Head Count http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/rwandan_muslims_hatred_in_a_head_count/

Shahed Amanullah, Protocols of the Elders of Islam http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/a/2137/ - Which is the extremist threat in America: Muslims or Islamophobes http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/which_is_the_extremist_threat_in_america_muslims_or_islamophobes/ - Through the Looking Glass: Undoing A Character Assassination of American Muslim Organizations http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/through_the_looking_glass_undoing_a_character_assassination_of_american_mus/

Abukar Arman, Overblown threat and Islamophobia http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/9/2007/2413

Karen Armstrong, the Curse of the Infidel http://middleeastinfo.org/article1050.html - We cannot afford to maintain these ancient prejudices against Islam http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1874786,00.html

Rev. Alex Awad, Beware of new wave of anti-Muslim feeling http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=1139

Asmal, Abdul Cader, Foe isn’t Islam, it’s Binladenism http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/foe_isnt_islam_its_binladenism/

Shahzad Aziz, The special pair of spectacles http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_special_pair_of_spectacles/

Asma Barlas, Margins and mainstreams http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/margins_and_mainstreams/

Edgar M. Bronfman, Muslims Deserve the Same Respect as Christians or Jews http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslims_deserve_the_same_respect_as_christians_or_jews/

James Brooks, Deep roots of Islamophobia http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/deep_roots_of_islamaphobia/

Deborah Caldwell, How Islam bashing got cool http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/how_islam_bashing_got_cool/

John Chuckman, The Dumbest Story Ever Written http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_dumbest_story_ever_written/

Juan Cole, Bigotry toward Muslims and Anti-Arab Racism Grow in US http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/bigotry_toward_muslims_and_anti_arab_racism_grow_in_us/

Dr. Robert D. Crane, Psychoanalyzing the Tsunami of Islamophobia http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/psychoanalyzing_the_tsunami_of_islamophobia/ - Challenge and Response: The Case of Islamophobic Wilding http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/challenge_and_response_the_case_of_islamophobic_wilding/ - “Fascist-Islamophobia”: A Case Study in Totalitarian Demonization (5 parts) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/fascist_islamophobia_a_case_study_in_totalitarian_demonization/ - The Nature of Evil and Mimetic Warfare Against Islam: “Gnosticism” and “Traditionalism” as Weapons http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_nature_of_evil_and_mimetic_warfare_against_islam_gnosticism_and_traditi/ From clashing civilizations to a common vision http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/from_clashing_civilizations_to_a_common_vision_part_i/

Rayane El-Amine, The Making of the Green Menace http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/05/the_making_of_t.php#more

Khaled Abou El Fadl, Ph.D., Moderate Muslims Under Siege http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/moderate_muslims_under_siege/

Farid Esack, To Whom Shall We Give Access to Our Waterholes http://www.crosscurrents.org/Esack.htm

Pepe Escobar, Islamophobia and the new great game http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/CJ18Ag04.html

John Esposito, Political Islam: Beyond the Green Menace http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Articles/politics/espo.html

Esposito & Khan, Islam In the West: the Threat of Internal Extremism http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_in_the_west_the_threat_of_internal_extremism/

Ismail Faruqi, Islam and Christianity: Diatribe or Dialogue http://www.ismailfaruqi.com/articles/islam-and-christianity-diatribe-or-dialogue/

Abdus Sattar Ghazali, Islamophobia in US Presidential election campaign http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamophobia_in_us_presidential_election_campaign/

Ruth Gledhill, Jesuits warn against demonising Muslims http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3212730.ece

Jehanzeb Hasan, Confronting the Monolith: The Struggle Against Islamophobia and Osamaism http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/confronting_the_monolith_the_struggle_against_islamophobia_and_osamaism/

Lena Hashem, How Western Society Views Muslims Today http://www.islamonline.net/iol-English/dowalia/Youth-12-2-2000/college1.asp

Dr. Hesham Hassaballa, Dr. Michael Savage’s Recent Comments About Islam and Muslims http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/dr_michael_savages_recent_comments_about_islam_and_muslims/ - “Proof” of the Evil of Islam? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/proof_of_the_evil_of_islam/

Sonja Hegasy, Islam in the Media: Neo-Orientalizing Images http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_in_the_media_neo_orientalizing_images/

Shaikh Kabir Helminski, Clarifying Islam - The Remedy for islamophobia http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/clarifying_islam_the_remedy_for_islamophobia/

Michael Hirsch, Misreading Islam http://www.alternet.org/story/20488/

Charles Hynes, Ignorance fuels fear of Muslims http://www.themodernreligion.com/assault/ignorance.html

Leela Jacinto, Is Islam endangering “Europeaness”? http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=289575&page=1

Abul Kalam, Media And The Muslims: Hate-Hate Relationship http://www.messageonline.org/2002junejuly/cover3.htm

