text:
FOREWORD by the OIC Secretary General
attires in public spaces. It is crucial to address the issue on these three distinctive levels, which are
the exploitation, politicization and institutionalization of Islamophobia at various levels. In the
present globalized world, peaceful and harmonious coexistence among diverse religions and cultures
is not an option but the only means to enduring human cohabitation. The objective of the
protagonists of Islamophobia is none other than to create division between the West and the
Muslim World. In doing so, they are pushing the world towards the dangerous precipices of
conflagration and destabilization. Islamophobia has emerged as a new form of racism characterized
by xenophobia, negative profiling and stereotyping of Muslims bearing strong similarities to
apartheid. It has always been my firm belief that like apartheid, the challenge for the international
community is to dismantle Islamophobia completely and prevent its spread before it gets out of
hand and jeopardizes global peace and security.
One of the most daunting and challenging tasks reposed on me by our leaders at the 3rd
Extraordinary Islamic Summit in Makkah in 2005 was to combat and counter the absurd and
abhorrent campaign of Islamophobia. I took this responsibility to heart and used every option
available to bring the international community to a common position so that its perpetrators find no
abettors in society to perpetuate their agenda of hate and intolerance. Over these past nine years, I
have never failed to raise the concern of Islamophobia in all my interactions with the leaders of
Western countries, as well as with academics and civil society representatives. I have underscored,
time and again, the extreme gravity of Islamophobia as a major impediment to the objectives of the
UN Charter, including the overarching goal that people should practice tolerance and live together
in peace with one another. I have been consistent in my insistence that addressing this malaise can
be successful through a collective stance and effort of the international community.
I believe that the OICs outcry against Islamophobia as an affront to human rights and human
dignity has had a positive impact on stakeholders in the West. The leaders of Western Governments
and regional organizations such as the EU, the Council of Europe, renowned scholars and media
personalities and the Vatican have publicly condemned Islamophobia. The historic consensual
adoption of the OIC sponsored UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18 entitled Combating
Intolerance, Negative Stereotyping and Stigmatization of, and Discrimination, Incitement to
violence, and Violence against persons based on Religion or Belief on March 21, 2011 as well in
the subsequent sessions of the Council and the UN General Assembly, has effectively broken the
myth of the global communitys inability to take a unified and determined stand to combat
intolerance and hatred based on religion and belief.
It is my earnest hope that the 40th Council of Foreign Ministers will take due note of the contents
and recommendations of the Sixth Annual Report and that the Member States will fulfill their
pledge to strengthen the Observatory. I would also like to reiterate my appeal to the Member States
to strongly convey our grave concerns on growing Islamophobia to our western counterparts within
the ambit of their bilateral consultations and to impress upon them that the sanctity of freedom of
expression and freedom of religion cannot be allowed to be endangered by those few radical
extremists who are determined to create unrest and divisions in our present day world of diversity by
giving them a free hand in fomenting Islamophobia.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
The Sixth Annual report of the OIC Islamophobia Observatory covers the period from October
2012 to September 2013. The report contains five main chapters in addition to some annexes. The
first chapter on Islamophobia, Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims describes the general
trend of intolerance and discrimination against Muslims. It reveals that the rise of Islamophobia
continues unabated in some Western countries thereby exacerbating tensions at all levels and
constituting additional obstacles to the diversity and multicultural fabrics of the societies. A number
of independent reports by credible institutions in the West vindicated the Observatorys position that
anti-Muslim rhetoric has become increasingly widespread, which, in turn, has caused an increase in
the actual number of hate crimes committed against Muslims. These crimes range from the usual
verbal abuse and discrimination, particularly in the fields of education and employment, to other
acts of violence and vandalism, including physical assaults, attacks on Islamic centres and the
desecration of mosques and cemeteries. It is also shown that Muslim women and girls are amongst
the most affected by discrimination and hatred, notably due to their religious attire.
The chapter further underscores that increased hate speech and discrimination against Muslims is a
major factor behind the rise of the phenomenon of Islamophobia. In this context, acceptance of
various forms of intolerance, including hate speech and the propagation of negative stereotypes
against Islam and Muslims in some western countries contribute towards proliferation of intolerant
societies. This process is further supported by three main manifestations, namely: the exploitation of
freedom of expression and perpetuation of an ideological context advocating an inescapable conflict
of civilizations; the right wing parties have politicized Islamophobia and instrumentalized fear in the
context of growing socio-economic instability as well as the erosion of human rights in the name of
national security and the fight against terrorism.
Chapter 2 of the report deals with various Manifestations of Islamophobia in the West. The number of
Islamophobic incidents continues to rise in the US, as a result of anti-Muslim propaganda. It is
particularly alarming that anti-Muslim sentiments are taking deeper roots infiltrating further in the
educational system. Notable among several other worrying trends/cases are: the initiatives taken by a
leading and powerful US legislator to convene special Congressional Hearings on Radicalization of
Islam in the US; the tensions in some states over building of Mosques and the subjecting of Muslims
to extra surveillance, including tapping of telephones, all of which have spread anxiety among
American Muslims. In the same vein, the Republican Party in the recent 2013 US Presidential
elections also used the anti-Islam card as a strategy.
Furthermore, the report notes with deep concern the rise of virulent anti-Muslim preachers such as
Pamela Geller who surpassed Robert Spencer and Daniel Pipes in demonizing Islam as recently
demonstrated by her active involvement in the placing of Islamophobic ads in the transit systems of
New York City, Washington, and San Francisco. Her exuberance and her high profile acceptance in
the Republican Party campaign during the US Presidential elections stand in clear contradiction to
the ethos and principles of US politics and culture. Another important incident showing how Islam
is being amalgamated with terrorism is that of the Boston bombings, which demonstrated, yet again,
how the media is quick in associating terrorist acts with Islam and Muslims. This sort of stereotyping
has direct adverse effects, as shown by the increased number of Islamophobic incidents that took
place in the immediate aftermath of the bombings.
With regard to Islamophobic trends in Europe, various reports and polls have revealed growing
misperception vis--vis Islam and Muslims. Among the most common and recurring of these are the
ideas that Muslims are inclined to violence including revenge and retaliation; that Islam is an
inherently expansionist religion, which strives for political influence, and whose followers are
obsessed with proselytizing others, and more generally that Islam deprives women of their rights and
encourages religious fanaticism and radicalism. According to the same polls, only a minor portion of
the public tends to see Islam in a more positive light, as being a religion of peace that preaches love
for neighbors, charity, openness and tolerance. Studies in Europe have also revealed that
Islamphobia is most visible in the media and in the discourse of right wing political parties and
groups who tend to take advantage, and build on the general fear of Islam. It was noted that from a
sociological and psychological point of view, Muslims who live in xenophobic environments are
more exposed to daily stress and other forms of moral prejudice.
In this context, a significant rise in the hate crimes against Muslims in a number of European
countries in the wake of the brutal Woolwich Murder Attack has been noted. This criminal act by a
single individual was unambiguously and strongly condemned by the OIC and the Muslim world.
The Report underlined that the particular manner in which the case was handled by certain quarters
of the media helped further propagate negative stereotypes about Islam and Muslims and gave
Islamophobes added vigor to escalate their hatemongering. On this account, the OIC Islamophobia
Observatory noted with grave concern the central role that a number of Western media outlets
continue to play in propagating fear and negative stereotypes against the Islamic faith and its
followers, notably by acting as a platform for widespread dissemination of anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Chapter 3 of the report highlights Some Positive Developments in terms of initiatives and other steps
and positions taken against Islamophobia. The Observatory was satisfied to note the condemnation
of anti-Muslim hate speech by various quarters, including non-Muslim religious leaders; the barring
from entry of certain Islamophobes to a number of countries where they intended to take part in
anti-Muslim rallies or deliver inflammatory lectures; the recognition of Muslim holidays and other
strict sanctions taken against acts of manifest religious intolerance. It was noted with satisfaction that
a number of international organization, including UNSECO, the OSCE and the Council of Europe,
have recognized the danger posed by Islamophobia and have taken concrete steps to combat it,
notably by laying down Guidelines for Educators on Countering Intolerance and Discrimination
against Muslims.
Under the title OIC Initiatives and Activities to Counter Islamophobia, chapter four mentions some of
the steps and initiatives taken by the OIC to counter Islamophobia. In November 2012, a special
ministerial barnstorming session was convened on the sidelines of the 39th session of the OIC
Council of Foreign Ministers, which aimed at devising an OIC Approach for Combating
Discrimination and Intolerance against Muslims. The session was inter alia prompted by the release
of the provocative and insulting film Innocence of Muslims on YouTube and called for
constituting a panel of eminent persons including renowned legal experts and human rights
practitioners to offers its expert view on the issue of religious intolerance and incitement to hatred to
the 12th Islamic Summit. The panel, which was held in Istanbul, in January 2013, expressed support
for the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Resolution 16/18, on combating intolerance,
discrimination, incitement to violence and violence on the basis of religion or belief, as being the
least common denominator reflecting international consensus on this issue. The Panel also
recommended that relevant stakeholders continue to address the information, interpretation and
implementation gaps within the framework of the Istanbul Process and that the OIC should
continue to collect data on new forms and manifestations of Islamophobia, while enhancing
cooperation with international intergovernmental organizations as well as civil society organizations.
The OIC also hosted the 3rd Meeting of International Experts on the mplementation of UNHRC
Resolution 16/18, under the framework of the Istanbul Process for combating intolerance,
discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief. The meeting was attended by
delegations from over sixty countries and addressed three out of the eight points for action provided
by Resolution 16/18, namely, Speaking out against intolerance, including advocacy of religious
hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence; Adopting measures to
criminalize incitement to imminent violence based on religion or belief; and Recognizing that the
open, constructive and respectful debate of ideas, as well as interfaith and intercultural dialogue at
the local, national and international levels, can play a positive role in combating religious hatred,
incitement and violence. The meeting reaffirmed the international communitys commitment to
Resolution 16/18 and the need to focus on its implementation. Furthermore, the OIC in
partnership with the Republic of Turkey organized an International Conference on Islamophobia: Law
and Media, held in Istanbul in September 2013. The Conference, inter alia, endorsed a creation of
an Advisory Media Committee under the umbrella of the newly established OIC Media Forum, to
be headquartered in Istanbul, with a view to contributing to efforts in building an effective media
strategy to combat Islamophobia.
The last chapter of the report introduces a set of conclusions and recommendations that include:
a reminder that the stability and cohesion of societies is based not only on the rule of law
but also on the necessity of maintaining bonds of fraternity, understanding and respect
between people of different faiths and cultures.
The clear and present and dangers posed by widespread intolerance and racist rhetoric
make it incumbent on governments in the West to strictly enforce applicable hate crime
and discrimination laws.
Maintaining an open and constructive international dialogue is crucial to furthering
understanding of new forms and manifestations of intolerance in order to better address
their wider adverse effects in a globalized world.
Underscoring the importance to act through concerted international action, based on
internationally recognized human rights principles and standards.
Implementation of provisions of UNHRC Resolution 16/18 through the Istanbul
Process mechanism as it offers a positive platform for debate, exchange of best practices
and maintaining of a common and unified stance.
Ensuring that Muslims are properly integrated in society and are not subjected to racial
profiling and other forms of institutionalized discrimination.
The Report has its annexes a) Compilation of Islamophobic; b) CFM Res. No 41/39-P on an OIC
Approach for Combating Discrimination and Intolerance against Muslims Incidents; and c)
Statement by H.E. the OIC Secretary General, Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, at the 3rd Istanbul
Process Meeting on the follow-up of Implementation of UN HRC Resolution 16/18.
The Sixth OIC Observatory Report on Islamophobia, covering the period from October 2012 to
September 2013 offers a comprehensive picture of Islamophobia, as it exists mainly in contemporary
Western societies. The main objective of the Report is to underline the sources and consequences of
this phenomenon, which is taking root in the popular mindset of the West and to provide
recommendations to combat it at regional and international levels. The Report is a sequel to the
earlier five Annual Observatory Reports and highlights various instances of intolerance as well as
other efforts and campaigns that target and marginalize Muslims, and distort the image of Islam. The
incidents of hatred and intolerance of Muslims that have been recorded in this Report and
references made to quotes and utterances of individuals and groups offer credible evidence of efforts
aimed at manipulating the mindset against Islam and Muslims.
The scourge of Islamophobia has emerged as one of the most daunting challenges for Muslims and
non-Muslims alike because it aims to destabilize social cohesion by fomenting hate and intolerance.
The ugly face of Islamophobia became more visible and pronounced in the aftermath of the terrible
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This unjustifiable act of terrorism attack, involving extremist
radical elements, was rejected and condemned by the entire Muslim world on the ground that
terrorism stands in total contradiction to the core values and principles of Islam. Unfortunate but
true, 9/11 came as a long awaited opportunity for the anti-Islam and anti-Muslim elements in the
West to set in motion their well orchestrated plan to slander Islam and target Muslims by equating
terror with Islam and Muslims.
Islam and Muslims have increasingly been portrayed as representing violence and terror that seek to
threaten and destroy the values of Western civilization and that the Muslim way of life is
incompatible with Western values of human rights and fundamental freedoms. For Muslims,
Islamophobia is a deliberate scheme to distort the teachings and principles of peace and moderation
engrained in Islam. As part and result of this scheme, Muslims tend to be collectively accused for any
violence that erupts in society and are seen as ipso facto potential suspects well ahead of any
investigation. This negative stereotype causes Muslims to be subjected to indignity, racial
discrimination and denial of basic human rights.
The Sixth Report reveals that despite efforts to speak out against Islamophobia, the trend has still
been on the rise. The phenomenon has been allowed to amplify as a result of unrestricted campaigns
in the United States and Europe in by extreme right-wing individuals and groups who have earned
notoriety for harboring virulent anti-Islam and anti-Muslim sentiments, and for carrying forth their
agenda through hatemongering utterances in public gatherings, as well as in writings and broadcasts
in electronic and social media. The outcry against these extreme radicals may be universal but little
could be done to contain them as they enjoy a free hand in inciting intolerance of Islam and
Muslims under the pretext of freedom of expression. The trends and incidents observed during the
period under review range from the usual vandalism of cemeteries and Islamic places of worship
(Mosques and/or Islamic Centers), to trivialization of any Islamic-related issue, be it halal food or
Muslim headscarf, or personal appearance (wearing a beard).
The Report mainly focuses on Islamophobia in the United States and in Europe. In the case of the
US, a country that takes pride in being a land of immigrants and tolerant of peoples of all faiths and
beliefs, the Report identifies individuals and groups who are self-proclaimed anti-Islam campaigners.
These individuals use their high profile connections including US legislators and media personalities
to propagate negative stereotypes about Muslims, which leads to increased discrimination against
them. In Europe, a deep identity crisis is being fueled by a continued instrumentalization of antiIslamic rhetoric by certain quarters in the Media as well as for political ends. This identity crisis is
threatening the values of multiculturalism and diversity which characterize today most Western
societies. As shown in this Report, such climate which favors negative views of Islam, and promotes
the exclusivity of one culture over the others, leads to increasing number of attacks and
discrimination against Muslims. In the wake of Boston (US) Bombings in April 2013 and Woolwich
(London) Attack in May 3013 anti-Muslim sentiments escalated and Islamophobic incidents reached
a higher level.
The Report reiterates the OICs firm opposition to and condemnation of acts of violence and killing
of innocent people as well as other forms of inciting communal hatred based on belief.
To combat Islamophobia effectively the OIC has engaged with the leaders and civil society
institutions of the West to sensitize them to the gravity of unbridled Islamophobia and its potential
threat to global peace and security. The OIC remained relentless in keeping Islamophobia in the
agenda of international relations and in seeking a common strategy to defeat the few but strong and
influential groups and individuals who continue to foment hate against Muslims.
Today hate speech, as well as discrimination and violence based on religion or belief is high on the
agenda of international diplomacy including the OIC Summit and Ministerial Meetings, the UN
Human Rights Council, the UN AoC, the EU and other regional bodies as well as worldwide
seminars and workshops organized by reputed think tanks. The OIC Observatory on Islamophobia
takes some satisfaction that as a result of its committed efforts; the overwhelming majority of the
world community has shunned Islamophobia. Regretfully this awareness that is now seen has not yet
been effective in the face of intolerance, which is slowly but surely eating away the values of tolerance
and diversity of the present day world.
At the OIC level, the 39th CFM, held in the Republic of Djibouti, in November 2013, convened a
closed Ministerial Brainstorming/Thematic Session on An OIC Approach for Combating
Discrimination and Intolerance against Muslims. The session served not only to update OIC
Foreign Ministers on actions taken by the General Secretariat but also to obtain the views and
recommendations of the Ministers to supplement the action program of the Secretariat. One of the
main mandates given to OIC Secretary General by this brainstorming session was the convening of a
panel of eminent persons including legal experts and human rights practitioners the conclusions of
which were submitted to the 12th Islamic Summit, held in Cairo in February 2013.
Beyond the OIC track, the Organization hosted the 3rd Istanbul Process Meeting on the follow-up of
implementation of HRC Res. 16/18, in Geneva in June 2013. The meeting reiterated the need for
the international community to take a common stand and work together to combat discrimination
and intolerance based on religion or belief. The meeting further insisted on the importance of each
of the action points contained in the Resolution, including the need to criminalize incitement to
imminent violence. In this regard, the platform set up by the continued consensual adoption of
Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18, both in Geneva and New York, provides with an
optimism that perhaps in a near future an agreement could be reached on the threshold of
criminalization, which would be an important step in the long way of combating all forms of
discrimination and intolerance based on religion and faith, including Islamophobia.
practices, as well as measures to foster understanding and liberal debate on Islam. Finally, the Report
concluded, the message conveyed should be that multiculturalism is an inclusive policy which values and
respects diversity and promotes inclusiveness and engagement within the framework of Australian laws.
The Common trend observed in the above Western countries, and others as will be shown by the
present Report, is that Muslims are facing an increasingly hostile environment that favors
discrimination and bigotry towards them. A sign of this is that Muslims religious appearance and
symbols, their traditions and culture are being more and more rejected. However, the most striking
and worrying manifestation of this mounting intolerance against Muslims is the increased
trivialization of hate speech based on race, religion or nationality.
According to Doudou Diene, former UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, three main factors allow the trivialization
of anti- Muslim hate speech. These are the instrumentalization and the political erosion of human
rights in the name of national security or the fight against terrorism; the dominant ideological
context marked by a long dated rhetoric of conflict of civilizations that is built on certain ideas of
racial, cultural and religious superiority; and lastly, but not least, the deep identity crisis that has
emerged as a result of the contradiction between rigid historical identity perceptions and the
dynamics of modern day societies, which are becoming increasingly multicultural as a result of
economic, social and cultural globalization.
Another evident factor that favors the climate of intolerance is the negative role played by major
Media outlets who not only propagate stereotypes and misperceptions about Islam, but also
undermine and usually keep shadowed any meaningful instance of individuals or groups speaking
out against intolerance, including advocacy of religious hatred and violence. This bias approach of
the Media has helped drawing an emphatically demonized, sometimes dehumanized, image of
Muslims in the minds of a certain class of people which is predisposed to xenophobic feelings due to
the increasingly dire economic situation, or the simply to the irrational fear of the other.
Along the same line of ideas, Jack Shaheen, a former CBS news consultant on Middle East affairs
and author of Reel Bad Arab, during an interview with Press TVs US Desk on 12 March 20134,
explained that silence is the most important factor causing the rise of Islamophobia. He mentioned
that ignorance, T.V. and the movie industry play an equally important role in the rise of
Islamophobia, adding: The leadership of the country (American) needs to speak out and to say that there is
nothing wrong with the Muslims, that Muslims are part of the American fabric as are Christians, Jews and
other people but it needs to come from the top. The same should also be addressed in other societies
where Islam and Muslims are being stereotyped and progressively alienated from society.
The above-mentioned are some of the root causes of the growing intolerance against Muslims
witnessed in a number of Western societies. It is particularly regretful that the issue of Islamophobia
continues to be instrumentalized by a number of politicians and right wing groups, who, even while
promoting prejudice against Muslims, end up finding resonance in the democratic institutions of
See Press TVs entry Silence most important factor behind Islamophobia: Jack Shaheen, in:
http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/293222.html, retrieved on 13.03.2013
State such as government or parliament. The intellectual legitimization of Islamophobia that follows,
and which is further comforted by the general trend of negative stereotypes propagated by the
Media, has done nothing but to thinner the line between those who entertain Islamophobic feelings
and the actual crimes or cases of discriminations that take place. The following chapter of the
Report highlights various forms and manifestations of Islamophobia, both in terms of the deliberate
efforts made by certain individuals and groups but also in terms of the general trend of intolerance
that has given rise to discrimination and violence against Muslims.
Discrimination against Muslims and denigration of Islam, particularly in the West emerged stronger
than before in different forms and manifestations. The phenomenon not only remained unabated
but also gained further support in various circles of the society. Reports show its further increase in
the US and in Europe in many areas and through various means and platforms.
2.1. Islamophobia in the United States of America
Anti-Muslim hate crimes and other incidents of discrimination against Muslims remained prevalent
in the US. Furthermore, Anti-Muslim sentiments were particularly reflected during the US
Presidential Elections and in the aftermath of the Boston bombings, which generated further
Islamophobic rhetoric and discriminatory behavior towards Muslims, or perceived Muslims.
With regard to statistics of hate crimes against Muslims, the FBI released, on December 10 2012,
figures for the year 20115, which showed that hate crimes against perceived Muslims, which jumped
up 50% in 2010 largely as a result of anti-Muslim propagandizing, remained at relatively high levels
in 2011. The bureau reported 157 anti-Muslim hate crimes in 2011, down slightly from the 160
recorded in 2010. The 2011 crimes occurred during a period when Islam-bashing propaganda, which
initially took off in 2010, continued apace. It was, however, mentioned that the FBI statistics, which
were compilations of state numbers, were notoriously understated. Two Department of Justice
studies had indicated that the real level of hate crimes in America was some 20-30 times the number
reported in the FBI statistics, in part because some 56% of hate crimes were never reported to police
and more than half of those that were mischaracterized as non-hate crimes. Nevertheless, the FBI
statistics could be used to get a sense of general trends.
Among other worrying manifestations of Anti-Muslim prejudice and denigration of Islam was the
rise of Islamophobia in educational institutions particularly in some schools targeting Muslim
students. Few of the many incidents reported in schools were listed as below by Teaching Tolerance6:
See Salons entry FBI: Anti-Muslim hate crimes still up, in:
http://www.salon.com/2012/12/10/fbi_anti_muslim_hate_crimes_still_up/, retrieved on 11.12.2012
Quoted by Islamophobia Today Blog in: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2012/12/15/texas-school-districtinvestigates-muslim-bias-in-school-finds-christian-bias-instead/, retrieved on 17.12.2012
In Massachusetts, when a Cambridge store burned down, Muslim high school students were
asked by classmates if they bombed the store.
In New York, four high school students were charged with a hate crime after spending more
than a year bullying a Muslim classmate, occasionally beating him and calling him a terrorist.
It may be noted that already in a 2011 report7 published by the Institute for Social Policy and
Understanding (ISPU) titled, Global Battleground or School Playground: The Bullying of
Americas Muslim Children, it was found that bullying against Muslim children was on the rise in
American schools. According to the report: the reasons why Muslim children are being bullied vary: the
American mainstreams limited knowledge, pervasive misperceptions, and negative stereotypes about Muslims.
Little is known about Islam and Muslims, and little is being done to redress this situation. Today, an
increasing number of Muslim children continue to be bullied in schools by their classmates.
In one of Gallups important reports on Islamophobia8, it was stated: Research shows that the U.S.
identified more than 160 Muslim-American terrorist suspects and perpetrators in the decade since 9/11, just a
percentage of the thousands of acts of violence that occur in the United States each year. It is from this overall
collection of violence that "an efficient system of government prosecution and media coverage brings MuslimAmerican terrorism suspects to national attention, creating the impression - perhaps unintentionally - that
Muslim-American terrorism is more prevalent than it really is." Never mind that since 9/11, the MuslimAmerican community has helped security and law enforcement officials prevent nearly two of every five al
Qaeda terrorist plots threatening the United States.
See Pia Rebello BRITTO, Global Battleground or School Playground: The Bullying of America's Muslim Children,
ISPU, Available online at: http://www.ispu.org/pdfs/ISPU_Policy%20Brief_Britto_WEB.pdf , retrieved on 17.12.2012
Cf. Gallup, Islamophobia: Understanding Anti-Muslim Sentiment in the West, in:
Kelley B. Vlahos, 2012: Exploiting Islamophobia to Win Big, in: http://original.antiwar.com/vlahos/2010/11/08/2012exploiting-islamophobia-to-win-big/, retrieved on 11.11.2011
Within the same context, Deepa Kumar, author of the Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, told
AlterNet10 via email, Most of the GOP presidential candidates used Islamophobia during the primaries
because appeals to racism have always been useful for the GOP. Anti-Muslim racism comes with an added
bonus in that it helps position one as being 'tough on terror.' Kumar called the GOP tactic of appealing to
anti-Muslim sentiment the Republican Partys new Southern Strategy, referring to the tactic of
appealing to anti-black racism among white voters in the South.
In fact, as pointed out in an AlterNet article, the political debate over Islam in the United States
reached its height during the Republican presidential primaries in 2011 when Herman Cain
expressed Islamophobic remarks, during a debate in New Hampshire11, which drew controversy: I
would not be comfortable [appointing a Muslim to the presidential cabinet] because you have peaceful Muslims
and then you have militant Muslims those that are trying to kill us.
Among some of the examples of bigotry, ignorance and hate during the presidential campaign are
those listed by salon.com, on October 20, 2012.12 These include the following:
Florida Republican Allen West has particularly targeted Muslims. He commemorated 9/11
by screening an anti-Islamic film and expressed the view that George Bush got snookered into
going into some mosque, taking his shoes off, and then saying that Islam was a religion of peace.
David Ramadan, a Muslim Republican Party activist, was subject to Islamophobic slander
when he ran for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2011which he won. Pamela
Geller called him an Islamic supremacist, David Horowitz warned Virginia Republicans
not to lie down in the camels bed, and Frank Gaffney accused him of having ties to
Nezar Hamze, a Republican from Florida who tried to join the Broward County Republican
Executive Committee got turned down by a vote of 158 to 11. While he met all the
requirements, people in his own party had distributed pamphlets labeling him a terrorist
because he was head of the local chapter of the Council on American- Islamic Relations
Republican Diane Black was among those raising their voice against building of the planned
mosque in Murfreesboro, which had already become a lightning rod for anti-Muslim
sentiment in the area and across the country. Black argued that communities need to protect
themselves from the jihadist viewpoint. Moreover, Lou Ann Zelenik, the executive director
of the reliably Islamophobic Tennessee Freedom Coalition, thought Blacks stance didnt go
far enough, firing back: I will work to stop the Islamization of our society, and do everything possible
to prevent Shariah law from circumventing our laws and our Constitution.
See AlterNets entry Romney Campaigns Ugly Anti-Muslim Strategy to Win Cash and Votes, in:
http://www.alternet.org/election-2012/romney-campaigns-ugly-anti-muslim-strategy-win-cash-and-votes, retrieved on
Romney Campaigns Ugly Anti-Muslim Strategy to Win Cash and Votes, op.cit.
See Salon.coms entry The 10 most Islamophobic moments in the 2012 elections, in:
retrieved on 21.10.2012
Republican Joe Walsh, the Tea Party darling poised to lose his seat in November, warned in
August, a radical strain of Islam in this country trying to kill Americans every week. Its
here. Its in Elk Grove. Its in Addison. Its in Elgin. Its here, he added. Hours later, a man shot
at a mosque in the district, narrowly missing a security guard outside as 500 people prayed
It should also be noted that throughout America there were several examples of citizens and
churches joining in the Islamophobic race of the presidential
campaign. For instance, Pastor Ray Miller caused commotion
in his Texas town because of a politically motivated church
marquee.13 The Church banner read: VOTE FOR THE
THE COMMUNIST! The sign was an obvious reference to
President Barack Obama, who conservatives claimed was a
secret Muslim even though he said he was a Christian and attended church with his family.
A September 2011 poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute14 found, 47 percent of
Americans agree that Islam is at odds with American values. That number grows even higher when
looking exclusively at Republicans and Tea Party supporters. According to the article, Nearly twothirds (63 percent) of Republicans and Americans who identify with the Tea Party movement (66 percent) agree
that the values of Islam are at odds with American values. The Institute states that Forty-five percent of
Republicans and 54 percent of those who identify with the Tea Party believe, American Muslims are
trying to establish Sharia law in the U.S.
See Islamophobia Todays entry Texas church urges Americans to Vote for the Mormon, not the Muslim, in:
http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2012/10/22/texas-church-urges-americans-to-vote-for-the-mormon-not-themuslim/, retrieved on 23.10.2012
Cf: Pew Poll Little Voter Discomfort with Romneys Mormon Religion, in: http://www.pewforum.org/Politics-andElections/Little-Voter-Discomfort-with-Romney%E2%80%99s-Mormon-Religion-1.aspx
See Kansas Citys entry Judge Says DC Metro must allow anti-jihad ads, in:
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/10/05/3848836/pro-muslim-ads-going-up-by-nyc.html, retrieved on 06.10.2012
See Huffingtonposts entry D.C. Metro Anti-Muslim Ads Spur Rep. Mike Honda to Call for Boycott, in:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/10/dc-metro-anti-muslim-ads-mike-honda_n_1955092.html, retrieved on
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, against their will, to run the ad equating Muslims to
savages. These are rights, however, that come with great responsibility and I hope that Americans will always use
them responsibly. The right to not support hate speech is also a right, which is why I encourage people to boycott,
if possible, WMATA (and in other places, like NYC, where the ad is running) until the ad buys are finished.
We do not have to support hate speech.
Similarly, a coalition of 157 religious groups across the DC Metro-area signed and addressed a letter
to the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority,17 pressing them to take stronger steps against hate
speech. In the same vein, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on 13 October 201218
unveiled counter ads featured a verse from the Quran stating: Show forgiveness, speak for justice and
avoid the ignorant. (The Holy Quran, 7:199). The CAIRs 16-foot banner ads, which were scheduled
to go up after few days and stay up for a month in stations featuring the hate ads (Glenmont,
Georgia Avenue/Petworth and U Street), also directed metro riders to the organizations Explore the
Quran initiative. This coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups gave a press conference on
15 October 2012 in which a letter signed by 168 religious clergy members was issued. The letter
stated, in part, ads espouse inaccurate and inflammatory stereotypes about American Muslims.
Lisa Burr, a teacher at the Metropolitan State University, believes that there is a connection between
Islamophobia in the US and pro-Israeli lobbies and influential groups, including with respect to the
above mentioned Ads case.19
Despite overwhelming condemnation, Pamela Geller continued the ad campaign with new banners
appearing in November 2012 quoting a verse
of the Quran out of its context accompanied
by an image of the 9/11 plane crashing into
the World Trade Center. Among those who
condemned the ads was the coalition of Jews
Vilkomerson, Director of JAI, found,
shocking the blatant Islamophobia in the ads
and strongly condemn this vicious hate speech
Another JAI Coalition member, Jon Moscow,
said: Gellers ads contribute to creating an even more hostile climate than already exists for the Muslim
community, many of whom are already living in fear of street harassment, bullying, and other forms of verbal
and physical violenceWe all have a responsibility to make sure this does not continue. We call on New Yorkers
to respond individually and collectively to repudiate this vicious attempt to divide our city and to strongly
condemn these ads.
See Islamophobia Watch Blogs entry Religious groups counter anti-Muslim ad campaign in DC, in:
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/10/11/religious-groups-counter-anti-muslim-adcampaign-in-dc.html, retrieved on 12.10.2012
See Islamophobia Watch Blogs entry CAIR unveils advertising campaign to counter Gellers savage ads, in:
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/10/13/cair-unveils-advertising-campaign-to-countergellers-savage.html, retrieved on 13.10.2012
Liza Burr, The Purposeful Creation of Islamophobia, in: http://readersupportednews.org/pm-section/125-125/17133-lizaburrg-the-purposeful-creation-of-islamophobia, retrieved on 28.04.2013
The anti-Muslim mindset of Pamela Geller and the likes notwithstanding, reports20 showed that
terrorism incidents involving American
Muslims were in decline for the last three
years. Only 14 people out of a population
of millions were indicted for their
involvement in violent terrorist plots in
2012. According to data tracked by the
Triangle Center on Terrorism and
Homeland Security in North Carolina
released on 1st February 2013, there were
nine terrorist plots involving American
Muslims in 2012. Only one of them, the
attempted bombing of a Social Security office in Arizona, actually led to any violence. And the
Triangle study tracks indictments, not convictions.
See Islamophobia Watch Blogs entry Report: U.S. Muslim terrorism was practically nil in 2012, in:
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/2/3/report-us-muslim-terrorism-was-practically-nil-in2012.html, retrieved on 04.02.2013
Find statements of The Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC), The Muslim American Society (MAS),
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), and The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) here: In:
http://www.onislam.net/english/shariah/special-coverage/462287-boston-islam-bombs-terrorism-isna-icna-masisbcc.html, retrieved on 18.04.2013
Cf. http://iqna.ir/en/news_detail.php?ProdID=1213787, retrieved on 18.04.2013
See Al Arabias entry Kill all Muslims: Fox News pundits sarcastic Boston bomb tweet, in:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/business/media/2013/04/16/-Kill-all-Muslims-says-Fox-News-pundit-in-sarcastic-Bostonbomb-tweet.html, retrieved on 17.04.2013
On 17 April 2013, Heba Abolaban of Malden was punched in the shoulder and screamed
curses by an angry-faced man who also shouted: (Expletive) you. (Expletive) you Muslims, You
are terrorists, you are the ones who made the Boston explosion.24
A Bangladeshi man was beaten hours after the Boston bombing by attackers who called him
a f**king Arab. The victim was punched in the head and body, resulting in a dislocated
shoulder. 25
A 10-year-old boy, identified as Yusef, said that when he arrived at his Ohio school after the
attack, he was asked questions by classmates regarding his family. During a class discussion
on the attacks, another student asked whether Yusef would blow up the school. The teacher,
who did not understand Yusufs reply, pulled him aside and held him back until his school
locker was checked.26
Christian Right leader Bryan Fischer, of the American Family Association, announced on his
radio show on 19 April 2013 a proposed change to US immigration policy, It is very brief:
Ask the question, Do you believe that the Quran is the holy book of God? If they say Yes, dont
allow them in. Regarding those who accept the Quran, Fischer added: We cant invite that
kind of cancer into our culture because Boston is what you get when you do that. 27
Appearing on Fox News talk show Hannity on the night of 22 April 2013, right-wing
columnist Ann Coulter said that she would like to see the alleged bombers widow in jail too,
not for committing a crime but for wearing a hijab.29
The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) said that
the American Muslim Association building in Oklahoma City was vandalized with
obscenities early on 27 April 2013. The FBI said the incident was being investigated as a
possible hate crime. 30
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center31, on 1-5 May 2013, among 1,504
adults, found sizable demographic and religious differences
in attitudes toward Islam and violence, while publics views
of Islam encouraging violence more than other religions
had changed little in the aftermath of the Boston
bombings. The survey shows that 42% said Islam was more
likely than other religions to encourage violence among its
believers, while 46% said that Islam did not encourage
violence more than other religions. The same survey
mentioned that these were similar to opinions about Islam
and violence for most of the past decade however, in
March 2002, six months after the 9/11 attacks, just 25%
said Islam was more likely to encourage violence while 51%
disagreed, and the partisan gap was as large as ever: 62% of Republicans said that Islam encouraged
violence more than other religions, compared with 39% of independents and just 29% of
Democrats. The survey also found that Muslim Americans were seen as facing more discrimination
than some other groups in society.
