Islamophobia

Islamophobia has been on the rise since September 11, as seen in countless cases of discrimination, racism, hate speeches, physical attacks, and anti-Muslim campaigns. The 2006 Danish cartoon crisis and the controversy surrounding Pope Benedict XVI's Regensburg speech have underscored the urgency of such issues as image-making, multiculturalism, freedom of expression, respect for religious symbols, and interfaith relations. The 1997 Runnymede Report defines Islamophobia as "dread, hatred, and hostility towards Islam and Muslims perpetuated by a series of closed views that imply and attribute negative and derogatory stereotypes and beliefs to Muslims." Violating the basic principles of human rights civil liberties, and religious freedom, Islamophobic acts take many different forms. In some cases, mosques, Islamic centers, and Muslim properties are attacked and desecrated. In the workplace, schools, and housing, it takes the form of suspicion, staring, hazing, mockery, rejection, stigmatizing and outright discrimination. In public places, it occurs as indirect discrimination, hate speech, and denial of access to goods and services. This collection of essays takes a multidisciplinary approach to Islamophobia, bringing together the expertise and experience of Muslim, American, and European scholars. Analysis is combined with policy recommendations. Contributors discuss and evaluate good practices already in place and offer new methods for dealing with discrimination, hatred, and racism.

John L. Esposito is University Professor, Professor of Religion and International Affairs and of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. He is the author or editor of more than 45 books, including What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam and The Future of Islam and is Editor in Chief of Oxford Islamic Studies Online.

Foreword - Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference Introduction - John L. Esposito THE CONTEXT OF ISLAMOPHOBIA 1. Ibrahim Kalin, "Islamophobia and the Limits of Multiculturalism" 2. Jocelyne Cesari, "Islamophobia in the West: A Comparison Between Europe and America". CASE STUDIES 3. Sam Cherribi, "Islamophobia in Germany, Austria and Holland" 4. Tahir Abbas, "Islamophobia in the UK: Historical and Contemporary Political and Media Discourses in the Framing of a Twenty-First century Anti-Muslim Racism" 5. Mohamed Nimer, "Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism" 6. Sherman A. Jackson, "Muslims, Islam(s) and Race in America" MANIFESTATIONS 7. Sunaina Maira, "Islamophobia and the War on Terror: Youth, Citizenship, and Dissent" 8. Juan Cole, "Islamophobia and American Foreign Policy" 9. Anas Shaikh Ali, "Islamophobic Discourse Masquerading as Art and Literature: Combating Myth through Progressive Education" 10. Kate Zebiri, Orientalist Themes in Contemporary British Islamophobia 11. Peter Gottschalk and Gabriel Greenberg, "From Muhammad to Obama: Caricatures, Cartoons, and Stereotypes of Muslims" BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX