Between January and June of 2024, Muslim civil rights organizations received reports of over 5,000 anti-Muslim hate incidents. Despite the high ratio of unreported incidents, the number of reported hate incidents increased by 68% compared to the previous year. From January to December of 2023, over 8000 incidents were recorded, a 56% increase over the same period in 2022. Half of these incidents took place in the last three months (October-December) after October 7th. Among the reported cases, hundreds involved employment discrimination and harassment of students in schools and on college campuses. In a few cases, it’s led to hate violence.
Islamophobia, a framework with deep historical roots, has long influenced how Islam, Muslims, and Arabs are defined and depicted both in the United States and around the world. This seminar delves into the definitions of Islamophobia, its origins, and its prevailing stereotypes. It also explores the intersection of Islamophobia with anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racisms, examining their effects on Muslim and Arab American communities. The seminar concludes by offering strategies to combat Islamophobia on both interpersonal and institutional levels, tailored to various contexts and audiences. Throughout, the speaker will engage with the audience, answering questions and facilitating discussion.