2.2. Islamophobia in Europe
Anti- Muslim sentiments and intolerance have continued to gain ground in Europe. This is
especially the case when it comes to the instrumentalization of Islamophobia for political means,
notably by far right political parties and politicians who threaten peaceful coexistence and cause
tensions between Muslims and other citizens. Indeed, the negative stereotyping of Muslims and the
deceptive association of Islam with the actions of a few extremists and terrorists has not only
supported anti-Muslim sentiments but has also provided the media with biased information and
hate rhetoric.
Negative views of Islam and Muslims in Europe have generally reached higher degrees. In April
2013, according to an online blog called Hate Speech Watch32, the following general trend was
highlighted regarding Islamophobia in Europe:
A new wave of anti-Muslim intolerance and antagonism is sweeping Europe. The far right political
gains seen in some parts of the continent are alarming. Anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and extreme
acklash.html, retrieved on 24.04.2013
See People Press entry After Boston, Little Change in Views of Islam and Violence, 45% say Muslim Americans Face
A Lot of Discrimination, in: http://www.people-press.org/2013/05/07/after-boston-little-change-in-views-of-islam-andviolence/1/, retrieved on 07.05.2013
See: A new wave of Islamophobia sweeping Europe, in: http://www.nohatespeechmovement.org/hate-speechwatch/focus/a-new-wave-of-islamophobia-sweeping-europe, retrieved on 08.05.2012
right parties seem to be cashing in on economic hardship and austerity measures. In a blinkered
world of us and them they have found in Europe's Muslim citizens the others.
The disadvantaged position of Muslim minorities, evidence of a rise in Islamophobia and concern
over processes of alienation and radicalization have triggered an intense debate in the European
Union regarding the need for re-examining community cohesion and integration policies.
The central question is how to avoid stereotypical generalizations, how to reduce fear and how to
strengthen cohesion in our diverse European societies while countering marginalization and
discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion or belief. European Muslims are a highly
diverse mix of ethnicities, religious affiliation, philosophical beliefs, political persuasion, secular
tendencies, languages and cultural traditions, constituting the second largest religious group of
Europes multi-faith society. In fact Muslim communities are no different from other communities
in their complexity.
The article Perceived islamophobia: Scale development and validation, can be consulted here:
See Islamophobia Watch Blogs entry German bigotry shifting from race to religion, in: http://www.islamophobiawatch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/1/8/german-bigotry-shifting-from-race-to-religion.html, retrieved on 08.01.2013
In the Netherlands a poll conducted35 by the research bureau of Maurice de Hond (the Dutch
equivalent of Gallup), commissioned by the PVV of anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders found that
more than three quarters of the Dutch believe that Islam is not an added value to the country. More
than two-thirds (68%) said that Islam had grown enough in the Netherlands. It was striking that a
majority of voters among a representative sample of over 1,900 people from all political parties (from
PVV to VVD, CDA, D66, PvdA, SP and 50plus) shared this view. Other striking results included:
In Germany a study entitled Fear of the East in the West36 showed that more than half of the
German population believed that Islam was prone to violence (64%); had a tendency toward revenge
and retaliation (60%); was obsessed with proselytizing others (56%); and strives for political
influence (56%), and more than 80% of Germans believed that Islam deprived women of their
rights, and 70% said Islam was associated with religious fanaticism and radicalism. By contrast, only
13% of Germans associated Islam with love for neighbors, 12% with charity and 7% with openness
and tolerance. The study, which corroborates the conclusions of other recent surveys, concludes that
the image of Islam in Germany was devastating.
Another study37 warned that Islamophobia in Germany was becoming culturally acceptable, as
bigotry left the confines of ethnicity and moved towards religious bias against Muslims. Wilhelm
Heitmeyer, head of the institute for research of interdisciplinary conflict and violence at Bielefeld
University told the Neue Osnabrcker Zeitung on 07 January 2013: Its no longer the Turks but the
Muslims. Research had led him to be concerned that general xenophobia had given way to a
growing rejection of Islam in Germany. Heitmeyer also found that Islamophobia does not only
concern far-right groups and parties, but is also present in more left-leaning and centrist circles. The
sentiment was identifiable throughout the country, from the highest echelons of society to the
lowest. Neo-Nazi expert from Dsseldorfs technical university Alexander Husler told the
newspaper that while discriminating against an entire ethnicity was a taboo, religion-based racism
was generally considered to be exercising freedom of opinion.
See Geert Wilders websites entry Reaction Geert Wilders to Islam poll: The Netherlands has had enough of Islam,
in: http://www.geertwilders.nl./index.php/in-english-mainmenu-98/in-the-press-mainmenu-101/77-in-the-press/1828reaction-geert-wilders-to-islam-poll-the-netherlands-has-had-enough-of-islam, retrieved on 03.06.2013
See: Soeren Kern, Germany: Islam Becomes Campaign Issue, in: http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/3666/germany-islamelections, retrieved on 12.04.2013
See Islamophobia Watch Blogs entry German bigotry shifting from race to religion, in: http://www.islamophobiawatch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/1/8/german-bigotry-shifting-from-race-to-religion.html, retrieved on 08.01.2013
In the United Kingdom, it was reported 38 that almost 500 anti-Muslim attacks took place since
March 2012, more than half of linked to supporters of far-right groups. Figures from the interfaith
conflict resolution organization Faith Matters showed that there were 496 self-reported Islamophobic
incidents across Britain from March to December 2012. Nearly two-thirds of these were against
women while in one out of ten cases the attack was directed against mosques. Fascism expert
Professor Nigel Copsey told The Independent [quoted by Press TV] that the electoral decline of the
British National Party (BNP) and the spreading of street-based protest organizations like the English
Defence League (EDL) had created a potentially dangerous political vacuum on the far-right. Copsey
added that the far-right groups managed to spread their Islamophobic ideas online, which radicalised
thousands of racists in the country to seek new and more violent ways to attack Islam.
In France, according to a report by the Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) ,39 French
Muslims are living an environment of increased Islamophobia, including insult, discrimination and
physical violence. Incendiary statements by politicians have also been on the rise over the past years.
The report highlighted the fact that racism against Muslims was increasing alarmingly in France. It
noted that over the course of 2012 there were 418-recorded cases of Islamophobic acts against
individuals while 40 Mosques have been targeted. It was also shown that women are the primary
victims of Islamophibia, with a staggering 85% of acts taking place against them. This manifestation
of Islamophobia vindicated the findings of Ipsos as it reported that 74% of the people polled by it
thought that Islam was an intolerant religion, incompatible with the values of French society. An
even more radical figure, 8 out of 10 French people thought that the Muslim religion sought to
impose its way of life on others.
Among grave Islamophobic incidents that took place in France are the following:
In October 2012, about 70 activists of Generation Identitaire (GI) occupied the site of the
unfinished Poitiers Grand Mosque. They unfurled a banner that read, 732 Generation
Identitaire, and asked for a referendum on halting Islam and immigration into France. The
action was not without precedent, nor was it without warning.40
From February to March 2013, pork-filled Envelopes were sent to a number of mosques.41
Among the mosques documented to have received pork packages are Meximieux mosque, in
Ain; Mulhouse, As-Salam and Al-Nour mosques; Brest mosque, the mosque of Mandelieu-laNapoule, near Nice; a mosque located 130 boulevard de la Madeleine in Nice and mosque of
the Fraternity, in Aubervilliers, in Paris.
See Press TVs entry UK far-right Islamophobia raises alarm, in: http://presstv.com/detail/2012/12/29/280672/ukfarright-islamophobia-raises-alarm/, retrieved on 30.12.2012
See Collectif Contre lIslamophobie en France (CCIF), Annual Report 2013, Available online at :
See SBS entry Occupy le mosque: Frances new far-right nativism,
in: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1708467/Occupy-le-mosque-Frances-new-far-right-nativism, retrieved on
See Islamophobia Watch Blogs entry Pork-filled Envelopes Sent to mosques, in:
http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/03/20/pork-filled-envelopes-sent-to-mosques/, retrieved on 21.03.2013
Similarly, twenty five physical assaults, including 23 on women, 66 verbal assaults and
insults, including 58 on women and children, and 10 threats at residential houses, one of
which was covered with Celtic crosses and hostile messages were reported. It was also
reported that a family discovered a dead boar's head in the stroller of their child.42
See Collectif Contre LIslamophobie en France (CICF), Annual Report 2013, op. cite., p. 20
See The Locals entry Muslim discrimination too common in Sweden,
in: http://www.thelocal.se/46618/20130308/#.UTriwDdvBMg, retrieved on 09.03.2013
See Herald Scotlands entry Hate crime in Scotland: rise in anti-Islam, disabled, gender offences, in:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/hate-crime-in-scotland-rise-in-anti-islam-disabled-genderoffences.1371208850, retrieved on 15.06.2013
See the OIC statement here: http://www.oic-oci.org/oicv2/topic/?t_id=8092&ref=3271&lan=en&x_key=Woolwich
See Wikipedias entry Death of Lee Rigby, in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Lee_Rigby, retrieved on
On 9 June [2013] it was reported that government funding for Tell Mama would not be renewed,
due to concern over the reliability of data reported by the organisation, although the decision predated Rigbys death.
Incidents ranged from verbal abuse to physical assaults in which womens headscarves were pulled
off. Graffiti was scrawled over mosques and Muslim-owned businesses. Hope not Hate said online
activity suggested some of the attacks on Muslims were coordinated. At least seven people have
been arrested for a range of social media-related issues.
On 23 May [2013], two mosques were attacked. In Braintree, Essex a man entered a mosque with
two knives, threatened the congregation, and threw an explosive device. Witnesses say the explosive
device was a grenade or gas canister. In Gillingham, Kent, a man ran into a mosque and smashed
windows and bookcases, specifically targeting those containing copies of the Quran. Two men were
arrested in connection with the attacks. On 26 May [2013], several petrol bombs were thrown into
a mosque in Grimsby. No one was injured and the fires were rapidly extinguished. Two former
soldiers were arrested in connection with the attack.
On 5 June [2013], the Al-Rahma Islamic Centre in Muswell Hill, which was used by children after
school, was destroyed by a fire. The building had been sprayed with graffiti making reference to the
English Defence League. The fire investigation is being conducted by Scotland Yards counterterrorism command, because of a possible link to domestic extremism. On 8 June [2013], a fire at
Darul Uloom School, an Islamic boarding school in southeast London, forced the evacuation of
128 students and teachers. Police said they feared the incident may have been a revenge attack.
On 10 June [2013], a senior Metropolitan Police officer confirmed there had been an eight-fold
increase in the number of Islamophobic incidents since Rigbys death, and the real figure could be
higher due to widespread under-reporting.
The backlash reached the US where Fox News assumed its usual role in demonizing Islam.47Fox &
Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade claimed the London attacker was inspired by the Quran, saying: So
they looked at the Quran and said grab a meat cleaver and hack somebody up. Fantastic. [Fox News, Fox &
Friends, 23/5/13]. In the same vein, Fox News contributor Allen West tweeted Religion of peace:
Somali Islamists behead UK soldier on London street. See what appeasement gets you? Horrific, and Fox News
Radio reporter Todd Starnes tweeted, Islamic fanatics butcher British soldier Just remember folks its a
peaceful religion
See Mediamatters entry Fox News Responds to London Attack with Islamophobia, In:
http://mediamatters.org/research/2013/05/23/fox-news-responds-to-london-attack-with-islamop/194195, retrieved on
Many highlighted the increase in anti-Muslim incidents after this incident. For example, the chart
taken from The
Guardian, identifies
attacks across the
aftermath of the
Furthermore, in a
report published
by Mail Online49 it was noted: research by the Independent newspaper found almost a tenfold increase in
attacks against mosques in the days after Drummer Rigbys death, with mosques being set alight and Muslims
targeted at home. There were nearly nine attacks per day in the immediate aftermath of the killing, settling back
to around two per day over in the following weeks. The reports author, Professor Nigel Copsey of
Teessid University said, what is significant for our analysis is the extent to which the far right is implicated
in anti- Muslim hate crime. It was added, there has undoubtedly been a spike in anti-Muslim incidents since
the Woolwich murder. An obvious concern now is whether the number of hate crime incidents return to normal
levels or whether Woolwich has been a game-changer in terms of increasing the underlying incidence of antiMuslim hate over the longer term.
2.3. Islamophobia in the Media
The OIC Observatory found out that some quarters of Western media continue to fuel
Islamophobia through associating Islam and Muslims to terrorism and oppression. For example, the
veil worn by Muslim women is often depicted as a sign of their oppression and inferiority in Islam. It
is omitted that the veil, just as wearing any other religious symbol, forms integral part of ones
individual right to freedom of faith and religion. In the US, Fox News has been spearheading the
anti- Muslim campaign including by regularly hosting personalities known for their open hostility to
Islam such as Pamela Geller, Robert Spencer, Frank Gafney and the likes.
In this regard, North Carolina Professor Christopher A. Bail presented a study 50 that used antiplagiarism software to examine the coverage of Muslims in the mainstream American press. The
study, which was based on material collected during the 7 years following the 9/11 attacks, surveyed
more than 1,084 press releases about Muslims produced by 120 civil society organizations to 50,407
newspaper articles and television transcripts. Bails main conclusion is Americans are exposed to anti48
Muslim messages in the media and elsewhere. The danger, I believe, is that many Americans have not been
exposed to the positive messages of moderate Muslim organizations because they receive so little media coverage.
Perhaps because of this distorted representation, we have seen a recent increase in anti-Muslim attitudes within
the United States even though anti-Muslim attitudes briefly decreased after the September 11 attacks.
Furthermore, on 12 March 2013, Nat Sowinski, an American School of Arts and Sciences senior
majoring in Middle Eastern studies and minoring in philosophy, published an article titled, New
media enables rampant Islamophobia in the Daily Targum51. The following excerpts from the article are
On the Internet, we discover that often, speculation and opinion are touted as fact. Nowhere is this
more apparent than in U.S. scholarships, literature and formal and informal news media
surrounding Islamic radicalism, Islamism and the notion of jihad. The post-Sept. 11 world has
seen the emergence of a widespread strain of xenophobia and racist fear, particularly targeted
toward Muslims, Arabs and Arab-Americans.
There has been growing sense of trepidation among many Web authors regarding a possible
Islamization of America. The Internet provides Islamophobic pundits favorable conditions for
their message and agenda to disseminate and gain readership.
Possibly the most dangerous facet of this rise of Web anti-scholarship is its manifestation of antiIslamic messages, which carry with them strong suggestions for directing American foreign policyI
believe this spurious pseudoculture of demonizing Muslims [has] contributed deeply to racist
sentiment against Muslims in the United States and [has] brought about concrete consequences.
The New York Police Departments recent spying of our very own MSA is, I think, a testament to
Id rebut that Geller and Horowitz are not unique. They are simply members of a larger national
effort to justify hateful attitudes toward Muslims in the United States and to justify intervention
abroad. It is crucial that we raise our voices and speak out against this kind of racist, anti-Muslim
hatred in the United States and on campus at the University.
In the same vein, a report52 by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and
expression found that journalists and media organizations have a responsibility to avoid promoting
rhetoric of hate by acting as a platform for its widespread dissemination, as was the case in 2010
when the U.S. pastor that threatened to burn copies of the Quran became infamous. In the
example of Pastor Jones, the report noted, media played a negative role in unnecessarily drawing attention
to the story. () Had greater care been taken in reporting on the incident, some of the violence that ensued might
have been averted () If the media are to fulfill their primarily role of informing society, which is a crucial
prerequisite in combating hate speech, a principled return to ethical journalism is urgently required.
On 11 October 2012, Quran-burning U.S. pastor, Terry Jones, was barred from entering
Canada where he intended to attend a debate with an Imam, a Sikh leader and a Muslim in
On 13 May 2012, the Toronto Board of Rabbis denounced Pamela Geller. The Board, which
included President Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl, Vice-President Rabbi Debra Landsberg,
Secretary Rabbi Martin Lockshin, Treasurer Rabbi David Seed, Executive Director Rabbi
Michal Sheke, issued the following statement55:
The Toronto Board of Rabbis (TBR) expresses its profound disappointment that a local
Jewish organization has extended an invitation to Pamela Geller, a blogger who is known
for her extreme criticism of Muslims in language that is intended to shock and ridicule.
