Islamophobia and Its Effects on Muslim Lives

This essay discusses the adverse effects of Islamophobia on the lives of Muslims and the dangers of such practice. It also highlights the prejudice and discrimination faced by Muslims in the Western countries, especially after the 9/11 attacks.

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS EFFECTS
Islamophobia and its effects
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS EFFECTS 1
“Man is born free but every where he is bound in chains.”
The above quoted of Jean-Jacques Rousseau during the time of the French Revolution
in the 18th century speaks volumes about the nature of the present day world. One of the
major issues that the greater section of the human population is facing at the current moment
is the fact that they are being unable to lead their lives the way they want (Silva 370). It is
significant to note that it is not only the social conditions of the present day world or the other
kinds of extrinsic factors inhibit the individuals from leading the kind of lives that they want
but at the same time it is also seen that the opinion or the bias of the society towards some of
the ideas or ideologies followed by the various sections of the society also affects the lives of
the people and inhibits them to lead their lives according to their own wish in a significant
manner (Silva 370). The concept of Islamophobia is pertinent to note in this particular
context and especially in the context of the current world scenario and to a great extent
inhibits the Muslims from leading the kind of lives that they want in the various nations of
the world. Islamophobia is one of the most common evils that the people who follow the
religion of Islam have been subjected to in the recent times (Austin 87). A pertinent cause of
this factor can be attributed to the increasing number of crimes that the world faced
committed by the people belonging to the Islamic faith (Austin 87). However, at the same
times it is significant to note that the number of hate crimes related to the Muslim people all
over the world has at the same time increased in a substantial manner. Islamophobia entails a
prejudice as well as a sense of animosity for the people related to the religion of Islam (Ali
51). Islamophobia is not only affecting the lives of the Muslim people but it is also inhibiting
them to lead their lives in the normal manner since the prejudice against the Muslims has
increased in a significant manner post the 9/11 attacks due to the negative portrayal of the
Muslims in contemporary media. This essay will discuss about the adverse effects that the

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS EFFECTS 2
concept of Islamophobia had on the lives of the Muslim people and will also show the
dangers of such practice.
Islamophobia or a strong prejudice and a feeling of animosity for the people related to
the religion of Islam are nothing new in the history of the world (Ekman 1988). It is
significant to note that even in the 11th and the 12th centuries during the time of the emergence
of the religion of Islam the people related to the religion of Christianity waged a war against
the followers of Islam, which is commonly called by the name of “Crusade Wars” (Ekman
1988). However, the prejudice against the followers of the religion of Islam have grown in a
substantial manner in the recent times in the various Western countries of the world like the
United States of America (USA), Canada and others particularly in the context of the
increasing terrorism incidents that the world is facing at the current moment. One of the most
important recent incidents that have changed the outlook of the people from the diverse parts
of the world and particularly of the people of the nation of USA is the terrorist activities of
9/11, that is, the bombing of the World Trade Center (Duss et al. 67). It is significant to note
that in particular terrorist activity 19 militants belonging to the terrorist organization of al-
Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and bombed the World Trade Center. The incident not only
destroyed property worth of more than $10 billion but at the same time killed 2,996 people,
injured many more people and scared the lives of millions of people from all over the world
(Duss et al. 67). In addition to these, the terrorist activities of Osama bin Laden has also
contributed in a significant manner in shaping the feeling of animosity as well as the hatred of
the various people of the world towards the Muslims or the followers of Islam.
The basic precepts or the concepts of the religion of Islam are very different from the
ones related to the other religions of the world and this contributes in a significant manner
towards the culture as well as the lifestyle followed by the people who follow the religion of

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS EFFECTS 3
Islam (Morgan 65). Thus, it is generally seen that majority of the times a person who is a
follower of the religion of Islam can easily be distinguished from the followers of the other
religions. For example, in the representations of the Muslims in the popular media it is seen
that a Muslim man keeps beard and have a dressing style of their own whereas a Muslim
woman is required to wear hijabs and the kind of dresses that covers her entire body from her
head right to the toes of her (Morgan 65). The dressing style followed by the people related to
the religion of Islam and also the practices upheld by them is the thing that not only
distinguishes them from the other people of the world but at the same time creates a sense of
difference among the others. It is seen that people are not very open to the things that are
different to the things or the practices that they follow and thus a sense of dislike as well as
distance normally arises among these people and this dislike or distance in term contributes to
the feeling of hatred or animosity that the people of the Western countries like USA, Canada
and others feel for the Muslim people (Beydoun 1463). Another general reason that is being
attributed as one of the reasons for the animosity that the people of the Western countries
normally feel towards the Eastern people is the fact that the immigrants who go to these
countries on a temporary often end staying there on a permanent basis and in turn limits the
opportunities that they have in a significant manner (Beydoun 1463). In addition to these, the
idea that they belong to a superior white race have been ingrained in the minds of the people
of the Western countries since the traditional times and this in turn gets manifested in the
various kinds of prejudices that the people from the other ethnic groups had to face in the
various Western countries (Love 54).
A poll conducted by the “YouGov” in the year 2015 revealed the fact that more than
55% of the people of USA and Canada hold unfavorable opinions towards the Muslims and
their way of life (Huffpost). Furthermore, another interesting statistics revealed by the FBI of

