Introduction
Islamophobia refers to prejudice, fear, or hatred against Muslims. It originated during the 1900s but its modern use began in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It gained more fame after the September 11 attacks on the United States of America. The term has also been used to describe discrimination of Muslims by excluding them from the economic and social aspects of a country.
It is mainly expressed by perceiving Islam as a religion whose ideologies are unrealistic, violent, and uncivilized. As such, Islam is considered as a violent political group rather than a religion. Islamophobia is grouped together with xenophobia and antisemitism. Some researchers have gone as far as describing it as a form of racism. However, this has elicited controversies and heated debates.
Causes and effects of Islamophobia
The main cause of Islamophobia is misleading information concerning Islam. Islamophobic people neither express willingness to seek the truth concerning Islam nor spend time with Muslims to know the truth. This is caused by fear that many have, and the perception that Muslims are violent. This has worsened the situation and made it more complex.
Islamophobia has led to belief in several tenets that have set Islam apart as a different group in the society. First, it is believed that Islam cannot embrace change and it is the same since its establishment. Secondly, Islam holds different values and beliefs from all other religious groups.
Thirdly, Islam is regarded as unreasonable and uncivilized, thus inferior to other religions. Fourthly, Islam is considered as a religion that advocates for violence and lawlessness among its followers. Fifthly, the political ideologies of Islam are violent and do not promote social and political cohesion. Despite the fact that these views are not true, many people believe in them and judge Muslims based on them.
In the United States, mainstream Muslim organizations are treated with suspicion. These beliefs encourage discrimination, violence and exclusion of Muslims. For example, from the year 2004, there has been a 24% increase in the number of Muslim harassment and discrimination cases in the United States.
Islamophobia is not only observed in the violent and discriminatory treatment of Muslims but also in other areas such as bringing up of Muslim children. Muslim children are taught the importance of freedom and equality in the society. However, when they grow up and realize that they are denied these rights, they become disappointed. Disappointment can influence social disorder and irrational violence as an expression of anger towards unfair treatment and discrimination.
Islamophobia undermines the concept of multiculturalism in the American society. It promotes cultural and religious discrimination, which demoralize the social and cultural status of America. The rising level of Islamophobia in the west is enough evidence of decline of multiculturalism. This has been augmented by the perception of Islam as a religion that is resistant to change. It has been described as a way to resist the influence that Islam can have on the culture and political ideologies of the west.
The media has played a significant role in promoting Islamophobia. The media underrepresents Muslim ideologies and depicts them in negative light thus perpetuating hatred and stereotyping. As a reaction to the potential degradation of its culture and values, the west discriminates against Muslims and excludes them from its social and economic activities.
One of the remedies to Islamophobia is fair and balanced reporting and depiction of Muslims by the media. It is important for the media to educate the public on what Muslims believe in and what Islam teaches. This would help to clear doubt and eradicate prejudices and hatred against Muslims and Islam.
Terrorism is another factor that perpetuates Islamophobia. Extremist Muslims whose ideologies are different from regular Muslims execute many terrorist attacks.
However, there is no distinction between these two groups. Therefore, the public associates the two groups with similar ideologies and use that misinformed association to condemn Muslims. Islam advocates for peace and cohesion and does not support terrorism. Muslims should not be condemned and hated because a few individuals taint the name of Islam and go against its teachings.
Conclusion
Islamophobia is a common term in the world, which is commonly used to describe hatred and prejudice against the Islam religion that is mainly perpetuated by people who are affiliated to other religions. In addition, it refers to hatred for Muslims. Islamophobia is a concept that originated centuries ago.
However, after the 9/11 attacks, it intensified. It has several consequences that have set Islam as a bad religion whose views propagate violence and terrorism. However, this is not true. People who hold different religious beliefs and values from the beliefs and values of conventional Islam itself propagate terrorism and violence. These people refer to themselves as Muslims but they have distorted its teachings to favor their illegal activities.
Islamophobia encourages hatred against Muslims and consequently destabilizes peaceful coexistence and cohesion. It is important to eradicate Islamophobia in order to promote peace, equality, and freedom for all people. Discriminating and isolating Muslims on grounds of their religion is unethical because it encourages actions that violate their human rights.