The TBR is a strong supporter of freedom of speech for all, including Ms. Geller. Ms.
Gellers voice and message are already well known here in Canada and beyond. There was
no sense in inviting her here to Toronto to speak before a Jewish audience. Sadly the only
sure result of this event will be increasing tensions within the Jewish community and
between Jews and Muslims in Toronto.
The TBR, which represents rabbis from all denominations of Judaism, wishes to make
clear to all that it finds the invitation distasteful, just as it finds Ms. Gellers views
distasteful. We dissociate ourselves from the actions of the radical fringe Jewish group that
extended the invitation. We call for more events here in Toronto that will build up
friendship and understanding between local Jews and Muslims.
See Koran-burning U.S. pastor barred from entering Canada for debate, Available at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/12/us-jones-blocked-idUSBRE89A1MA20121012, retrieved on 13.10.2012
See Australian broadcaster ordered to read on-air apology to Muslims, Available at: http://www.islamophobiawatch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/12/13/australian-broadcaster-ordered-to-read-on-air-apology-to-mus.html,
retrieved on 14.12.2012
See Toronto Board of Rabbis Denounce Pamela Geller, Available at:
http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/05/14/toronto-board-of-rabbis-denounce-pamela-geller/, retrieved on
On 14 December 2013, Karen Sawyer, a legislative staffer, resigned after an ethics panel
recommended that she be fired after it found she used state resources to help an anti-Islamic
group. Sawyer had allowed David Heckert with Stop Islamization of America, to use the
Wasilla legislative information office and equipment for work related to his organization.
The panel also recommended that she be banned from governmental work in the future. 56
On 16 April 2013, Randolph Linn, 52 years old, pleading guilty to hate crime charges,
received a harsh sentence of 20 years in prison for having set fire to a prayer rug in an Ohio
mosque on 30 September 2012. The US Attorney for the northern district of Ohio,
explained: Hate crimes like this seek to damage more than buildings, they take aim at our American
way of lifeBut todays 20-year prison sentence and the coming together of this community to support
our Muslim neighbors show that our freedoms are stronger and more resilient than this mans hatred. 57
On 26 June 2013, Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller, who founded the organization Stop
the Islamization of America, were banned from entering the UK following reports they were
planning to attend an English Defense League march on 29 June 2013 to mark Armed
Forces Day in London neighborhood where soldier Lee Rigby was killed in May 2013. The
authorities position was that Spencer and Geller would not be allowed to enter on the
grounds that their presence is not conducive to the public good.58
On 2nd of July 2013, the European Parliament voted to waive immunity from prosecution
for far-right French MEP Marine Le Pen. This renders her liable to be prosecuted under
French law for inciting racial hatred for remarks she made in a 2010 comparing Islamic
immigration in France to Nazi occupation. The European Parliaments Judicial Affairs
Committee confirmed this decision on 19 June 2013, hence backing the recommendation to
remove her immunity.59
On 30 November 2012, the region of Bremen in northern Germany, after Hamburg, was the
second of the countrys 16 states to recognize Muslim holidays. This allows Muslims to take
days off, although unpaid, during their religious celebrations.60
In the Netherlands, Arnoud van Doorn, a former member of the anti-Islamist Dutch
politician Geert Wilders party and personal friend of his, declared his conversion to Islam.
He said that he had made a fresh start by announcing his decision to the world and taking
his Shahadah [Testimony of Faith] on his Twitter.61
It is worth mentioning that positive steps and actions were also taken by various international
organizations on the issue of Islamophobia. For example, the UNESCO has focused on fighting
against Islamophobia in Schools. Along with the OSCE and the Council of Europe, it has worked
on laying down Guidelines for Educators on Countering Intolerance and Discrimination against
Muslims. The basic principle is, mutual understanding and respect for diversity, along with countering all
forms of intolerance and discrimination, must today, more than ever, be absolute priorities for international
community, in order to maintain peace and stability at both the global and regional levels.62
It is also worth mentioning that in the UK, labour MP Keith Vaz tabled an Early Day Motion on
Recording Islamophobia as a crime. The Early Day Motion, which represents a formal motion
submitted for debate in the House of Commons, was jointly sponsored by fellow Labour MP John
McDonnell and Conservative MP Peter Bottomley. It stated the following: this House notes the
recognition of anti-Muslim sentiment and hate crime in the Department for Communities and Local
Government's document Creating the Conditions for Integration; further notes that the document acknowledges
the limited collection of data on anti-Muslim hate crime; recognizes that currently only the Metropolitan Police
Service specifically records this hate crime under the definition Islamophobia as a specific crime flag, similar to
anti-Semitism, racism and others, whereas the recording of this crime outside of London is under different
recording flags in different constabularies; and believes that all police constabularies should record this hate
crime under the same flag, which will bring national uniformity in the recording of this crime and enable
authorities to gather data that will aid in tackling this issue.63
During the Period under review, the OIC continued to take steps, organize activities and engage
with the international community in a positive and constructive manner with a view to finding
satisfactory and common solutions to fight against the growing trend of religious intolerance,
especially towards Muslims, worldwide. OICs main activities during the period include the
4.1: Brainstorming Session at the 39th CFM
On 16 November 2012, during the 39th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), in
Djibouti, a Ministerial Brainstorming/Thematic Session was convened on OIC Approach for
Combating Discrimination and Intolerance against Muslims. The session aimed at obtaining the
views and recommendations of the Ministers on how best can OIC counter Islamophobia notably
after the release of an obnoxious film titled Innocence of Muslims. In his intervention, the OIC
Secretary General, Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu referred to the importance of the OIC sponsored UN
Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18, which marked as a triumph of multilateralism and stated
that there was a need to draw a roadmap indicating measured steps towards evolving legally
entrenched and politically sustainable parameters of a unified OIC approach for combating
intolerance and discrimination against Muslims.
The ministers took note of the concept paper entitled, An OIC Approach for Combating
Discrimination and Intolerance against Muslims, presented by the OIC General Secretariat to the
Brainstorming Session. The ministers agreed on the suggestion therein to initiate a stepwise process,
starting by convening a panel of eminent persons including legal experts and human rights
practitioners to offers its expert view on the matter to the 12th Islamic Summit.
Finally, the Session adopted Resolution No 41/39-P on an OIC Approach for Combating
Discrimination and Intolerance against Muslims, annexed to the present Report, which inter-alia
condemned incitement to hatred against Muslims, including the release of the film Innocence of
Muslims on YouTube.
4.2. Panel of Eminent Persons for combating discrimination against Muslims
On 7-8 January 2013 at IRCICA premises in Istanbul, the Secretary General, in implementation of
Resolution 41/39-POL, constituted and convened a panel of Eminent Persons, including legal
experts and human rights practitioners, to lend the Member States the benefit of expert advice
entrenched in international law by elaborating and examining the whole range of available options
for a unified OIC position for combating discrimination and intolerance against Muslim.
The Core Panel which consisted of Mr. Cherif Bassiouni, Emeritus Professor of Law at DePaul
University College of Law; Mr. Ahmar Bilal Soofi, Member of the UN Advisory Committee on
Human Rights and Former Law and Justice Minister of Pakistan; Mr. Doudou Dine, Former UN
Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance; OIC Group coordinators for human rights issues in New York, Ambassador
Ambassador Mootaz Ahmadein Khalil. OIC Permanent Observer in Geneva, Ambassador Slimane
Chikh, Mr. Wael Attiya, Commissioner from the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights
Commission (IPHRC) and Ambassador Omur Orhun, Secretary Generals Special Envoy on
Islamophobia, insisted on a number of important elements and aspects related to combating
discrimination and intolerance against Muslims. Among these is the need for the international
community, as a whole, to adopt a unified stance in order to isolate extremist acts and discourse
from both the Muslim and Western sides. It was also reminded that in order to combat the growing
trend of Islamophobia, the international community needs not only to concentrate on the political
and legal fronts, but also promote and raise awareness as to the ethical and cultural dimension
inherent to the issue. Efforts should also be made to promote tolerance and diversity at the level of
education, media and other areas that influence public opinion.
The Panel came up with a number of conclusions and recommendations. It expressed support for
the approach signified in UN HRC Resolution 16/18, which represents the least common
denominator affording the opportunity of discussion on the real issues. The Panel encouraged
relevant stakeholders to continue addressing the interpretation, implementation and enforcement
gaps within the framework of the Istanbul Process. The panel recommended that OIC should
continue to collect data and information on Islamophobic incidents, and reinforce its cooperation
with international intergovernmental organizations as well as civil society organizations in that
4.3. Istanbul Process Follow-up
The OIC hosted the 3rd meeting of international experts on the implementation of UN Human
Rights Council Resolution 16/18 on combating intolerance and incitement to hatred on religious
grounds. The three day meeting was held in Geneva from on 19-21 June 2013 within the framework
of the Istanbul Process launched by the OIC Secretary General and former US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton in July 2011. The Meeting was attended by delegations from over 60 Countries,
International organizations, NGOs and other interested guests. Its setting consisted of a panel of 9
experts offering their views and recommendations on each of the points under consideration. This
enabled open and frank discussions to take place among participants aimed at sharing views and best
practices as well as ideas on how best to combat religious intolerance and continue building on the
consensus reflected in HRC Res. 16/18. The Secretary General of the OIC addressed the meeting
and his statement is annexed to this report
Two expert events in the framework of the Istanbul Process were held earlier in Washington D.C.,
in December 2011 and in the Wilton Park event in London in December 2012. Discussions at the
third expert meeting focused on implementation of points 5, 6 and 8 of Resolution 16/18, namely,
Speaking out against intolerance, including advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement
to discrimination, hostility or violence; Adopting measures to criminalize incitement to imminent
violence based on religion or belief; and Recognizing that the open, constructive and respectful
debate of ideas, as well as interfaith and intercultural dialogue at the local, national and
international levels, can play a positive role in combating religious hatred, incitement and violence.
The Meeting agreed on a number of key points to combat Islamophobia and other cases of religious
intolerance. It was recognized that action needs to be taken to criminalize incitement to violence;
however, most western states insisted that only cases of imminent violence should be criminalized.
For its part, the OIC emphasized the fact that criminalization should extend to acts or speech that
denote manifest intolerance and hate so as to ensure the preservation of an environment conducive
to mutual understanding, cohabitation and respect in line with the principles of the UN Charter.
The Meeting also insisted on the need for dialogue to reach all levels of society and to be grounded
in collaborative projects aimed at solving common problems. The importance for governments to
enter into direct dialogue with national religious communities and help solve their problems was
also underscored.
4.4. Istanbul International Conference on Islamophobia
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in partnership with the Republic of Turkey
organized an International Conference on Islamophobia: Law and Media, held on 1213 September 2013
in Istanbul. The conference aimed at sheding light on Islamophobia as one of the main issues which
the OIC monitored and sought solutions to. The conference, in five main sessions, discussed a
number of topics such as the relationship between Islamophobia on one hand and democracy and
multiculturalism on the other, the role and responsibility of the media, human rights, and mediagovernment cooperation to counter this phenomenon. The conference brought together a
constellation of scholars, thinkers and researchers from the Muslim world and the West.
The OIC Secretary General, Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, delivered a speech focusing on the OICs
international efforts and contributions, especially at the legal and media level, to address this
phenomenon. He, inter alia, noted that since he took office in 2005, relentless efforts continued to
be exerted by the OIC to contain and combat Islamophobia, which was being fueled mainly by
radical and extremist elements whose aim is to distort the image of Islam and Muslims. He stated
that the efforts of the OIC only were not enough to combat Islamophobia. Concerted efforts and
proactive stance on the part of the Member States on combating Islamophobia were also imperative.
Ihsanoglu also noted that, besides the numerous initiatives and conferences organized by the OIC,
the efforts of the Organization and its continued engagements with various international and
regional organizations, governments of non-OIC members particularly Western countries, human
rights institutions, interfaith and faith based organizations and civil society had paid well in terms of
raising awareness in the West. Ihsanoglu also shed light on the OIC media strategy in combating
Islamophobia and on the role of media. The Secretary General also noted that the OIC had
successfully managed to put Islamophobia on the agenda of international relations, and hoped that
beginning with this First International Conference, convening of this Conference would be
institutionalized and be held periodically.
It is worth to mention that the Conference endorsed the formation of an Advisory Media
Committee to meet under the umbrella of the newly established OIC Media Forum to be
headquartered in Istanbul. The Committee would be tasked, among other things, to examine further
the recommendations of the Conference on how to better deal with the issue of Islamophobia from
various viewpoints including media and legal perspectives.
This Conference came in support of the OIC efforts to launch a Campaign to correct the image of
Islam and Muslims in Europe and North America, which had been approved by the 9th Session of
the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers, 39th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers
and the 12th OIC Islamic Summit Conference.
Take all necessary measures within their power and legal/jurisdictional systems to ensure a
safe environment free from Islamophobic harassment, violence and discrimination in all
walks of life;
Include in their integration policies programmes and activities addressing Islamophobia and
its roots causes;
Collect and maintain reliable information and statistics about Islamophobic hate crimes
committed within their territory/area of responsibility and make such reports publicly
Combat Islamophobic hate crimes, which can be fuelled by Islamophobic hate speech in the
media and on the Internet;
Take all necessary measures to ensure that the Media assumes its responsibility to portray
positive initiatives at all levels of society and refrains from associating extremism and
terrorism to Islam, and Muslims.
Take all necessary measures in order to prevent racial/religious profiling and other forms of
institutionalized Islamophobia;
Conduct public awareness campaigns and specific programmes for governmental officials
and also for citizens in order to combat Islamophobia;
Encourage and support the Independant Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC)
in playing an active role in the combat against Islamophobia and discrimination against
Encourage political and religious leaders to take the lead in speaking out against acts of
religious intolerance and discrimination against Muslims.
Raise awareness as to the need to share and disseminate good practices at all levels.
The Observatory further supports the recommendations laid out in the European Network Against
Racism (ENAR) Shadow Report on racism in Europe, which included a special focus on Muslim
States should take a range of positive steps to enable immigrants and citizens of immigrant
descent, including Muslim communities, to integrate into society through nondiscriminatory access to employment, education, vocational training, housing and public
services. The engagement and active participation of immigrants and people with an
immigrant background in society also need encouragement and support from the whole of
society, which must do more to accommodate diversity and remove barriers to integration.
act resolutely against hate speech and all other forms of behaviour which run counter to core
human rights and democratic values, even when their authors seek to justify them on
religious grounds;
combat all forms of cultural or religious relativism which justify discriminatory practices and
human rights violations, particularly those directed at women or other groups in society;
ensure the strictest compliance with human rights and the rule of law in the enforcement of
anti-terrorist measures;
EU institutions should undertake consultation with experts and civil society on religion and
belief discrimination in employment and develop guidelines on reasonable
accommodation of religious and cultural diversity in the workplace.
EU Member State governments should take a courageous approach to tackling hate speech
and racist rhetoric in the public discourse and adopt a zero tolerance policy to stigmatizing
comments and terminology likely to incite violence, racism or other forms of discrimination
EU Member State governments and employers should ensure that any restriction on the
wearing of religious and cultural symbols and dress at work is limited to very narrow
circumstances, pursues a legitimate goal and represents a proportionate requirement, in
accordance with international human rights standards including European Court of Human
Rights case-law.
In conclusion the Observatory would like to submit that the challenge for the OIC and Muslims is
to work out a common strategy that would effectively expose the abhorrent scheme of the
proponents of Islamophobia and its perilous implications on all peace loving people of the world.
This strategy would also have to confront Islamophobia by raising awareness, in the West, as to the
core principles of peace, moderation, tolerance, benevolence that are engrained in Islam. A robust
media campaign to remove the misgiving in the western mindset of the utterly ridiculous and
erroneous propaganda of Islam and Muslims being sponsors or patrons of terrorism and violence
is a priority need and Member States must come up with the required recourses to support the
General Secretariat to achieve this.
The aims and goals of the strategy would have to be based on engagement and dialogue involving all
stakeholders in the west to establish the reality that the activities of anti-Islam elements serve no
purpose other than to stymie inter-communal harmony and peaceful coexistence among people of
diverse faiths and belief. It is time for the OIC to conduct a credible research on the individuals and
on their agenda of intolerance of Islam and Muslims and disseminate the findings through all
available means, in particular the social media.
The OIC and the Member States should not be complacent in underscoring the fact that our
present day world is gradually being driven towards the dangerous precipices of growing intolerance
of religious and cultural diversity. This is the clear and present danger that the OIC has been
consistent in warning the international community against. The sooner the phenomenon of
Islamophobia is addressed, the better it is for ensuring peaceful coexistence of the present as well for
the future generations to come.
A: Some Islamophobic Incidents
I. Incidents Related to Mosques:
1. Bulgaria: far-right party demands moratorium on new mosques Bulgarian xenophobic party
Ataka (Attack) wanted the Parliament to pass a moratorium on the construction of mosques in the
country. In a statement sent to the media, the marginal ultra-nationalist formation had reminded
that Bulgaria had the highest number of mosques per capita in Europe. The party further claimed
that the ruling centrist-right GERB would side with Islamism and terrorism if it did not endorse
the moratorium on mosques.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/10/1/bulgarian-far-right-party-demands-moratorium-on-new-mosques.html,
retrieved on 02.10.2012
2. Canada: Defeat jihad posters, gas bottle left at P.E.I. mosque The small Muslim community
in Prince Edward Island, Canada (P.E.I.), was on edge after a bottle of gas and posters that read
Defeat jihad were found on the doorstep of a mosque in Charlottetown - the latest in a string of
vague threats. Members of the Masjid Dar as-Salam Mosque discovered the posters and gas on the
morning of 27 September 2012, and called police. In 2011, while the building was under
construction, a pig head was found nailed to a post on the site, and later in the summer, a
contractors truck parked at the mosque was torched.