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS EFFECTS 4
the United States of America in the year 2018 reveals the fact that although various kinds of
hate crimes have got reduced in the nation in the last three years yet at the same time the
various kinds of hate crime crimes committed against the Muslims have increased in a
significant manner (CNN). Another important factor that has contributed in a significant
manner towards the prejudice that the people of the Western countries hold towards the
Muslim people is the negative portrayal that the popular media generally gives not only to the
Muslims but at the same time to the various Islam countries of the world like Pakistan,
Afghanistan and others (Huffpost). It is significant to note that most of the news channels as
well as the electronic media generally provide a portrayal of these nations as a land of
savages wherein the people are used to all kinds of cannibalistic activities and all imaginable
cruelties are being perpetrated by the people of these nations (Islamicity.Org). However, this
is far from the actual truth since recent events like the Paris shooting (2015), terrorist
activities perpetrated by the American people in the nation of America itself and others
clearly indicate that the common factor among all the terrorist activities of the world is not
religion but the personal grievances and sense of injustice that the world has committed
against them of the terrorists involved in the process.
The menace of Islamophobia is not only affecting the present lives of the people
related to the faith of Islam but at the same time it is affecting the future prospects of these
people (Rauf 51). For example, one of the most pertinent effects of the process of
Islamophobia is the discrimination or the prejudice that not only the adults Muslims face but
at the same time the Muslim children face the same kind of prejudices as well (Rauf 51). One
of the most important places wherein the seeds of the future thought process as well as the
ideologies about the future are being fostered in the minds of the children are the various
educational institutions (Walker 95). However, it is seen that even in these places as well the

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS EFFECTS 5
Muslim children are face not only prejudice from the various members of the educational
institutions but at the same time from the fellow students as well (Mohiuddin 145). This
particular process is likely to scar the minds of these children for the rest of their lives and
have adverse effects in the later part of their lives since it is seen that the ideas that the
children form during their formational years are most likely to stay with them for the rest of
their lives. Thus, it can be said that this particular process affects the normal growth as well
as the development of the children related to the faith of Islam in a significant manner.
The prejudice that the Muslims are receiving at the hands of the people is affecting
the normal life of these people in a significant manner. Research have shown that the people
who are subjected to various kinds of prejudice as well as bias are not being able to meet the
most basic emotional necessities of their lives in the most effective manner and in many cases
are often being deprived of some of the most basic opportunities that they deserve (Tillman
21). It is significant to note that one of the most basic psychosocial needs of the various
human beings is that they should be able to fulfill the normal activities of their lives in the
best possible manner (Tillman 21). However, the prejudice as well as the animosity that they
are receiving at the hands of the society is significantly impairing them to fulfill these basic
requirements (Artan-Bayhan 234). This in turn not only causes a significant amount of
dissatisfaction among them but at the same time causes a feeling of being at victims of
injustice (Artan-Bayhan 234). And this in turn leads many if these individuals to resort to
various kinds of cruel as well as violent activities in the later part of their lives.
An interesting example if the prejudice that the people of the Western countries hold
against the Muslims is manifested in the article of the National Post entitled “Let’s worry
more about violent Islamophobia’s _ and less about writers who fear being called the
Islamophobia” written by Jasmine Zine. In this article it is seen that there is a debate between

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS EFFECTS 6
two people, namely Zine and another lady named Kay about the concept of Islamophobia
(Zine). It is seen that Zine is defending the Muslims and is of the viewpoint that the prejudice
as well as the discrimination that the Muslims are receiving at the hands of the society is
totally unjustified whereas Kay is totally against the Muslims (Zine). It is significant to note
that this particular prejudice that the people of the Western countries have for the Muslims is
not only limiting the prospects that these people have but at the same it is discouraging the
Muslims to make the most of the opportunities that they have. It is significant to note that
Donald Trump, the present President of the nation of the USA in his election campaign said
that “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” (The Spectator).
These kinds of statements from the national authorities of the nations are significantly
affecting the prospects of the Muslim people. Furthermore, it was seen that post 9/11
especially the Muslims were subjected to various kinds of harsh treatments and many of them
were detained in the detention centers without any strong evidences. Moreover, in the recent
times it also seen that the visa norms of the various countries of the world like USA, Canada
and others have become much more stringent especially for the Muslims. However, the
recent achievements made by people like Amaney Jamal, Lina Khatib and others and the
contributed towards the development of the national governments of the various nations of
the world point otherwise (Islamicity.Org).
The United Nations requires the various nations of the world to follow the precepts of
the various legislations passed by it the Equality Act, Anti-Discrimination and others (The
Spectator). However, at the same time it needs to be mentioned that the treatment that the
Muslims are receiving at the hands of the society as well as the national governments of the
various nations of the world is totally against the above mentioned dictums of the United
Nations. Furthermore, these kinds of activities on the part of the people of the Western

