How state Islamophobia could come back to bite the West

Hostility towards Muslims is rising significantly. In the United States, recent polling by the Brookings Institution reveals that public prejudice against Muslims is now the highest among all religious groups.

In the United Kingdom, 92 percent of Muslims reported feeling less secure in Britain following recent riots. Additionally, one in six Muslims experienced Islamophobic or racist incidents within a week of the Southport stabbings.

In the US, the decline in positive attitudes toward Muslims is particularly marked among Democrats, who typically consider themselves progressive. According to the Brookings poll, favorable views of Muslims have fallen to 64 percent from 78 percent just two years ago, with Democrats showing a more significant drop.

Brookings attributes this shift to several factors, including generational changes, differing public perceptions of Judaism and Islam, racial issues, and levels of education. However, the most striking factor appears to be the influence of public figures’ statements and positions on Islam.

For instance, while former President Donald Trump’s travel ban on individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries led to increased public empathy for Muslims, President Joe Biden’s remarks on Gaza seem to have had the opposite effect. Shibley Telhami, a Brookings senior fellow, pointed out that Biden’s comments, made during heightened national attention on the Israel-Gaza conflict, may have been perceived as dehumanizing towards Arabs and Muslims.

In recent polls conducted since the Gaza conflict began, Telhami observed a notable decline in favorable views of Muslims, especially among Democrats. He suggested that Biden’s stance might be a contributing factor, though this requires further investigation.

Responses from political parties in the US and UK, which claim to champion progressive values, have been disappointing. In the US, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) recently rejected a proposal to feature a Palestinian speaker at its convention, despite the fact that the speaker in question was an ordinary party representative, not a high-profile figure like Rashida Tlaib. The DNC did, however, make space for the family of an Israeli hostage and hosted discussions on Palestinian human rights but refused to accommodate a Palestinian speaker, even at potential electoral risk.

The rationale behind the DNC’s decision, as reported by The Washington Post, was a concern about maintaining unity at the convention, preferring to avoid controversial topics like Gaza.

In the UK, the situation is even more troubling. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s tenure has been marred by severe race riots, triggered by false accusations about a Muslim connection to a crime in Southport. Starmer has not publicly engaged with Muslim or Palestinian community representatives since the riots and has ignored calls from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) for action against Islamophobia and an independent review.

While the UK government has been responsive to Jewish community leaders, including meetings with the chief rabbi and various Jewish organizations, it has not similarly addressed the surge in Islamophobic abuse affecting Muslims. The government’s failure to engage with Muslim representatives contrasts sharply with its actions concerning Jewish groups, revealing a disparity in the treatment of racial and religious issues.

The apparent bias in addressing racism against Muslims compared to other communities raises questions about the government’s commitment to equality. This is exacerbated by Starmer’s policies, which seem to avoid addressing the needs of the Muslim community, despite its significant electoral influence.

The broader issue is not merely about foreign policy or support for Israel but about the treatment of British citizens targeted by racist violence. This discrepancy reflects a troubling double standard and a reluctance to confront the rise in anti-Muslim sentiment.

Muslims, constituting over one-quarter of the global population, are not a minority in the broader sense. The Western response, as seen in media and political discourse, often suggests that Western nations are not genuinely committed to addressing these issues.

If either the UK or the US were to genuinely engage with Muslim communities and address their concerns, it could shift public attitudes and improve relations. However, by continuing on their current paths, leaders like Starmer and Biden risk further alienating these communities and opening the door to far-right ideologies.

The rise of the far-right and its narrative of a civilizational clash is gaining traction, with Israel positioned as a frontline in this supposed battle. The reluctance of center-left parties to challenge this narrative or to adequately address Muslim concerns only plays into the hands of far-right leaders and undermines genuine progress in addressing racial and religious prejudices.