3. Russia: Nationalists say No need for new mosques A Russian nationalist organization
criticized a proposal to construct more mosques in Russia to accommodate an influx of
immigrants arriving from Muslim countries in search of employment. Aleksander Belov, chairman
of the Russkiye national movement, told reporters on 16 October 2012: This approach is not totally
correctIt is necessary to decide once and for all whether Russia will turn into an Islamic state or it will
remain a secular state, where foreign immigrants arrive, find jobs and leave after their work is finishedIf
immigrantswant to build a mosque in my yard, this approach is certainly wrong.
In: http://rt.com/politics/russia-mosques-muslim-nationalists-moscow-538/, retrieved on 17.10.2012, emphasis added.
4. France: Far right protesters storm mosque Dozens of far right extremists stormed atop an
unfinished mosque in western France on 20 October 2012 to show their hostility toward it and
denounced immigration that had brought millions of Muslims into the country.
In: http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019478154_apeufrancemosqueprotest.html, retrieved on 21.10.2012
5. US: Arrest made in arson fire at Ohio mosque Authorities confirmed an arrest in a fire
inside a landmark mosque in Ohio that investigators said was intentionally set. The blaze broke
out on 30 September 2012 at the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo and caused both smoke and
water damage on the 2nd floor of the mosque. The Blade reported on 02 October 2012 that an
arrest was made near Fort Wayne, Ind. Shane Cartmill, investigators believed the suspect was the
same person captured by a surveillance camera outside the center. The affidavit stated that Randy
Linn torched mosque in retaliation for U.S. embassy attack, deaths of U.S. military personnel in
the Middle East, he was charged with a felony hate crime for damaging religious property, and he
had been transferred to federal custody in Ohio and was being held on $400,000 bond.
In: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Investigators-say-fire-at-Ohio-mosque-was-arson-3910249.php, retrieved on 03.10.2012 &
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/man-charged-ohio-mosque-blaze-article-1.1176966, retrieved on 08.10.2012
6. UK: Pigs head found outside Newbury Mosque Police launched a hate crime investigation
on 23 October 2012 after the discovery of a pigs head outside the Newbury Mosque. Officers were
called to the mosque in Pound Street at around 9.30am and cordoned off the area while they
spent the morning examining the scene.
retrieved on 24.10.2012
7. UK: Fourth far-right protest at Sunderland mosque site A fourth protest at the site of a new
mosque in Sunderland ended with no violence and
with only two arrests. Around 40 officers policed the
demonstration on St Marks Road in Millfield.
Between 50 and 60 protesters gathered and one man
was arrested for breach of the peace and another for
racial chanting. Police said that organizers from
newly-formed far-right group the Northern Patriotic
Front assured them there would be no trouble.
The group was founded in August 2012 and made
up most of the right-wing presence at the latest
demonstration. A counter-protest was also held by anti-fascist groups and members of the Muslim
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/11/17/fourth-far-right-protest-at-sunderland-mosque-site.html
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/11/14/fascists-to-hold-another-protest-against-sunderlandmosque.html, retrieved on 18.11.2012
8. US: Man stabbed outside mosque, attacker screamed anti-Muslim rant, say cops NYPD said
that a Queens man was stabbed repeatedly outside a mosque by a would-be killer who shouted
anti-Muslim comments. The victim, identified by friends as Bashar Mohammod, 57, was attacked
from behind while opening the Masjid Al-Saaliheen mosque for prayer around 4:45 a.m. The
attacker, described as a Hispanic man in his 40s, stabbed Mohammod repeatedly while shouting
anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim slurs. A friend, Mohammad Omar, who visited Mohammod at
Queens General Hospital where he was treated and released said: The person told him that he
doesnt like MuslimsThat person was trying to kill him.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/11/19/new-york-man-stabbed-outside-mosque-attacker-screamed-anti-m.html,
retrieved on 19.11.2012
9. Italy: Pigs head found in Islamic prayer centre in Milan A pigs head was found on 24
November 2012 at the PalaSharp Arena in Milan where the local Islamic community held weekly
prayers. Local authorities had vigorously condemned the incident. Vice-Mayor Maria Grazia Guida
called it intolerable, adding: It is light years away from this city of dialogue, of tolerance we are
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/11/24/pigs-head-found-in-islamic-prayer-centre-in-milan.html, retrieved on
10. Australia: Daniel Nalliah fights Melbourne mosque plan on the grounds that Islam
doesnt value freedom of religion Australian AntiIslam crusader Daniel Nalliah and his evangelical
Christian church were set to fight a plan to build a
mosque in the same street. He learnt of a planning
application by an Afghan community group to build the
Omar Farooq Mosque next door. The church, along
with more than 100 petitioners including adjoining
residents, was to formally object to Casey Council over the mosque proposal. Mr Nalliah said:
We dont approve of Islam as a religionIt is a religion that doesnt value freedom of religion.
Having those same teachings right under our noses is counter-productive to our church. He
said that homes vacated by fed-up neighbours would be bought up by Muslims, creating a sharia
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/11/26/daniel-nalliah-fights-melbourne-mosque-plan-on-thegrounds-t.html, retrieved on 27.11.2012, emphasis added.
11. France: Another mosque desecrated with racist and fascist graffiti On the morning of 24
November 2012, Muslim worshippers at Villefontaine in
northern Isre discovered racist graffiti on the walls of their
mosque when they arrived for their morning prayer.
The clearly Islamic slogans Islam out of Europe and This is
our home had been written in black spray paint.
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobiawatch/2012/11/26/another-french-mosque-desecrated-with-racist-and-fascist-gra.html, retrieved on 27.11.2012
12. Botswana: Christians and Muslims condemn Mosque graffiti Botswana Christian and
Muslim groups expressed complete disapproval of an incident in which the walls of Gaborone
Main Mosque were defaced. It was reported that the spray paintings praised Jesus Christ and urged
Muslims to convert to the Christian faith. The incident raised fears that it could create intolerance
between the two religious groups.
http://www.gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15688:christians-and-muslims-condemn-mosquegraffiti&catid=18:headlines&Itemid=2, retrieved on 28.11.2012
13. UK: Boy held after ham thrown at Crawley mosque A 16-year-old boy was arrested by
police investigating a hate crime after pieces of ham were thrown at a mosque on 20 November
2012. The teenager was held on suspicion of a religiously aggravated public order offence by
officers called to Broadfield Mosque in Crawley, West Sussex.
In: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/boy-held-after-ham-thrown-at-crawley-mosque-8360239.html, retrieved on
14. US: Man Arrested for Terroristic Threat on Mosque San Antonio police said they were
able to stop a man determined to harm a religious group. According to an affidavit, 44 year-old
Christopher Bane made a statement threatening a mosque located near the Medical Center.
Detectives said a witness reported the threat on 6 November 2012 and said Bane told them he had
intentions of going to a mosque that was in the Medical Center area, and he was going to shoot as
many people as possible, and then kill himself. According to the warrant, the suspect also told the
witness he had a .45 caliber handgun and ammunition. Police were able to locate the suspect and
arrest him late on 27 November 2012.
In: http://www.foxsanantonio.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/vid_12985.shtml, retrieved on 30.11.2012
15. France: Swastika painted on Muslim prayer hall in Nice - Early on the morning of 29
November 2012, a swastika was found on the front of the Muslim prayer hall in the Rue de Suisse in
the centre of Nice.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2012/11/30/swastika-painted-on-muslim-prayer-hall-in-nice/, retrieved on 01.12.2012
16. US: Dead pig dumped at mosque On the night of 04 December 2012, several Muslims who
came to pray at the Islamic Outreach Center near Cypress, Texas found a dead pig on the outside
deck next to the entrance of the center.
In: http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/350887/28/Muslim-prayer-service-interrupted-by-gruesome-discovery-, retrieved on 08.12.2012
17. UK: Man charged after pig head found at Newbury mosque A man had been charged with
racially aggravated harassment after a pigs head was found outside a mosque in Berkshire. Thames
Valley Police said that the animals head was discovered outside the mosque on Pound Street in
Newbury on 23 October 2012.
In: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20694254, retrieved on 13.12.2012
18. US: Police: Man threatens to shoot worshippers in Fremont mosque After a man entered a
Fremont (San Francisco) mosque on 12 December 2012 and shouted that he was armed and was
going to shoot worshippers there, an American Muslim group was calling for police to thoroughly
investigate the incident and for houses of worship nationwide to tighten security measures.
In: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_22193636/police-man-threatens-shoot-worshipers-fremont-mosque, retrieved on 15.12.2012
19. France: Swastika graffiti on a mosque The Collectif contre l'Islamophobie en France reported
that on 11 December 2012 six swastikas were found on the walls of the mosque in the Penhars
neighbourhood of Quimper, in the Finistre department of Brittany in north-west France. The
CCIF pointed out that this was not the first time that the mosque had suffered such acts of
vandalism. In September 2006 similar graffiti were found, and the mosque was the victim of an
attempted arson attack.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/12/16/swastika-graffiti-on-french-mosque.html, retrieved on 18.12.2012
20. US: Woman Arrested for Bringing Sword to Orlando Mosque: Authorities A 47-year-old
woman, Dominique Vianneyte Eloi, was under arrest after she entered the campus of a mosque
and school in Orlando carrying a 2-foot-long sword. On 17 December 2012, she was charged with
possession of a weapon on school grounds, disrupting a school function and aggravated assault
with a weapon. No one was injured.
In: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/weird/Woman-Arrested-for-Bringing-Sword-to-Orlando-Mosque-Authorities-184199961.html, retrieved on
21. Spain: Threatening graffiti on Mallorca mosque The Balearic Islands daily ltima Hora
reported that a mosque in the
Mallorca town of Sa Pobla had
been sprayed with graffiti featuring
a picture of an explosive device
accompanied by the word bomb.
The entrance to the building had
also been marked with an X on the ground.
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/12/19/threatening-graffiti-on-mallorcamosque.html, retrieved on 22.12.2012
22. France: Another mosque desecrated with fascist graffiti The Collectif contre lIslamophobie en
France reported that on the night of 20 to 21 December 2012 four swastikas along with racist
slogans riddled with misspellings were sprayed on the wall of the As-Salam de Tomblaine mosque
in the Lorraine region of north-east France. (The slogan Bougnoulle de mourt would appear to
mean something like death to wogs.)
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/12/21/another-french-mosque-desecrated-with-fascist-graffiti.html, retrieved
23. Scotland: Man who threatened to blow up Glasgow Central Mosque is jailed A man
threatened to blow up a Glasgow mosque and claimed he had a bomb in his backpack and also
shouted that he had a gun and threatened to shoot those near him. Fraser Rae was jailed for two
years and four months after pleading guilty to the incident at the citys Central Mosque on 20
December 2012.
retrieved on 22.12.2012
24. UK: Three arrested in Thurnby Lodge religious incident investigation related with pigs
head found in a Mosque Police had arrested three people in connection with an investigation
into a religiously motivated incident, which happened in Thurnby Lodge on Boxing Day, 26
December 2012. Officers were called at approximately 7.30am on that day, after a pigs head was
found outside a door leading into the Community Centre, in Thurncourt Road. The centre was
being used by a local Muslim group the day the head was left. Three people, a woman age 40-yearsold and two men aged 37 and 46, were arrested in connection with the incident on 28 December
2012, and were put under police custody.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/12/28/three-arrested-in-thurnby-lodge-religious-incidentinvestiga.html, retrieved on 29.12.2012
25. South-west France: Arson attack on Muslim prayer hall previously targeted by fascists Sud
Ouest reported that a Molotov cocktail had been thrown at Muslim prayer hall at Le Barp in southwest France, which had already suffered three racist graffiti attacks by fascists in September 2012:
retrieved on 01.01.2013
26. Far-right graffiti attack on Contrexville mosque France 3 reported that on the night of 04
January 2013, a new mosque at
Contrexville in north-east France
was sprayed with swastikas, along
with slogans against Islam and in
support of the far-right Front
National and its leader Marine Le
Pen. The report noted that the AsSalam de Tomblaine mosque, also in
the north-east, was similarly targeted by fascists in December 2012. Vosges Matin added that the
graffiti in Contrexville included homophobic abuse.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/1/7/far-right-graffiti-attack-on-contrexeville-mosque.html, retrieved on 08.01.2013
27. UK: Mosque buster lawyer gives free advice on how to block worship A self-styled mosque
buster, who boasted that he had blocked plans for 16 mosques across Britain, was once linked to
the far-right English Defence League (EDL) and claimed that Islam encouraged pedophilia, sexual
abuse and pimping. Gavin Boby, a planning lawyer from Bristol, had been urging his followers to
undermine planning applications for mosques by raising their opposition with councils.
In the guide, reproduced in the 1st week of January 2013 on the far-right blog Gates of Vienna, Boby
said: Let councils know that theyre on the hook for their decisions. Be relentless. Push. He also
suggested opposing a proposed Islamic community and welfare centre in Leeds on the grounds of
parking congestion, disturbance and community relations. He advises emphasizing that the
proposed project would cause unacceptable pollution from traffic, was not a community facility
because it was for a specific purpose and was a hazard to local schoolchildren as it would bring in
outsiders with no connection to the area.
In a video interview on YouTube, Boby said: In order to stop the Islamic doctrine, which is the
root of this problem, you have to prevent further mosques from being built.
retrieved on 14.01.2013
28. France: Another mosque suffers far-right graffiti attack A mosque at Val-de-Reuil in
Normandy in north-western France was sprayed
with far-right graffiti on the night of 09 January
2013. Slogans included Anti-Islam, Long
live the FN and France, love it or leave it.
As the Collectif contre lIslamophobie en France
pointed out, these days every week brought new
acts of Islamophobic vandalism.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/1/13/another-french-mosque-suffers-far-right-graffiti-attack.html, retrieved on
29. Netherlands: Every mosque that we can stop is a victory PVV leader Geert Wilders
launched a new website: MoskNee (MosqNo www.mosknee.nl), a self-help program for people who
did not want a mosque next to their home. The site had gone on air at 6am of 25 January 2013,
prior to the start of Wilders mosque tour in Enschede. He said: To those who do not agree, I say
you can start your own website MoskJA (MosqYes). Earlier, the PVV tried to ban the construction
of minarets, the construction of mosques, and, in its latest election program, the construction of
mosques in residential areas. So far, all these legal initiatives were unsuccessful. Then, Wilders took
a different approach: a guide for people who want to use the existing regulations in order to
postpone the building of a mosque indefinitely.
In: http://www.geertwilders.nl/index.php/in-english-mainmenu-98/in-the-press-mainmenu-101/77-in-the-press/1816-every-mosque-that-we-can-stop-isa-victory, retrieved on 26.01.2013
30. French mosque vandalized with anti-Islam graffiti Officials said that vandals had targeted a
French mosque in a graffiti attack, tagging the worship centre with swastikas and anti-Islam slogans.
The attack was discovered by worshippers arriving for
morning prayer at the mosque in Ozoir-La-Ferrire, a
small town 35 kilometres (20 miles) east of Paris on
03 February 2013. In the eastern city of Besanon,
two mosques were also vandalized, where the Star of
David had been painted on the walls. Interior
Minister Manuel Valls condemned the attacks with
the utmost severity and called them foul and
hateful. According to statistics from an Islamic monitoring organization, 201 anti-Islam attacks were
recorded in France last year, up 28% on 2011.
31. Scotland: Three in court after bacon thrown at Central Mosque Two men and a woman
had appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after bacon was allegedly thrown at and stuck to the
Central Mosque, in Potterrow, on 31 January 2013. Douglas Cruikshank, 37, Chelsea Lambie, 17,
and Wayne Stilwel, 24, were charged with a racially prejudiced offence. All were released on bail
with the special condition that they do not go within 100 meters of any mosque.
In: http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/three-in-court-after-bacon-thrown-at-central-mosque-1-2774793, retrieved on 05.02.2013
32. France: Swastikas daubed on mosque in latest attack Six swastikas were drawn on the front of
the mosque at Provins, in the Seine et Marne department outside the French capital. The attack
came just a week after several mosques across France were also targeted with similar Islamaphobic
graffiti. The symbols at the Provins mosque were discovered by worshipers when they turned up for
morning prayers on 09 February 2013. A complaint was immediately filed with police.
