Prevalence of Islamophobia before and after September 11, 2001
Islamophobia was undoubtedly present in the United States before the highly publicized terrorist attacks of 9/11. However, in the years following 9/11, mass media has publicized Islam in a way that demonizes Muslims and equates them with terrorism, arrogance, violence, and conservatism.
Though many racial minorities in the United States have historically been subjected to similar hatred and prejudice, this behavior should not be condoned as one that will blow over when the next target group makes itself available to public scrutiny.
Historically, witch hunts based on a single identifying characteristic have wrongfully accused or incarcerated thousands of innocent people. In the mid-twentieth century, thousands of Japanese Americans were detained in camps per President Roosevelt's order following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Years later, academics, leftists, and activists were targeted in the heat of McCarthyism as Americans panicked over the media-hyped threat of communism.
Today, Muslims are singled out by their religion as a misinformed public continues to equate Muslims with terrorists. Recently, Huma Abedin, chief of staff and aide to Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, has come under fire for having "close connections to the Muslim Brotherhood." Several congresspeople have come to her defense, including Senator John McCain who has said, " When anyone, not least a member of Congress, launches specious and degrading attacks against fellow Americans on the basis of nothing more that fear of who they are and ignorance of what they stand for, it defames the spirit of our nation, and we all grow poorer because of it. " Despite this, attacks remain vigilant, founded in irrational fear as they may be.
Below, Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison debunks the myth of "Muslim infiltration" in the United States government and the controversy surrounding Huma Abedin with Anderson Cooper.
Historically, witch hunts based on a single identifying characteristic have wrongfully accused or incarcerated thousands of innocent people. In the mid-twentieth century, thousands of Japanese Americans were detained in camps per President Roosevelt's order following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Years later, academics, leftists, and activists were targeted in the heat of McCarthyism as Americans panicked over the media-hyped threat of communism.
Today, Muslims are singled out by their religion as a misinformed public continues to equate Muslims with terrorists. Recently, Huma Abedin, chief of staff and aide to Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, has come under fire for having "close connections to the Muslim Brotherhood." Several congresspeople have come to her defense, including Senator John McCain who has said, " When anyone, not least a member of Congress, launches specious and degrading attacks against fellow Americans on the basis of nothing more that fear of who they are and ignorance of what they stand for, it defames the spirit of our nation, and we all grow poorer because of it. " Despite this, attacks remain vigilant, founded in irrational fear as they may be.
Below, Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison debunks the myth of "Muslim infiltration" in the United States government and the controversy surrounding Huma Abedin with Anderson Cooper.
Congressmen Peter King also claims that there is an increasin the radicalization of Muslims. As the chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, he carried out investigations to examine the extent of "radicalization of American Muslims." According to him, “More than 80 percent of the mosques in America are run by extremists."
British Reaction to the Muslim community in the United Kingdom has been a lot better (though it is not perfect). Azeem Ibrahim's article discusses this.
British Reaction to the Muslim community in the United Kingdom has been a lot better (though it is not perfect). Azeem Ibrahim's article discusses this.