Why it is so easy for many people to assume the character of a person or a group of people by just merely look at them?. This can happen anywhere, in a mall or in a classroom or simply any place that people may gather. It is undeniable that people utilize stereotypes rather than taking time and energy to know the person. When in fact, individuals don’t personally know a character of a person to put labels on them, regardless, one still do it. It is so easy for an individual to discriminate against someone who is different than them or simply have different belief than them, but it is so hard for one to be blinded by the social norm and be acceptant to each individual that they come across. Islamophobia existed in prior way before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but it’s leading factor increased in recurrence and disrepute during the last decade.The events of September 11, 2001, turned Islam into the forefront global media ; the coverage of Islam changed drastically increased, particularly in politics, entertainment media, and news, but it also affected the way in which Islam was framed by the media changed as well. Every day Muslims are being victims of Islamophobia because of these negative news reports. An exaggerated fear, hatred, and hostility toward Islam and the followers of the religion-whom are called Muslims-that is supported by the negative stereotypes which resulted in bias, discrimination, and the criticism of Muslims from social, political, and civic life. For every Americans equality and religious freedom are our values. These constitutional rights and values are practiced in the Constitution and are not values to be ignored on a forsaken times. Recently, there has been politics of fear used to justify discrimination against Muslims. This has resulted in unconstitutional surveillance, exclusionary, and immigration unlawful profiling policies targeting people based on their nationality, national, or faith origin. This is is the leading cause of Islamophobia on it’s own.
“In Islam, it is a religious command to stand up for the oppressed and to fight [peaceful fight] oppression of all kinds” (Gecewicz). In contrast the African Americans were denied legal rights and discriminated against as a de facto process because of the color of their skin, and the early Muslims were ousted from their homes and killed because of their belief in only one God. In essence the struggles were the same: fighting for justice and equality. It is important to recognize that similarity between our struggles for righteousness in order to understand the origin of the followers of Islam during the civil rights movement. Muslims have been living in the United States since the beginning of this movement, therefore one may have an idea of why so many muslims are victims of islamophobia. The increase of the prejudice towards this religion came about right after the September 11 2001 attacks. Ever since then society labeled the followers of Islam as being all associated with a certain terrorist group. “ A 2016 Pew Research Center study found that 58 percent of Westerners surveyed saw muslims as fanatics, and 50 percent believed that muslims are violent . A previous study conducted by Pew Research Center in 2015 revealed that only about 0.0006 percent of Muslims surveyed worldwide identified with extremist groups”(Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection). These researches on their own suggest that prove that not all muslims are associated with a terrorist group. Today this society is really prejudice towards muslims especially, and this issue is not being brought up to the media’s attention. Instead it is being negatively entertained by the media. The media doesn’t inform people about other attacks being committed by other religion, people other than Muslims, instead it is just feeding its viewers with negative visions about the true Muslims. It is also important to bring into attention that most of the people who vision Muslims as “terrorist” are often white republicans. Recently our current president Donald Trump proposed a Muslim travel prohibition order. “ Most Republicans support and most Democrats oppose the order, which would temporarily prohibit accepting new refugees from Syria into the U.S. and also prevent people (refugees or otherwise) from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S….about three-quarters of white evangelical Protestants (76%)…say they approve of this travel ban”(Smith).
Figure 1: From Pew Research Center
Today's politicians are using the religion of Islam in a negative way. For example the way that our current president used Islamophobia to his advantage to increase his popularity. He also drew attention to Islamophobia as a campaign issue, he promised to halt the immigration of Muslims from other countries, register all Muslims currently residing in the United States, and deport some Muslims immigrants based on their possible connections to terrorist organization. Being the public figure that he is; hes statements are taken quite seriously by the public, and these orders that he is executing are to be proven unconstitutional and discriminatory towards the followers of Islam. In this society people are followers, therefore if they see someone doing something and they idolize this person; they will most likely try to copy the same exact behavior of that individual. So if one truly idolize this current president and is supportive of the president’s opinions about certain topics then one can conclude that that same person will most likely promote this discrimination of Muslims. The media is frequently is frequently blamed for the spread of Islamophobia. Kelly James Clark of the kaufman Interfaith Institute at Grand Valley State University suggests that when the media report on non muslim mass shooters, they explore the shooters’s motivations and often uncover a mental illness or other issue. When the shooter is identified as Muslim, however, the analysis ends and extremism is assumed. Mass media also see higher ratings when covering conflicts and eager to report on clashes in the islamic world. From conservative talk radio shows to best-sellers lists, anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic themes flourish throughout many broadcasts, movies, and websites. The media is so discriminatory towards Muslims in many ways but the one that stands out the most is that they don't really focus or inform their viewers or listeners about the day to day basics of a Muslim person. They don't inform society about the struggles that the Muslims face everyday. Muslims in America are being unfairly targeted simply for exercising their basic constitutional right to religious liberty.
Islam is one of the largest religions in the world, with over 1 billion followers. It is a religion of peace, it does not promote violence. Followers of this religion have been living in the United States for as long as the 1930’s when Wallace Fard founded the nation of Islam prior to Christianity who was a white man's religion at that time. Christianity during the late 30’s, in all its permutations, has been developed over centuries, and it has been used to justify slavery, racism and imperialism. It is a religion that the ruling class needed and continues to uphold. This why many African Americans decided to join the Nation of Islam who were the strongest advocates of black pride. It is important to recall that This religion came about long ago in the United States as a way for people to have their own voice heard and their pains felt. But today’s society is repeating history in a whole new version by the way that they are unrightfully treating the Muslims living in this country, and the way that they are wrongfully representing the religion on its own. Just like any other human being Muslims breath, eat, and feel pain; so why are they the main target of society today, why are people presenting the religion of Islam i such a negative way. These are questions that one may not be able to answer until society changes its view about Muslims. The promotion of Islamophobia creates both prejudice and discrimination among the general population. Prejudice is the key role that is played in the existence and the continuity of Islamophobia. Prejudice alone isn't just a factor portrait as a negative opinion, attitude, or judgement , is a key factor to a the population's total wellbeing. Prejudice combined with overt actions, rising to the level of discrimination, creates a dangerous environment for its victims. Everyday incidents of anti-Muslim discrimination rarely make headline news, but if one terrorist attack made by an extremist group was to happen the media, and politicians draw everyone's attention on how negative the Muslim community is, how long does this community have to live in fear of injustice and prejudice for society to finally realize what's truly happening in this world.