In: http://www.thelocal.fr/page/view/swastikas-daubed-on-mosque-in-anti-islam-attack#.URnhovKuu1w, retrieved on 12.02.2012
33. US: Nashville mosque vandalized for second time Police told WTVF-TV that windows were
broken at the Al-Farooq Mosque at around 3:30 a.m. on 11 February 2013. Two funeral cars in the
parking lot also had their windshields broken. Mosque member Hassam Mohamed told the station a
man went through a window to get inside and demolished property there. The same mosque was
vandalized in 2010 when someone spray-painted the words Muslims Go Home on the building. A
profanity-laced note was left behind. Meanwhile, police said they had arrested a 27 year old
man Kyler Wilson, who was charged with burglary and felony vandalism in connection with the
damage at the Al-farooq Islamic Center
In: http://www.wate.com/story/21099562/nashville-mosque-vandalized-for-second-time, retrieved on 12.02.2013 &
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/21132673/arrest-made-in-mosque-vandalism, retrieved on 13.02.2013
34. UK: Racial abuse shouted in Hartlepool mosque Police were hunting two men and a woman
who burst into a mosque and shouted racial abuse. The incident happened at the Nasir Mosque on
Brougham Terrace, in Hartlepool, at around 7.45pm on 5 February 2013.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/2/16/racial-abuse-shouted-in-hartlepool-mosque.html, retrieved on 16.02.2013
35. UK: City University London removes Muslim Friday prayer room City University had been
accused of discrimination by a group of Muslim students after it closed a dedicated room used for
Friday prayers. A group of students had formed Muslim Voices on Campus, calling on the university
to reverse its decision. City said it acted because students had refused to submit the proposed
content of sermons to the university before prayers to check its appropriateness.
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/2/22/city-university-london-removes-muslim-friday-prayerroom.html, retrieved on 23.02.2013
36. France: Mosque in Alsace is sent letter containing ham The Collectif contre lIslamophobie en
France reported that a mosque at Mulhouse, in Alsace, was the victim of an Islamophobic act earlier
in the last week of February 2013. Exactly as happened at Meximieux in the previous month,
officials at the place of worship were mailed an envelope containing ham. The CCIF added that, as
was also the case with the Meximieux mosque, this was not the first time that the Mulhouse mosque
had been targeted in an act of hatred.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/3/1/mosque-in-alsace-is-sent-letter-containing-ham.html, retrieved on 02.03.2013
37. Russia: Moscow mayor says no to more mosques in the city The Mayor of Moscow said there
were no plans to build a new mosque in the city, and said the excessive number of economic
migrants was a harmful thing. Sergey Sobyanin said in an interview with Moscows Echo radio: It
has turned out that the praying Muslims are not at all Russian citizens and they are not Moscow
residents. They are labor migrants. There are only 10 percent of Moscow residents among them and
building mosques for everyone who wants it I think this will be over the top.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/3/1/moscow-mayor-says-no-to-more-mosques-in-the-city.html,
38. UK: BNP member calls for Swansea Mosque & Islamic Community Centre to be burnt down
A BNP member was being
investigated by police after calling for a
South Wales mosque to be burnt
down. Joshua Wren, a BNP member
from the Swansea area posted a
photograph last night of the Swansea
Mosque & Islamic Community
Centre on his Facebook page adding
Burn down this devil centre. Wren
removed the photograph later, but not
before Hope not Hate took a screengrab
and reported the matter to South
Wales Police.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/3/4/bnp-member-calls-for-swansea-mosque-islamic-communitycentre.html, retrieved on 05.03.2013
39. Canada: Hate crimes unit called in to investigate graffiti on Guelph mosque Guelph police
had their hate crimes unit investigating after racial graffiti was discovered on a mosque. Numerous
spray-painted graffiti markings were discovered on the outside of the Guelph Muslim Societys
mosque at 286 Water Street early 06 March 2013. The graffiti contained derogatory references to
Muslims along with inflammatory and threatening language. A security camera outside the mosque
was able to capture two suspects.
In: http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/hate-crimes-unit-called-in-to-investigate-graffiti-on-guelph-mosque-1.1185883, retrieved on 08.03.2013
40. Georgia: Local nationalists protest against new mosque A group of Georgian nationalists
outside the governments house organized a protest rally having the main slogan as Lets say no to
Turkish religious and economic expansion! Members of the non-governmental organization named
National Front staged the protest against construction of a new mosque in the sea-side city of
Batumi near the Turkish border. Protesters called on the government to annul agreements with
Ankara for construction of the new mosque, as well as stop accommodating Turkish citizens in the
coastal region of Adjara, which stipulated revision of visa relations with Turkey.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/3/14/georgian-nationalists-protest-against-new-mosque.html,
41. Sri Lankas Buddhist extremists vow to remove Muslim mosque in Kuragala Having
announced that they had concluded the fight against the Halal victoriously, the Sri Lanka Sinhala
Buddhist extremist organization Bodu Bala Sena announced on 17 March 2013 that they would not
talk about Halal issue. Instead they would then take up the issue of removing a mosque from
Kuragala Buddhist monastery complex in the central hills.
In: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_13A/Mar18_1363584917CH.php, retrieved on 19.03.2013
42. Netherlands: Dutch Nationalists Cheer Mosque Arson in Enkhuizen A mosque that had
seen repeated attacks in the past was the scene of another arson attack on 06 April 2013. A police
spokesman on the following day said that it was almost certain that the fire the morning before in
a mosque in Enkhuizen was lit. How the arson was carried out, the police did not disclose. It was
not yet clear in which way the perpetrators must be sought. In 2011 the mosque was also the target
of arson. Then burning material was thrown over the fence. The mosque was at the Tureluurshof of
the Islamic Foundation Netherlands. The mosque administration had plans in 2012 to move to a
larger vacant school in Enkhuizen to Reigerweg. This building, however, was in July 2012 destroyed
by a fire that presumably was lit. The arson attack created quite a bit of enthusiasm and cheer in
right-wing Dutch Nationalist quarters.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/04/08/dutch-nationalists-cheer-mosque-arson-in-enkhuizen/, retrieved on 10.04.2013
43. France: Racist graffiti targets future Paris-region mosque The building site of a future
mosque in the city of Coulommiers, east of Paris, was defaced with racist graffiti including Nazi
swastikas over the weekend of 13-14 April 2013. Abdallah Zekri, president of Frances Observatory
of Islamophobia told the AFP news agency: A pigs head and Nazi tags were found inside the site.
Its the same thing every time, said of the act of vandalism, calling on harder sanctions for those
found guilty of racially-motivated crimes.
44. US: Second hate crime targets Kews Gardens Hills mosque Police said that a Kew Gardens
Hills mosque was the target of another hate crime on 12 April 2013, just five months after a 57-yearold man was stabbed at the same site in an early morning anti-Muslim attack. In the latest incident, a
man left the Masjid al-Saaliheen mosque, located at 72-55 Kissena Blvd., at about 8 p.m. when he
noticed someone following his car in a dark SUV. When the mosque-goer stopped for a red light at
the corner of Union Turnpike and 199th Street, the suspect pulled up beside him in an SUV and
flashed a firearm while shouting death threats and anti-Muslim statements, according to police. The
suspect then fled the scene.
In: http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2013/16/antimuslimthreat_web_04_16_q_2013_16.html,
45. US: AFDI Calls for Closure of Mosques That Breed Jihad Terror The human rights
organization American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) had called upon government and law
enforcement authorities to close three U.S. mosques that they established as breeding grounds for
jihad terror. The call follows the issuance in mid-April 2013 of AFDIs 18-point Platform for
Defending Freedom, which offered practical steps to protect the nation from jihad terror in the
wake of the Boston jihad bombings. Those 18 points included a call for immediate investigation
into foreign mosque funding in the West and for new legislation making foreign funding of
mosques in non-Muslim nations illegal, as well as for surveillance of mosques and regular
inspections of mosques in the U.S. and other non-Muslim nations to look for pro-violence materials.
Any mosque advocating jihad or any aspects of Sharia that conflict with Constitutional freedoms
and protections should be closed. AFDI Executive Director Pamela Geller said in a statement: In
accord with those calls for responsible law enforcement regarding subversive activities in U.S.
mosques, we are asking that government and law enforcement officials launch immediate
investigations into the Islamic Society of Boston, the Dar al-Hijrah Mosque of Fairfax County,
Virginia, and the Noor Center of Columbus, Ohio. Geller emphasized: These mosques are not
unique. There are many others like them. But they are the tip of the spear. It is time that our
officials demand that they obey American laws, or be held accountable for not doing so.
In: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/29/5379377/afdi-calls-for-closure-of-mosques.html, retrieved on 30.04.2013
46. US: Oklahoma City mosque targeted by vandals The FBI said it was investigating vandalism
at an Oklahoma City mosque as a possible hate crime after profanities were spray painted on the
building on 27 April 2013. The Oklahoman of Oklahoma City said that vandals sprayed Hale Satan
and other profanities.
In: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/04/28/Oklahoma-City-mosque-targeted-by-vandals/UPI-34181367174333/, retrieved on 30.04.2013
47. US: Pastor Speaks Out Against Proposed Edmond Mosque A local pastor, Paul Blair, stirred
up controversy during a hearing about a proposed mosque in Edmond, as he spoke out against the
mosque, making some serious allegations against the group trying to get it built, stating: The Islamic
Society of North America, which is one of the applicants and North American Islamic Trust, which
is also an owner of the property were both listed and proven by the United States Federal District
Court in the holy land trials to be a proven affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood and in particular
with Hammas.
In: http://www.news9.com/story/22211725/pastor-speaks-out-against-proposed-edmond-mosque, retrieved on 10.05.2013
48. Greece: Athens Mosque Irks Greek Neo-Nazis Accelerating their hostile campaigns against
Muslims, a neo-Nazi party had threatened to fight against
plans to build a long-sought mosque in the Greek capital.
Ilias Kasidiaris, spokesman for the far-right Golden Dawn
party, told supporters at a rally late on 19 May 2013, Agence
France-Presse (AFP) reported: If a mosque is constructed for
Islamist criminals in Greece, a front of 100,000 Greeks
headed by Golden Dawn will be created.
The threat came days after the far-right party had given a
one-month ultimatum for Muslims to leave Greece. In a
letter sent to the Muslim Association in Greece from Golden Dawn threatened to slaughter like
chickens any Muslims who did not leave the country by 30 June 2013. Police said they were
examining the threatening letter, which was written in Greek, English and Arabic.
Meanwhile, members of the ultra-right National Front had led dozens of protesters in a march
against the Greek governments plans to build the first state-funded mosque in Athens, the capital.
The protesters, including a woman dressed in nuns clothing, waved Greek flags at the rally on 26
May 2013 as they shouted: We dont want sharia, we want Greece and Orthodoxy and No to
mosques, give money to the schools.
49. German Mosque Attacks Draw Muslims Ire Leaders of the German Muslim community had
urged the government to take stronger measures against far-right groups after several mosques had
come under Islamophobic attacks during two last weeks of May 2013. Four mosques in different
German states had been attacked after the trial of the terrorist National Socialist Underground
(NSU) group began. The trial, in which neo-Nazi suspect Beate Zschpe and four alleged supporters
of the NSU terrorist group stand accused of 10 murders, started earlier in May 2013, bringing back
the issue of Islamophobia to light. In the period between 10-20 May 2013, the KRM had announced
that mosques in Bullay, in the Rhineland-Palatinate state, as well as its capital, Mainz; the town of
Lengerich in the Steinfurt district and the town of Dren in the district of the same name in North
Rhine-Westphalia were attacked. The attackers wrote on the door of the mosque in Dren on 20
May that, The NSU is alive and you will be the next victims.In Mainz, another attack occurred on
18 May 2013, when two unidentified assailants hung anti-Islamic posters on the walls of the mosque.
In: http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/462843-german-mosque-attacks-draw-muslims-ire.html, retrieved on 25.05.2013
50. US: Vandals target Islamic mosque in Alpharetta Alpharetta police were investigating after
someone vandalized the Islamic Center of North Fulton in Atlanta on 27 May 2013. Channel 2
Action News obtained photos of the sign outside of the mosque on Rucker Road. Vandals sprayed
the words London Justice and some other similar phrases on the building.
In: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/vandals-target-islamic-mosque-alpharetta/nX5FM/, retrieved on 28.05.2013
51. US: CAIR Seeks Hate Crime Probe of Texas Mosque Vandalism The Dallas-Fort Worth
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-DFW) on 3rd June 2013 called on state
and national law enforcement authorities to investigate a paintball attack on a mosque in that state
as a possible hate crime. A vehicle owned by a member of the mosques congregation was also hit by
a paintball after he left the facility. Worshippers had reportedly been verbally harassed recently by
young people who gathered near the mosque.
In: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/02/5465558/cair-seeks-hate-crime-probe-of.html, retrieved on 04.06.2013
52. UK: Mosque sprayed with swastikas in racist attack A mosque in Worcestershire had been
sprayed with racist graffiti including swastikas after a break-in during the early hours of the morning
of 26 June 2013. The vandals daubed graffiti onto walls and at least half a dozen windows using
paint taken from builders cabins on the site, which was under construction. The initials EDL, NF,
KKK and other racist language were also sprayed across the building. West Mercia Police said the
damage at Redditch Central Mosque in Jinnah Road was caused between 2am and shortly before
4.30am on that day when it was discovered by a targeted police patrol. Entry to the site was forced
via a gate and the intruders then broke into the main building. It was not known at this stage
whether anything had been stolen.
In: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10142874/Mosque-sprayed-with-swastikas-in-racist-attack.html, retrieved on 27.06.2013
53. Sweden: Femen stages topless protest in Stockholm mosque Three feminist activists from the
radical protest group Femen staged a topless protest inside a Stockholm mosque on Saturday 29
June 2013 before they were led away by police. The women burst into the mosque and tore off their
black robes to bare their breasts, which were emblazoned with slogans such as No sharia in Egypt
and the world and My body is mine, not somebodys honor. The women shouted Free Women,
No Sharia and No Oppression.
In: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2013/06/29/Femen-stages-topless-protest-in-Stockholm-mosque-.html, retrieved on 30.06.2013
54. US: CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of New Jersey Mosque Vandalism, Nazi swastika spraypainted on outside door of Islamic Center of Morris County The New Jersey chapter of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) on 29 June 2013 called on state and federal law
enforcement authorities to investigate vandalism of a mosque in that state as a possible hate crime.
An official with the Islamic Center of Morris County in Rockaway, N.J., told CAIR that someone
spray-painted a Nazi swastika on an exterior door of the mosque on the evening of 28 June 2013.
In: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/29/5533636/cair-calls-for-hate-crime-probe.html, retrieved on 01.07.2013
55. UK: Racist graffiti daubed on Muslim cemetery prayer building Racist graffiti had been
daubed at Muslim cemetery section.
Pictures of the racist graffiti were sent in
by a reader. It showed anti-Islamic and
racist grafitti written on the Muslim
building used for funeral at Pleasington
cemetery, Blackburn.
Pakis Out and Islam murders scum was
daubed on the building as well as other
words. A headstone also had the words EDL written on it.
In: http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/10455871.Racist_graffiti_daubed_on_Muslim_cemetery_prayer_building/,
56. UK: Huntingdon mosque attack: Man charged A 45-year-old man had been charged with
racial or religiously aggravated criminal damage over an attack on a mosque in Cambridgeshire. The
man was arrested on 30 May 2013 at the Islamic Education and Prayer Centre on Coneygear Road,
Huntingdon. Police in Huntingdon said they were working with the mosque and the local
community to provide reassurance following the attack.
In: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-22745098, retrieved on 03.06.2013
57. UK: London Mosque Fire: Police Investigate Cause Counter-terrorism officers were
investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic community centre on 05 June 2013 was
started deliberately in a hate attack. Police confirmed they were treating the fire in Muswell Hill,
north London, as supicious and promised a vigorous and thorough investigation. They also
revealed the letters EDL - the initials of the English Defence League - were found scrawled on the
outside of the Bravanese Centre, which was being used as a mosque.
In: http://news.sky.com/story/1099731/london-mosque-fire-police-investigate-cause, retrieved on 06.06.2013
58. Scotland: Pupils withdrawn from trip to Edinburgh mosque A race row had broken out after
almost a third of the children due to take part in a school field trip to a city mosque were pulled out
by their parents. Children from Newtongrange Primary visited the Central Mosque in Potterrow, but
from an original group of 90 pupils, 28 were withdrawn. The trip had been organized to help
educate the primary one, two and five pupils about other religions and cultures. But one parent on
the day of the trip said they didnt want their child mixed up in the hate being preached in
mosques. One 42-year-old parent of a P2 pupil, who did not take part, said: I dont agree with
sending my child to a mosque to learn about a religion that isnt my own. Its the hate that is being
preached in these mosques that I dont want my child mixed up in. Another said: If you dont
want your kids learning that kind of stuff, then you should be allowed to say no. Many of my
friends are a different religion to me, but they dont try to ram it down my throat.
59. UK: Ex-soldiers accused of Grimsby mosque attack in court Two ex-soldiers accused of arson
after a petrol-bomb attack on a Grimsby mosque had again been remanded in custody. Stuart
Harness, 33, and Gavin Humphries, 37, both of the same address in Dixon Avenue, Grimsby, were
charged with arson with intent to endanger the lives of others on 26 May 2013. Father-of-two
Humphries has served in the army but is now unemployed. His family live in Grimsby. Harness was
born in New Holland and served in the army for 13 years, including in Iraq, Kosovo and Northern
retrieved on 09.06.2013
60. UK: Racist vandals paint swastika on proposed mosque site in Green Lane, Worcester Park
The graffiti was painted onto the front door of the old Bank Chamber building, which was owned
by an Islamic group that wanted to convert it into a mosque, in Green Lane, Worcester Park,
between 8am and 11pm on 4 June 2013. The attack came in the aftermath of the murder of soldier
Drummer Lee Rigby. Vandals painted the red swastika - the emblem of the Nazi party - on the door
of the building but it was quickly covered up by green paint. Police were investigating.
retrieved on 12.06.2013
61. UK: Holmanleaze mosque in Maidenhead was sent meat in post Police condemned the
attacks on the mosque in Maidenhead and called for information, as a mosque in Berkshire had
been targeted three times in recent weeks with graffiti daubed on the wall and a piece of meat
received in the post. A pane of glass was smashed at the Holmanleaze site in Maidenhead overnight
on 22 May 2013, while racist graffiti was found early on 08 June 2013. A piece of meat, thought to
be bacon, was received by the mosque on 10 June 2013. Police were investigating whether the
incidents were prompted by the killing of soldier Lee Rigby in London.
