Anti-Muslim prejudice in the West, past and present: an introduction

Muslims, Schooling and the Question of Self-Segregation

“…Anti-Muslim racism and Islamophobia are dominant approaches which have attempted to make sense of the current discourse on self-segregation within a wider context of 'new racism' (Barker 1981). The concept of anti-Muslim racism is used to explain the phenomenon of 'new racism', which focuses less on the hostility against Islam and more on the aggression and prejudice against Muslims -that is to say anti-Muslim prejudice focuses on the 'lives of Muslims' in the West (Malik 2009). …”

“…The above example demonstrates how integration is used by political and media sources as a way of talking about minority groups, and these ways of posing or framing particular questions are often recycled throughout history (Cohen 1980;Alexander 2000). The above experiences of anti-Muslim prejudice (Malik 2009) in the form of political and media discourses (McCreary et al 2007) are seen as an important factor shaping the Muslim view of integration. The current tensions around Islam in the UK, following the events of 9/11 and 7/7, have deeply politicised the Muslim community and have further undermined the Muslim position on integration; some parents felt they have been being 'pushed' into a corner and forced to take a stance.…”

‘Non-Religion’ as Part of the ‘Religion’ Category in International Human Rights

“…Protecting expression allows the realisation of pluralism yet runs the risk of compromising the values and practices of some groups due to competing rights around certain issues. For example, discussions around the idea of 'Islamophobia', often conflate legitimate criticism of arguably discriminatory Islamic values and practices (which are also held and enacted by many other religious groups) such as homophobia, sexism, ritual slaughter of animals and anti-atheist sentiments, with assaults on the right to hold religious convictions (Bleich 2011;Halliday 1999;Imhoff and Recker 2012;Nixon 2019;Malik 2009;Zúquete 2008). Framing non-religious expression in this way, as Islamophobia, can be problematic.…”

Monstrosity, Abjection and Europe in the War on Terror

“…The first debate (e.g. Halliday 1999;Allen 2010;Malik 2010;Bravo López 2011;Esposito and Kalin 2011) explores overlaps and connected dynamics of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Europe, the Middle-East and the US. Nonetheless, my considerations about the genealogies and contextual transformation of "figures of race" stem from a conflation of Islamophobia with racism (on this topic see Sayyid and Vakil 2010; their reflection focuses on Islamophobic believes, behaviours and institutional patterns in the UK, and analyses it within the complex articulation of racialised diversities in a hegemonic white nation).…”