Ibrahim Kalin, Western Perceptions of Islam, Roots of Misperception (5 parts) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/roots_of_misconception_euro_american_perceptions_of_islam_before_and_after/

Liaqat Ali Khan, Combating Defamation of Religions http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/combating_defamation_of_religions/ - Fighting Words: The Abuse of Islam in Political Rhetoric http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/fighting_words_the_abuse_of_islam_in_political_rhetoric/

Muqtedar Khan, The public face of Christian Evangelical bigotry http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_public_face_of_christian_evangelical_bigotry/ - The clash thesis: a failing ideology http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_clash_thesis_a_failing_ideology/ - Islam in Belgium And America: Between Integration And Discrimination http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_in_belgium_and_america_between_integration_and_discrimination/

Dr. S. Khurshid, Islam and Fascism? What Next? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_and_fascism_what_next/

Cheesun Lee, Rounding up the enemy http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0231,lee,37003,1.html

Gary Leupp, Challenging Ignorance on Islam: A Ten-Point Primer for Americans http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/challenging_ignorance_on_islam_a_ten_point_primer_for_americans/ - Religious bigotry then and now http://www.counterpunch.org/leupp1209.html

Scott Richard Lyons, Hate speech, propaganda alive and thriving http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hate_speech_propaganda_alive_and_thriving/

Tariq Madood, Multiculturalism, Muslims and the British State http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/multiculturalism_muslims_and_the_british_state/ - Muslim Diasporas Can Play a Positive Role in Challenging the “Clash of Civilizations” http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslim_diasporas_can_play_a_positive_role_in_challenging_the_clash_of_civil/

Rev. Martin Marty, Rev. Rod Parsley on Islam http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080414/31949_Rod_Parsley_on_Islam.htm

S. Parvez Manzoor, Turning Jews into Muslims: The Untold Saga of the Muselmänner http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/turning_jews_into_muslims_the_untold_saga_of_the_muselmnner/ - Method Against Truth: Orientalism and Qur’anic Studies http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/method_against_truth_orientalism_and_quranic_studies/

Ingrid Mattson, Six Degrees of Terrorism: the Internet, Islam and Islamophobia http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/six_degrees_of_terrorism_the_internet_islam_and_islamophobia/

Claudia Mende, Anti-Islamic Movements in Germany: “Islamophobic – and Proud of It” http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/anti_islamic_movements_in_germany_islamophobic_and_proud_of_it/

Roger Mitton, The Cost of Casual Racism http://www.themodernreligion.com/assault/casual-racism.html

Allison Moore, Mainstream Muslim Voices Overwhelmed by Negative Perceptions http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/mainstream_muslim_voices_overwhelmed_by_negative_perceptions/

Andrew Morris, In Good Faith: The Truth About Islam: An Alternate View http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_truth_about_islam_an_alternate_view/

Malik Mujahid, Islamophobia in the Presidential Elections http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamophobia_in_the_presidential_elections/ - The only acceptable racism left: Islamophobia http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_only_acceptable_racism_left_islamophobia/

Abid Mustafa, West’s Religious Bigotry Towards Islam Is a Matter of Policy http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/wests_religious_bigotry_towards_islam_is_a_matter_of_policy/

Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, Dominant Western Perceptions of Islam and the Muslims http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/dominant_western_perceptions_of_islam_and_the_muslims/

Hassan Nafaa, The Universality of Intolerance http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/849/op1.htm

David Neiwert, Eliminationism in America http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/eliminationism_in_america/

Tariq Nelson, The Dehumanization of American Muslims http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_dehumanization_of_american_muslims/ - “Islamophobia’s” roots in anti-black racism http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamophobias_roots_in_anti_black_racism/

Farish A. Noor, We Need An Intelligent Response to Islamophobia http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/we_need_an_intelligent_response_to_islamophobia/ - The Pathologisation of Muslims in Europe http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_pathologisation_of_muslims_in_europe/ - Mediating Islam and a Mediated Islam http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/mediating_islam_and_a_mediated_islam/

Gareth Peirce, Was it like this for the Irish? http://www.lrb.co.uk/v30/n07/peir01_.html

People for the American Way, Christian Rights Demonisation of Islam http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=5005

J.A. Progler, The Utility of Islamic Imagery in the West: An American Case Study http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_utility_of_islamic_imagery_in_the_west_an_american_case_study_part_ii/

Mazin B. Qumsiyeh, 100 Years of Anti-Muslim and Anti-Arab Stereotyping http://www.ibiblio.org/prism/jan98/anti_arab.html

Bashy Quraishi, Islam in the Western Media http://www.multicultural.net/newsletter/article/issue3-bashy.htm

John Renard, Clash Talk http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/clash_talk/

Omar Ricci, The Media’s So-Called War on Islamists http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_medias_so_called_war_on_islamists/

Abdulaziz Sachedina, Can Muslims Be Good Americans? http://www.csidonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=341&Itemid=1