In: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-22877208, retrieved on 13.06.2013
62. UK: Mosque set on fire in Gloucester: Man arrested A mosque was set on fire in the early
hours of the morning of 18 June 2013 in Gloucester (South West of the Region of England) by a
man caught on CCTV pouring petrol around its door before throwing a flaming rag at the fuel.
Police said they were looking to identify a man caught on CCTV footage and a second suspect seen
driving him away from the scene. Police later said a 37-year-old Gloucester man had been arrested on
suspicion of arson.
63. UK: Former soldier banned from every mosque in Wales and England over arson attempt A
former soldier had been banned from every mosque in Wales and England after attempting to attack
his local mosque following the murder of drummer Lee Rigby in
Woolwich. The life-long ban was made as part of a CRASBO imposed on
John Parkin, who drank 15 pints after he heard about the murder in
London then decided to try and burn down his local mosque. Parkin
stuffed tissue into a bottle of beer and attempted to light it at the mosque
in Rhyl. On 20 June 2013, he was jailed for 18 months and given an
indefinite criminal anti-social behaviour order (CRASBO) was made under which he must not enter
the mosque at River Street in Rhyl. It also banned him from entering the curtilage of any mosque in
England and Wales. The judge said that the offences were aggravated by his previous convictions,
which included two previous convictions for religiously or racially aggravated offences.
In: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/former-soldier-banned-every-mosque-4687458, retrieved on
64. US: Swastika sprayed on Islamic center Police were still investigating the vandalism as what
appeared to be a swastika was spray painted on the Islamic Center of Morris Count, and whether it
was a hate crime, said Kyle Schwarzmann, Rockaway Borough detective sergeant. Security footage
showed a woman driving her car into the parking lot at 1 Mannino Drive, getting out and then spray
painting the symbol on a glass door around 7 p.m. on 21 June 2013. She then got back into her car
and drove away.
In: http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2013/07/swastika_spray_painted_on_islamic_center_disgraceful_leader_says.html, retrieved on 10.07.2013
65. Scotland: Vandals target mosque Witnesses were being sought after a Scottish mosque was
vandalized with offensive graffiti at the start of Ramadan. Police
were appealing for information after Muslims will perish by
JC was daubed at the Fife Islamic Centre in Kirkcaldy. Several
cars were also damaged by red paint. Crosses were painted on
number plates, windows and on a bonnet. Police in Kirkcaldy
put on extra patrols in the area and spoke to the centre
management about improving their security, as well as they
appealed to members of the public to report any information or
suspicious behaviour in the area.
http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/local-headlines/kirkcaldy-muslim-centre-targeted-in-hate-crime-1-2996242, retrieved on
66. US: Man Yells Terrorist Rats in Mosque San Diego police arrested a man after he entered a
mosque at tje Islamic Center on Eckstrom Avenue around 4:30 a.m. on 15 July 2013 during earlymorning prayer, yelled terrorist rats and made death threats. Imam Taha Hassane said the man
was noticed for wearing shoes on the carpet prayer. Mosque members asked if the man needed any
help but the man told them to get lost. Witnesses told police the man yelled, You terrorist rats,
Im going to kill you all. 52-year old Larry Rodgers was later arrested by San Diego police. The
center had reported previous phone calls threatening to blow up the center and its school.
Investigators were looking into whether Rodgers was also responsible for those.
In: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Mosque-San-Diego-Death-Threats-Clairemont-Islamic-Center-215988691.html, retrieved on 19.07.2013
67. UK: Ukrainian charged over UK mosque bombs A court heard on 23 July 2013 that Pavlo
Lapshyn, a 25-year-old postgraduate student from the Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk, was charged
with the terrorist-related murder of an elderly Muslim man, a 82-year-old grandfather Mohammed
Saleem, who was stabbed in the back in Birmingham, central England, on 29 April 2013 as he
walked home from prayers, and had also been charged over three mosque bombings in central
Westminster Magistrates Court in London was told on the same day that Lapshyn was also charged
with carrying out a series of acts with the intention to commit acts of terrorism. The offences related
to three explosions in the central English towns of Walsall, Wolverhampton and Tipton in June
2013. The charges included purchasing batteries, a lunch bag, a clock and a container as part of the
construction of an explosive device. He was also accused of purchasing chemicals to make explosive
devices, modifying mobile phones to act as detonators, and carrying out internet research.
In: http://www.news24.com/World/News/Ukrainian-charged-over-UK-mosque-bombs-20130723, retrieved on 25.07.2013
67. Sri Lanka: Buddhist mob attacks mosque, 12 injured During evening prayers on 10 August
2013, a Buddhist mob attacked a mosque in Sri Lankas capital by throwing stones and at least 12
people were injured, the latest in a series of attacks on the minority Muslim community by members
of the Buddhist majority. Police appealed for calm and imposed a night-time curfew in the area.
There had been increasing violence against Muslims in Sri Lanka since 2012, mirroring events in
Buddhist-majority Myanmar, which has also seen a surge of attacks by members of the majority
community against Muslims.
In: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/buddhist-mob-attacks-mosque-in-sri-lanka-injured/1/299055.html, retrieved on 12.08.2013
68. UK: Neath mosque attack is condemned Four windows were smashed at the Tonna Mosque
on St Annes Terrace in the early hours of 10 August 2013. The vandalism of a mosque in a village
outside Neath had been condemned by race relations campaigners.
In: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Mosque-attack-condemned/story-19646374-detail/story.html#axzz2ctBCiA4a, retrieved on
69. UK: Disgusting Islamophobic DVDs sent to London mosques Mosques and Muslim organizations
in London had been sent Islamophobic DVDs containing highly offensive material. These were
received around the time of the Muslim holiday Eid and contained a mixture of insults to the
Prophet Muhammad, a pornographic film and news footage about extremism. Some of the DVDs
were addressed to His Wonderous Cleric of Islam, making it appear to contain something positive.
The Metropolitan Police said forensic teams were examining two of the discs.
In: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23808038, retrieved on 23.08.2013
70. UK: Muslims saddened by overnight mosque attack in Essex Members of an Islamic centre
in Britain which suffered a suspected overnight arson attempt
had said they were very saddened by what appears to be an
anti-Muslim attack. Police believed the incident at Harlow
Islamic Centre in Paringdon Road, Harlow, Essex, took place
between 10.30pm and 4am on 26 August 2013. There had been
a concerted effort to start the blaze by sealing entrances with
foam so the fire would take hold.
In: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/muslims-saddened-by-overnight-mosque-attack-in-essex-604836.html, retrieved on 27.08.2013
71. Georgia: Muslims Protest Minaret Removal Hundreds of Georgian Muslims gathered in
Tbilisi to protest the removal of a mosques minaret in the
Samtskhe-Javakheti province. Local authorities removed the
minaret in the village of Chela on 26 August 2013. A group of
Muslims tried to block the work, but police forcefully dispersed
the protesters, arresting 21 of them. The Finance Ministry said the
minaret was removed for inspection to verify if the materials used
to build it were properly declared when they were imported into
Georgia from Turkey in July 2013. The grand mufti of the Georgian Muslims Directorate, Jemal
Paksadze, condemned the minarets removal, calling it a violation of Georgian citizens rights.
Paksadze is based in the capital of Georgias southeastern Autonomous Republic of Ajara.
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/464240-minaret-removal-draws-georgia-muslims-ire.html, retrieved on 27.08.2013
73. UK: Three held over mosque arson attack Three teenagers had been arrested by police
investigating an arson attack on a mosque at the Harlow Islamic Centre in Essex in August 2013
after locals discovered evidence of the attempt when they attended morning prayers. Two 16-year-old
boys and one aged 17, all from Harlow, have been arrested on suspicion of arson and bailed until 30
October 2013 pending further inquiries. A 28-year-old man from Harlow had previously been
arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with this incident and was also on police bail.
In: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/national/three-held-over-mosque-arson-attack-1-6028554, retrieved on 10.09.2013
74. France: Mosque in Montrouge Attacked with dog excrement After pig meat, dog poo. In the
afternoon of 23 September 2013, while the faithful were performing afternoon prayers, around
1400hrs, dog excrement was thrown against the door of the prayer hall of the city of Montrouge,
near Paris.
75. US: Parents End Mosque Field Trips Because Pushing Tolerance Is Bad Thanks to the
watchful stepfather of a Henderson High School student in Hendersonville, Tennessee, teachers
would no longer be pushing Islamic tolerance on the students in the form of religious field trips.
Mike Conner, concerned his stepdaughter would be exposed to knowledge in a 36-week world
studies course, got angry at back-to-school night when he heard of a planned 04 September 2013
field trip to a mosque and a Hindu temple. So he spoke up because, you know: If we as parents
dont begin speaking up, no one will. And he won by force. On 17 September 2013, the school
system issued a statement: After receiving a parent complaint regarding field trip locations, our district has reviewed
the practice and decided to eliminate field trips to religious venues from this class, as it does not provide equal
representation to all the religions studied in the course unit.
In: http://gawker.com/parents-end-mosque-field-trips-because-pushing-toleran-1374513673, retrieved on 26.09.2013
76. Norway: Police on Alert for Mosques According to TV2s report, World Islamic Mission
Mosque received an email on 18 September 2013: Before 2013 is over, all mosques in Norway will be
burned to the ground. We are a group of men who have planned this for seven years. In the morning of 20
September 2013, a sausage banner was hung at a mosque in Fredrikstad with an insulting message
against the religious members. Also, a cut pig head was found outside the Norways largest mosque
in Oslo on 21 September 2013. After the incidents, Oslo police had several meetings with the
Islamic Council of Norway. Police confirmed to TV 2 that they looked the issue very seriously.
In: http://www.tnp.no/norway/panorama/3991-norwegian-police-is-on-alert-for-mosques, retrieved on 26.09.2013
77. US: NYPD Secretly Branded Mosques Terrorism Enterprises It was recently revealed that
the NYPD branded certain New York mosques terrorism enterprises in order to be able to
investigate any attendee of said mosque at will, without charging them with a crime. These details
came from the same Pulitzer Prize-winning AP probe that previously revealed that the NYPD
specifically targeted the Muslim community. But had targeting mosques actually helped to protect
New Yorkers? After all, the NYPD itself admitted that its investigation into the Muslim community
produced zero leads. And there was compelling evidence that mosque attendance actually helped
prevent terrorism. Despite all this, a great part of Islamophobic rhetoric continued to be obsessively
fixed on the mosque. High-profile Islamphobes like Peter King, Frank Gaffney, and, most recently,
Montana senate candidate Liz Cheney, regularly asserted that mosques were the epicenter of
In: http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/guest_bloggers/7279/nypd_secretly_branded_mosques__terrorism_enterprises_/, retrieved
3. UK: Muslim graves at Christchurch Cemetery, Newport, desecrated by racist vandals Muslim
graves at a Newport cemetery had been desecrated
with racist graffiti on 30 June 2013. The vandals
used white paint to write Lee Rigby murder,
white power and drew swastikas on four
gravestones at Christchurch Cemetery. They also
wrote the initials of the British National Party
(BNP), the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the
National Front (NF).
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/06/30/muslim-graves-at-christchurch-cemetery-newport-desecrated-by-racist-vandals/,
The protest was organized by a nationalist group called the Republican Resistance, (Rsistance
Rpublicaine) a front organization for Riposte Laque, a rabidly Islamophobic website that was
founded by an ex-Trotskyist named Pierre Cassen who with and another Riposte Laque
contributor received heavy fines in March 2012 after being convicted of inciting hatred against
Muslims. Despite the leftist origins of some of its leading members, Riposte Laque had been
notorious for working with sections of the far right on the basis of a common hatred of Islam. In
July 2012, Cassen was a featured speaker at the International Civil Liberties Alliance conference at
the European Parliament, along with Stephen Lennon of the English Defence League.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/11/10/islamophobes-protest-in-paris.html,
3. Sweden: Sweden Democrats send members anti-Islam mag Some 6,000 members of the
Sweden Democrats were to receive an anti-Islam newspaper at the end of the month [November
2012], courtesy of the party. MP and editor in chief for the Sweden Democrat paper SDKuriren,
Richard Jomshof, told local paper
Sydsvenskan: Dispatch International is a
paper that plays an important role in the
societal debate.
The publication, connected to the
Swedish anti-Islam group Freedom of the
Press Society (Tryckfrihetssllskapet),
recently featured an article where a
professor argued that the Muslim call to
prayer should not only be seen as that but
also as a threat. The International Free
Press Society, publisher of Dispatch
International, headed by Lars Hedegaard,
the notorious Danish Islamophobe who
was convicted of inciting racial hatred as a result of an interview in which he described Muslims as
morally depraved rapists.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/11/22/sweden-democrats-send-members-anti-islam-mag.html, retrieved on
4. Anti-Islam groups rally in Norway About 40 people gathered for an anti-Islam demonstration
in Oslo, and were met with jeers and chants of no Nazis on our streets from a larger group of
counterdemonstrators. The protest was staged by the Norwegian Defence League, a group inspired
by the larger English Defence League, which had carried out rowdy anti-Islam protests in Britain.
The defense leagues said they were not racists but patriots opposing a perceived Islamization of
Europe. The anti-Islam gunman who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011 expressed support for the
English Defence League and similar groups, though most denounced his attacks.
In: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/12/15/anti-islam-groups-rally-in-norway/, retrieved on 17.12.2012
5. Australia: Australian Party candidate rejects halal meat, doesnt want his money to go to the
Muslim community A candidate for Bob Katters fledgling political party
declared his preference for buying guaranteed non-halal meat so his money
did not go to the Muslim community. Jamie Cavanough, standing for
Katters Australian Party in Sydneys most marginal federal seat, Greenway,
was under fire for the apparently divisive comments he made to a
community forum in one of the citys most ethnically diverse areas. Mr
Cavanough made his comments on 19 January 2013, less than a fortnight after controversy in the
Greenway community over plans for a supposed Muslim enclave, dubbed Halal housing, in
http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/01/25/australian-party-candidate-rejects-halal-meat-doesnt-want-his-money-to-go-to-the-muslimcommunity/, retrieved on 26.01.2013
6. Sri Lanka: We are Sinhalese Group Protests Muslims and Halal Meat, Burn Effigy of Allah
Sri Lanka had over the past few years seen a resurgence in Sinhalese and Buddhist chauvinism
particularly targeting the Muslim populace of the island nation. Anxiety over halal meat did not only
affect Islamophobes in the West. Groups in Sri Lanka, such as Sinhala Api (We are Sinhalese) were
also hoping to transform the subject of halal meat into a broader culture war. In a protest on 24
January 2013 led by We are Sinhalese, demonstrators shouted anti-Islam/Muslim slogans and carried
effigies of a pig with the word Allah and Halal written on it in Arabic which they later burnt.
7. Israel: Israeli deputy foreign minister stars in anti-Islam film The Israeli daily, Yedioth Ahronoth,
reported on 30 January 2013 that the Israeli Foreign Ministry had
produced a film called The fact about Jerusalem which contained
provocative content about the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The film would
not be published, the newspaper said, for fear of causing a wide
wave of anger among Muslims around the world. The Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Danny Ayalon, played a main role in
the film the newspaper claimed. Throughout the film he gave a
distorted historical narrative about the holy city and at one point was seen standing in front of the
Dome of the Rock. He also spoke about the relationship between Jerusalem and Jews.
In: http://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/5120-israeli-deputy-foreign-minister-stars-in-anti-islam-film, retrieved on 31.01.2013
8. UK: Conservative councillor suspended for alleged racism against Muslims A Conservative
councillor from Enfield, north London had been suspended and was under investigation after
allegedly making anti-Muslim comments and sectarian remarks on a social media website. Chris
Joannidess Facebook page contained material comparing Muslim women who wore the burqa to
rubbish bags. His fellow Conservative councillors decided to suspend Joannides over the comments.
In: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/01/conservative-councillor-chris-joannides-facebook, retrieved on 02.02.2013
9. New Zealand: MP Richard Prosser says Muslims should be banned from flights on Western
airlines Richard Prosser, of the New Zealand First party, also labeled Islam a stone age religion
in a magazine column, claiming that most terrorists were angry young Muslim men who hate the
West. He wrote: If you are a young male, aged between say about 19 and about 35, and youre a Muslim, or
you look like a Muslim, or you come from a Muslim country, then you are not welcome to travel on any of the
Wests airlinesI will not stand by while my daughters rights and freedoms, and those of other New Zealanders
and Westerners, are denigrated by a sorry pack of misogynist troglodytes from Wogistan. Mr Prosser had
previously called for the burqa to be banned.
In: http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/nz-mp-richard-prosser-says-muslims-should-be-banned-from-flights-on-western-airlines/storye6frfq80-1226576581643, retrieved on 13.02.2013
10. US: Interfaith Group To GOP Congressman: Stop Demonizing Islam An interfaith group
had been speaking out against Rep. Louie Gohmerts (R-TX) claim on 21 February 2013 that
Americans needed the Second Amendments protection in order to shield the nation from Sharia
Law. Speaking on a radio show called The Voice of Freedom, Gohmert insisted that Weve got some
people who think Sharia Law should be the law of the land, forget the Constitution. But the guns
are there to make sure all of the rest of the Amendments are followed.