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS EFFECTS 7
countries especially the various hate crimes is not only affecting the lives of the people but at
the same building inside these people strong feelings of dissent as well as injustice which is
getting manifested in the increasing number of terrorist and criminal activities that the world
is facing at the current moment.
To conclude, Islamophobia is one of the most common problems that the Muslims are
facing in the various Western nations of the world currently. The concept of Islamophobia
has gained popularity in the light of the various terrorist activities that are being organized as
well as conducted by the Muslims, especially the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. It is
significant to note that these incidents not only kill millions of people from the different
nations of the world but at the same time destroys properties worth of billions of dollars every
year. It is in the light of these events that the concept of Islamophobia has gained prominence
and the Muslims are being subjected to various kinds of harsh treatments as well as prejudice
of the societies of these nations of the world. However, it is significant to note that these
incidents are affecting the lives of the innocents Muslims in a significant manner and they are
not being able to fulfill the normal requirements of their lives in the most effective manner.
Furthermore, these acts of prejudice as well as discrimination cause a feeling among these
individuals which in turn propel them to resort to violent actions and thus such hate crimes as
well as prejudices against the Muslims needs to be stopped and even the dictums of the
United Nations says so.

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS EFFECTS 8
References
Ali, Wajahat. "Pro-Israel Organizations, Donors and Islamophobia: Findings From Fear, Inc.:
The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America." The Washington Report on Middle
East Affairs 36.3 (2017): 51. Web. 11 Aug. 2018.
Artan-Bayhan, Selen. "Islamophobia in America: The Anatomy of Intolerance." Insight
Turkey 17.1 (2015): 234. Web. 11 Aug. 2018.
Austin, Algernon. America is not Post-racial: Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, and the
44th President: Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, and the 44th President. ABC-CLIO,
2015. Print
Beydoun, Khaled A. "Between Indigence, Islamophobia, and Erasure: Poor and Muslim in
War on Terror America." Cal. L. Rev. 104 (2016): 1463. Web. 11 Aug. 2018.
Colebatch, Hal, and Hal Colebatch. "Islamophobia Is Dangerous Humbug | The
Spectator". The Spectator, 2018, https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/03/islamophobia-
dangerous-humbug/. Accessed 11 Aug 2018.
Dangers Of Islamophobia - Islamicity. Islamicity.Org, 2018,
http://www.islamicity.org/11230/dangers-of-islamophobia/. Accessed 11 Aug 2018.
Duss, Matthew, et al. "Fear, Inc. 2.0: The Islamophobia Network’s Efforts to Manufacture
Hate in America." Center for American Progress (2015). Print
Ekman, Mattias. "Online Islamophobia and the politics of fear: manufacturing the green
scare." Ethnic and Racial Studies38.11 (2015): 1986-2002. Web. 11 Aug. 2018.

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS EFFECTS 9
Imran Awan, Special for CNN. "Opinion: 'The Muslims Are Coming!' Why Islamophobia Is
So Dangerous". CNN, 2018, https://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/03/opinion/islamophobia-
opinion/index.html. Accessed 11 Aug 2018.
Jasmin Zine. Islamophobia Research & Documentation Project, 2018,
https://irdproject.com/author/jasmin-zine/. Accessed 11 Aug 2018.
Love, Erik. Islamophobia and racism in America. NYU Press, 2017. Print
Mohiuddin, Asif. "Islamophobia in America: The anatomy of intolerance." Intellectual
Discourse 23.1 (2015): 145. Web. 11 Aug. 2018.
Morgan, George. Global Islamophobia: Muslims and moral panic in the West. Routledge,
2016. Print
Rauf, Feisal A. "The relationship between the Muslim world and the United States and the
root of Islamophobia in America." Journal of Ecumenical Studies 51.2 (2016): 189-197.
Web. 11 Aug. 2018.
Silva, Derek MD. "Love, Erik, Islamophobia and Racism in America." Canadian Journal of
Sociology 42.3 (2017): 369-372. Web. 11 Aug. 2018.
The Danger Of Confronting Islamophobia To Its Face. Huffpost, 2018,
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-danger-of-confronting-islamophobia-to-its-
face_us_5947330ee4b024b7e0df4d6d. Accessed 11 Aug 2018.
Tillman, Seth. "Return of the Letter to a Young Social Justice Warrior—Responding to
Lamya H’s: A Personal History of Islamophobia in America." A personal history of
Islamophobia in America, Vox (Jan. 15, 2016) (2016). Web. 11 Aug. 2018.

ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS EFFECTS 10
Walker, Scott L. "Islamophobia in America: The anatomy of intolerance" Review of
International Geographical Education Online (RIGEO) 5.1 (2015): 95. Web. 11 Aug. 2018.