Osama Saeed, The return of the Caliphate http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/nov/01/religion.world

Louay Safi, Islamophobia Undermining Civil Liberties at Home http://blog.lsinsight.org/2008/02/defending-freedom-abroad-and.html - Islamophobia: A Call to Confronting a Creeping Disease http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamophobia_a_call_to_confronting_a_creeping_disease/ - Blaming Islam: Examining the Religion Building Enterprise http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/blaming_islam/ - Neocon Pundits Malign American Muslims: All Faiths Must Face their Demons http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/neocon_pundits_malign_american_muslims_all_faiths_must_face_their_demons/ - Hardliners in search of moderate Muslims http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hardliners_in_search_of_moderate_muslims1/ - Breaking the Vicious Circle of Anti-Americanism and Islamophobia http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/breaking_the_vicious_circle_of_anti_americanism_and_islamophobia/ - Will the Extreme Right Succeed? :: Turning the War on Terror into a War on Islam http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/will_the_extreme_right_succeed_turning_the_war_on_terror_into_a_war_on_isla/

Edward Said, A Devil Theory of Islam http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=19960812&s=said&c=1 - Islam through Western eyes http://www.thenation.com/doc/19800426/19800426said

Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid Islamophobia: A new word for an old fear (5 parts) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamophobia_a_new_word_for_an_old_fear_part_i/

Ziauddin Sardar, The Next Holocaust http://www.newstatesman.com/200512050006

Dr. Habib Siddiqui, Reflection on the report of bigotry in Europe http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/reflection_on_the_report_of_bigotry_in_europe/ - An Analysis of Anti-Islamic Polemics http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/an_analysis_of_anti_islamic_polemics/ - Religious Texts: Why A Different Yardstick for Muslims? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/why_a_different_yardstick_for_muslims/ - Muslim American, patriotic or fifth columnist? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslim_american_patriotic_or_fifth_columnist/

Haroon Siddiqui, Muslim conspiracy to rule the world? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslim_conspiracy_to_rule_the_world/

Jafar Siddiqui, Muslims Are Targets of a Paranoid U.S. http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslims_are_targets_of_a_paranoid_us/

Mike Smith, Islam and the West ‘- Bridging the Gap http://www.forachange.net/browse/article/1578.html

Yoginder Sikand, Civil, Democratic Islam: America’s Desperate Search for the ‘Liberal’ Muslim http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/civil_democratic_islam_americas_desperate_search_for_the_liberal_muslim/

Abdurrahman Robert Squires, Orientalism, Misinformation and Islam http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/orientalism_misinformation_and_islam/

Dr. Antony T. Sullivan, Should Policy Makers See Islam as an Enemy of the West? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/should_policy_makers_see_islam_as_an_enemy_of_the_west/

Lamya Tawfik, Islamophobia in the West: Myth or Reality? http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=45272

Charles Taylor, The Collapse of Tolerance http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/charles_taylor/2007/09/the_collapse_of_tolerance.html

Jeremy Henzell Thomas, The Paranoid and Abhorrent Obsession with Muslims in the Media http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_paranoid_and_abhorrent_obsession_with_muslims_in_the_media/0016130 - Islamic or Muslim Terrorism and Extremism: Are they all Contradictions in Terms? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamic_or_muslim_terrorism_and_extremism_are_they_all_contradictions_in_te/ - The Language of Islamophobia http://www.themodernreligion.com/assault/language.htm - Sad, Old and Out of Touch: The Identity Crisis of Islamophobes http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/sad_old_and_out_of_touch_the_identity_crisis_of_islamophobes/

U.N. Envoy, Islamophobia on the rise in Europe http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29537020070914

James M. Wall, Dance of deception http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/dance_of_deception/

Fedwa Wazwaz, Inexcusable Tolerance for Religious Extremism in America http://www.counterpunch.org/wazwaz1010.html

Richard Webster, The Dark Mirror of Islam http://www.richardwebster.net/thedarkmirrorofislam.html

Svend White, Cultural Identity: the New Religion http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/cultural_identity_the_new_religion/

Wingfeld & Karaman, Arab Stereotypes and American Educators http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=283

Wisdom Fund, If Hutus And Tutsis Were Muslim Media Would Say So http://www.twf.org/News/Y1997/Hutus.html

Patricia Zimmerman, Islamophobia, Panic and Public Media http://www.mediachannel.org/articles/2006/10/04/Islamophobia,_Panic_and.html

James Zogby, Arabs and Muslims Are Victims of Anti-Semitism http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7ǧion=0&article=44346&d=5&m=5&y=2004 - Three Myths About Islam?: They Ought to Be Ashamed http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_three_myths_about_islam_they_ought_to_be_ashamed/ - The Other Antisemitism: Images of Islam in Pop Culture http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj9811&article=981112 - Exploiting fear and insecurity http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/exploitingfear_and_insecurity/

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