As many Muslim Americans know all too well, Islamophobia is pervasive in the US and has become even more prevalent since the war in Palestine began.
The violence has reached shocking levels. In October 2023, a six-year-old boy was murdered and his mother injured in a stabbing by an Illinois man who targeted them because of their Muslim faith. The following month, a gunman in Vermont shot three Palestinian college students and, in December, a middle school teacher in Georgia was arrested for alleged threats to behead a teenage Muslim student. In 2023, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) documented more than 8,000 reports of anti-Muslim hate crimes, harassment, and discrimination. This total was the highest the organization had seen in three decades. A CAIR staff attorney told USA Today that many Muslims said the past year felt worse to them than the bigotry they experienced after 9/11.
The current news cycle is rife with other examples of people targeting Muslims in discriminatory and hate-fueled acts, so much so that the White House announced a comprehensive strategy to combat Islamophobia. Several organizations in the US and abroad, including Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA), are working to combat Islamophobia as well.
The level of bigotry can seem daunting. However, that’s why both Muslim Americans and non-Muslim allies should stand up to Islamophobia. Here are a few things you can do right now to combat the hate.
Be an “Upstander”
CAIR is a valuable resource for anyone looking to be educated on and combat Islamophobia. The organization offers free “upstander” training that teaches people what to do when they witness instances of others harassing Muslims.
The most important lesson in the training is to ignore the perpetrator and instead focus on the target of the hate speech, making sure they feel supported and safe. This can easily be achieved by shouting from a distance, standing with the victim and offering a reassuring smile, asking if they want you to call the police, or recording the interaction with your phone.
Being an “upstander” in these situations can help prevent potential acts of violence and even persuade others to stand up in solidarity for victims. Speaking with CNN, a representative of CAIR noted a report the organization had received in which a Muslim woman faced verbal harassment in a crowded grocery store, but nobody stepped up to help. He contrasted this to a reported incident in a Florida airport, where a pair of “upstanders” sat next to a Muslim woman who was being targeted by another man, prompting others to gather near the victim and one woman to start recording the perpetrator.
CAIR offers “upstander” training in person and online. Email info@cair.com for more information.
Call Out Anti-Muslim Political Rhetoric
Unfortunately, many elected officials in the US, whether it be politicians or school board members, have been reported for exhibiting Islamophobic viewpoints. It happens at the highest levels of power, too—Donald Trump’s 2015 call to ban Muslims from entering the US is one example. While free speech is a guaranteed right in the US, so is religious liberty. It’s important to combat xenophobic sentiments before they become larger issues or infiltrate institutions. Use your voice to speak out against anti-Muslim rhetoric and advocate for a more just society via newspaper op-ed letters, social media posts, and public support.
Moreover, educating yourself is crucial. Make sure you know the political stances and opinions of elected officials and vote against those who espouse hatred in all its ugly forms.
Show Support for Muslim Refugees
A significant portion of Muslim Americans were born here in the US (42%, according to Pew Research in 2017), but many others are immigrants. Anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant bias are often intertwined.
Contrary to views pushed by anti-Muslim hate groups, immigrants and refugees contribute to the American economy and enrich its culture. They are not violent criminals as is sometimes claimed. In 2017, in response to growing anti-immigration sentiments, the Partnership for a New American Economy released a study that showed crime decreased in nine of the 10 cities that welcomed the highest number of refugees. For example, violent crime went down by 77 percent in Southfield, Michigan, between 2006 and 2015, during which time 4,478 refugees resettled in the community.
You can help combat Islamophobia by welcoming Muslim and other refugees into your community and directing them to community resources. You can also dispel common anti-Muslim myths promoted by friends and family by pointing them toward the website factsoverfear.org, which features educational videos and other resources to dispel notions pushed by anti-Muslim hate groups.
How IRUSA Combats Islamophobia
IRUSA combats Islamophobia in its advocacy work. The organization engages with the media to promote positive stories about the American Muslim community, and dialogues with federal government agencies, elected officials, and interfaith coalitions to educate and inform.
Above all, IRUSA lets its humanitarian work do the talking. In this way, the organization demonstrates its values of compassion, social justice, and sincerity—values that are rooted in Islam, but also universal.
“To be honest, we just keep doing the work that we are doing, because we hope that speaks for itself,” said IRUSA director of public affairs Christina Tobias-Nahi, speaking to the G20 Interfaith Forum. “We try to get the media to cover the good and positive work that we are doing, but that has been our biggest challenge. We really feel like that is the way to change the narrative. It’s really just by doing the work.”