In response, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President of the Interfaith Alliance, sent a letter to
Gohmert, protesting his continued demonization of Islam, and adding, in part: I feel compelled to
again remind you that the continued demonization of Islam and disenfranchisement of the American Muslim
community is not only uncalled for, it is a dangerous affront to the religious freedom upon which this nation was
founded and it must end.
Gohmert had been in trouble before with the Interfaith Alliance, having also received a letter from
them during his partnership with Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) to persecute Muslim-American
government officials. Gorhmert had also during his time in Congress called for hearings on the
dangers of Sharia and claimed that President Obama went to war in Libya to help Al Qaeda spread
across the Middle East.
In: http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/02/22/1628061/interfaith-gohmert-islam/?mobile=nc, retrieved on 23.02.2013, emphasis in the original
11. Norway: Far-rightists Profile Muslims Resorting to Nazis tactics, a Norwegian anti-Islam group
had published a list of Muslim companies and organization in the western European country, a list
that had only been made once before in Norway by Nazis to profile Jews in the 20th century. LIM
Network (Equality, Integration, Diversity) wrote in a message published on Facebook and cited by The
Nordic Page magazine on 2nd March 2013: NDL has made a list of Muslim organizations in Norway
and companies run by people with Muslim namesWe cannot see that this has something with
Islam criticism to do. The list had been published by Norwegian Defence League (NDL) had been
compiled on the basis of listings in the Public Entity Registry. Lars Johnny Aardal, deputy leader of
the NDL, said that it was published to show the extent of Islam and Muslims in Norway. NDL
wrote in the prologue of the list: The list is far from complete, and a longer list can be prepared
with multiple keywords or keyword changes we have usedWe have only included entries under the
keywords Islam, Kurdish, Turkish, Muslim, Iranian, Iraqi, Somali, Pakistani, Arabic, Mohammed,
Ali and Hussein.
In: http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/461599-norway-far-rightists-profile-muslims.html, retrieved on 03.03.2013
12. US: AIPAC gives its seal of approval to Islamophobe Steven Emerson The annual Israel
lobby confab had once again put its seal of approval on Islamophobia. A key
member of what had been termed the Islamophobia network appeared on
3rd March 2013 at an officially scheduled session at the American Israel
Public Affairs Committees (AIPAC) annual conference.
Steven Emerson, the head of the Investigative Project on Terrorism, had been
a lead pusher of anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. since the 1990s. On that day afternoon, he led a
session at AIPAC titled The Threat From Within: Islamic Radicalism in the United States.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/03/06/aipac-gives-its-seal-of-approval-to-islamophobe-steven-emerson/, retrieved on 07.03.2013
13. US: Islamophobia still has its place at CPAC Though, for the most part, the fringiest
conservatives were shut out of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2013s meeting,
one unofficial panel hosted by Breitbart.com did not disappoint, bringing out The Uninvited antiIslam activists for a panel on national security. Speaking to a packed room, Pamela Geller, Frank
Gaffney, and former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, talked of the Muslim Brotherhoods
infiltration of America, and, more imminently, of the CPAC conference. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa,
who introduced the panel on 16 March 2013 and called the speakers the world experts on global
jihad, bemoaned that the FBI had scrubbed out derogatory references to Islam or Muslims
because their Muslim advisers told them they had to.
In: http://www.salon.com/2013/03/16/islamophobia_still_has_its_place_at_cpac/singleton/, retrieved on 17.03.2013
14. Germany: Rightists Use German Identity to Fight Islam Campaigning to preserve the
German identity against Islam, a right-wing group started using social websites to spread anti-Muslim
sentiments among the youth in the European country. Alexander Hausler, an expert on right-wing
extremism at University of Applied Sciences in Dusseldorf, told Deutsche Welle: They are clearly
racistThey are making a major affront on Germany's multicultural society, composed of
immigrants. They mostly criticize the alleged Islamization of Germany.
The groups logo shows the Greek letter lambda on a yellow background, like one from the 300
Spartan soldiers. Right-wing movement die Identitare Bewegung (The Identity Movement) had been
using social websites to spread anti-Islam sentiments among young Germans. Putting German
identity as its fixed point, the right-wing group focused on spreading its message mostly on the
internet via Facebook and YouTube. We are the identity-generation, the group said, while declaring
itself a protector against the threat of Islam, adding: 100 percent identity - 0 percent racism, and
calling for the protection of [its] continent from infiltration by foreigners, mass immigration and
Islamization. These posts on the right-wing movements website, however, had revealed a racist
agenda. The movements Facebook page reached more than 4,000 fans.
In: http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/461932-anti-islam-rightists-target-german-youth.html, retrieved on 24.03.2013
15. US: Florida State Senator: We Need to Vaccinate Against Shariah Florida had emerged as
sort of the Thunderdome of the anti-Shariah movement, with a host of lawmakers at the municipal,
state, and federal level working hand-in-hand with a dedicated group of activists to combat the
invisible specter of Islamic law. Shariah was not coming to South Florida, but that had not stopped
the state legislature from tryingagainto ban it from being used in state courts. By all accounts,
Hays considered the threat posed by Islamic law quite dire. The Miami Herald reported earlier in
March 2013 that the senator had distributed anti-Shariah literature in the halls of the state capitol.
Per the Herald, the fliers present Islam as a threat to the United States, and invoked lawmakers to
pass legislation to save us from an internal attack and protect our freedom.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/03/31/fla-state-senator-we-need-to-vaccinate-against-shariah/, retrieved on 03.04.2013
16. Topless protests against Islamism staged across Europe Bare-breasted activists staged rallies in
front of mosques and Tunisian embassies across Europe on 04 April 2013 against what they called
an Islamist crackdown on Arab womens rights. Protesters from the Ukrainian womens power group
Femen held International Topless Jihad Day in capitals such as Berlin, Kiev and Paris and painted
their torsos with slogans including Bare breasts against Islamism.
f1, retrieved on 06.04.2013
17. US: Family Research Councils Boykin: Bachmann and Gohmert on mission from God to
hunt Muslims The Family Research Councils President Jerry Boykin said in the first week of
April that U.S. Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Louis Gohmert (R-TX) were standing on the
word of God in their mission to find and punish Muslims and Muslim supporters in the U.S.
government. According to Right Wing Watch, Boykin made the remarks at a panel discussion at
National Religious Broadcasters conference featured Boykin alongside alleged former Islamic
terrorist Kamal Saleem. The panel was moderated by Christian radio host Janet Parshall. After
portentously warning that the U.S. justice system had already been infiltrated and overcome by
Sharia law, Boykin called on Americans to support Bachmann, Gohmert and Rep. Ted Franks (RAZ) for their efforts to drive Muslims out of the U.S. government.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/04/05/family-research-councils-boykin-bachmann-and-gohmert-on-mission-from-god-tohunt-muslims/, retrieved on 10.04.2013
18. US: CAIR Asked Senate to Drop Israel Visa Waiver Exemption Making U.S. Muslims
Second-Class Citizens On 15 April 2013, Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) urged Americans concerned about equality under the law to contact their
congressional representatives and ask them to drop a provision from the U.S.-Israel Strategic
Partnership Act of 2013 that would make American Muslims and Arab-Americans second class
citizens who could legally be subject to Israels policy of ethnic and religious profiling. The bill,
which had 17 Senate co-sponsors, granted Israel entry into the 37-nation visa waiver program
provided only that Israel has made every reasonable effort, without jeopardizing the security of the
State of Israel, to ensure that reciprocal travel privileges are extended to all United States citizens.
No other nation had been granted a similar exemption to the equal treatment of American citizens
regardless of faith or ethnicity.
In: http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130415-908827.html?mod=googlenews_wsj, retrieved on 16.04.2013
19. US: GOP Congressman Says Islam Will Motivate People To Murder Children Rep. Dana
Rohrabacher (R-CA) during a hearing on 26 April 2013 said that he believed that Islam as a whole
was a threat to the United States, labeling it as a religion that would motivate people to murder
children. During a hearing he chaired on Islamist Extremism in Chechnya: A Threat to the U.S.
Homeland? Rohrabacher continually referred to the 2004 Beslan hostage situation in which
Chechen extremists took control of a school in Russia resulting in the death of more than 180
children as an example of the threat that Islam posed.
In: http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/04/26/1928321/rohrabacher-boston-islam/, retrieved on 27.04.213.
20. US: Tenn. Lawmakers Facebook post frightens Muslims A Coffee County commissioners
Facebook post suggesting Muslims were best greeted from behind a rifle
barrel was prompting demands for an apology. Commissioner Barry
Wests post followed a string of anti-Muslim acts throughout Middle
Tennessee in recent years, including at least four incidents of mosque
vandalism. Opposition to a new mosque in Rutherford County was so
strong it took federal Justice Department intervention to open it in
2012. West played no active role in any of those incidents. He just put
an image on his Facebook page, which showed a man aiming a shotgun
under the phrase How to wink at a Muslim. But even that put a chill
through Muslims in Middle Tennessee.
In: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/01/commissioner-anti-muslim-facebook-post/2125953/, retrieved on 02.05.2013
21. US: Missouri Lawmakers Email Attacking Muslims Drawing Fire An e-mail from a powerful
Missouri lawmaker attacking Muslims was drawing fire from Christian pastors in the lawmakers St.
Louis County hometown. State Representative Rick Stream of Kirkwood chaired the house budget
committee. He sent out an e-mail from his official state account in the first week of May 2013,
quoting an 1899 speech from Winston Churchill attacking Muslims and Islam. It read, in part
quoting Churchill: Individual Muslims may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the
religion paralyzes the social development of those who follow it. Islam is a militant faith. Churchill
saw it coming.
In: http://fox2now.com/2013/05/07/missouri-lawmakers-email-attacking-muslims-drawing-fire/, retrieved on 09.05.2013
22. US: North Carolina: Politicians Who Wanted to Make Christianity the State Religion Want
to Ban Shariah It was not looked at whether every NC politician who supported making
Christianity the state religion also voted in favor of banning Sharia but both of the representatives
who first proposed the legislation, Rep. Carl Ford and Rep. Harry Warren both voted Aye in favor
of the ban. North Carolinians like Rep. John Blust and Rep. Larry Pittman thought some form of
Taliban-esque Shariah with a southern drawl was already there and on the verge of taking over the
In fact, a proposal to ban the recognition of Islamic Sharia law in North Carolina courts was headed
for the Senate after winning final House approval on 16 May 2013. Bill sponsor Rep. Chris
Whitmire, R-Transylvania, said: Take it as fact that this is a very, very present threat that must be
dealt withWe are making sure that the most fundamental basis on which we exist is protected.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/05/16/north-carolina-politicians-who-wanted-to-make-christianity-the-state-religion-want-to-ban-shariah/,
retrieved on 22.05.2013
23. US: Womens Group Adopting Pro-Israel Agenda Has a History of Anti-Islam Activism In
the first week of June 2013, the Washington Posts Jennifer Rubin hailed the arrival of a strong new
player in the pro-Israel community, Concerned Women for America. Rubin wrote that it was
music to the ears of Israel and her friends that a 500,000-strong conservative group that had mostly
focused on social and economic issues has
adopted defense of Israel as part of its core
mission. What Rubin did not mention was that,
in addition to a number of other very right-wing
causes, CWFA had a history of anti-Muslim
activism. In particular, the group pushed the creeping sharia conspiracy theory, which held that
Islamic religious law represented an imminent threat to the United States, and which was debunked
by Matt Duss and his colleague Wajahat Ali in a 2011 brief.
In: http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/06/10/2125361/cwfa-israel-anti-islam/, retrieved on 11.06.2013
24. US: Allen West: Muslims Are All Honor Killings, Beheadings, Suicide Bombings Former
Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) boiled down the entire religion of Islam to honor killings, beheadings
[and] suicide bombings in a message tweeted in the night of 10 June 2013 in response to a column
by comedian Bill Cosby, who wrote an op-ed in the New York Post encouraging African American
communities to abandon apathy in an effort to better raise the next generation. In one passage,
Cosby suggested that some parents could take cues from Muslims: Im a Christian. But Muslims are
misunderstood. Intentionally misunderstood. We should all be more like them. They make sense,
especially with their children. There is no other group like the Black Muslims, who put so much
effort into teaching children the right things, they dont smoke, they dont drink or overindulge in
alcohol, they protect their women, they command respect. And what do these other people do? They
complain about them, they criticize them. Wed be a better world if we emulated them. We dont
have to become black Muslims, but we can embrace the things that work.
In: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/11/allen-west-muslims_n_3422471.html, retrieved on 12.06.2013
25. US: GOP Congressman: American Muslim Leaders Are Potentially Complicit In Terrorist
Acts A Republican congressman claimed on the House floor on 11 June
2013 that members of Muslim communities in the United States had not
condemned acts of Islamic extremist terrorism against the U.S. and therefore
were complicit in those and any future attacks. Noting that it has been two
months since the Boston Marathon bombing, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) said
the supposed silence from Muslim leaders on terrorism was deafening,
adding that it was sad, but perhaps most importantly its dangerous.
Pompeo blamed the leaders of the Islamic community for not doing more to
prevent terrorist actions, hinting that they could be complicit in the deaths theyd caused.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/06/12/gop-congressman-american-muslim-leaders-are-potentially-complicit-in-terrorist-acts/, retrieved on
26. US: Anti-Islam protests force cancellation of Michigan Arab fest The 2013 Arab
International Festival, scheduled for the weekend of 15-16 June 2013 in Dearborn, Mich., had been
cancelled due to anti-Muslim organizations protests, even though it was not a celebration of Islam.
Pastor Terry Jones, the man widely known for burning the Quran, promised to attend. Repent
Amarillo, a group likened to the Westboro Baptist Church, and representatives of the Bible
Believers, were also to be on hand, according to the anti-Islam group Stand Up America Now.
In: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2013/06/14/wdr-dearborn-arab-festival-cancelled-pastor-terry-jones.html, retrieved on 15.06.2013
27. Australia: Ed Husic attacked on Facebook over Koran On 1st July 2013, Labor MP Ed Husic
was sworn in as Australias first Muslim frontbencher. In the following day, he brushed off the racial
abuse saying it was a natural part of democracy that people would not always agree, adding: There
are people that are definitely extreme inside my faith and outside it and they will always seek ways to
try and divide people. Mr Husic had copped a spate of online abuse over his decision to be sworn
in on the Koran at a ceremony at Canberras Government House. Hundreds of users posted
negative comments on his official Facebook. One person posted: Labor you are disgusting,
undermining our culture and country and constitution in this way. Another posted: I am totally
disgusted!! Sharia Law next on your agenda is it?. On social networking site Twitter, many users had
leveled vile abuse at the Western Sydney MP: One user said OK thats wrong right there when a
reporter posted that Mr Husic would be sworn in on the Koran. Another said: Rudd, the Muslim
Brotherhoods Man in Canberra Rudd is about to ---- Aust!
In: http://www.news.com.au/national-news/ed-husic-attacked-on-facebook-over-koran/story-fncynjr2-1226673070543, retrieved on 03.07.2013
28. US: Fox News host Says Ban new mosques until we find out who is not a terrorist On 09
July 2013s The Five, host Greg Gutfeld pointed out to Bob Beckel that a Muslim gang had killed
at least 28 students at a boarding school in Nigeria over the weekend. Beckel
had previously called to block all Muslims students from traveling to the
United States, and suggested that the slaughter was a reason to stop building
mosques in the U.S. Beckel explained: They are a bunch of thugs, murderers
and they go after schools, Christian schoolsTheyve done this, theyve
burned them down. We dont do that here. If we burned down your mosque
here, youd be really upsetNow, Ive already got enough mail from you all, that you dont like what
I say about not letting your students come hereIf it were up to me, I would not have another
mosque built in this country until we got it worked out who was not a terroristAnd by the way,
is any Muslim out there, any Muslim cleric, any Muslim leader said anything about this? No! Youre
cowardly! Because youre afraid theyre going to put a what do they call it? a fatwa on you. Well,
fatwa this!
In: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/07/10/fox-news-host-ban-new-mosques-until-we-find-out-who-is-not-a-terrorist/, retrieved on
12.07.2012, emphasis added
29. Iceland: A Mosque in Reykjavk Threatens Icelandic Culture Former mayor of Reykjavk
claimed that a mosque would threaten Icelands culture and safety. Eyjan reported that lafur F.
Magnsson, who was mayor for little less than 7 months in 2008, was
highly pessimistic about plans of a mosque being built in the open space
of in the eastern part of Reykjavk. City council approved of the plans in
the first week of July 2013, after Muslims in Iceland having waited 13
years to get a property to raise the first mosque in Iceland. lafur wrote in
Morgunblai on 14 July, expressing his concern about the matter: It is
worrying that Muslims here dont seem to have any difficulties financing the project, receiving aid
from Muslim organizations abroad. Those organizations might want to increase the influence of
Islam in Iceland, as well as in other countries. Instead of a mosque, lafur suggested a temple of
the Nordic gods to be built in the plot, as Such a cultural gem would bring joy to the majority of
the citys residents, as well as other Icelanders, and wouldnt be as out of place as a mosque would.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/07/14/a-mosque-in-reykjavik-threatens-icelandic-culture/, retrieved on 17.07.2013
30. UK: EDL member sports tattoo of mosque being blown up These images surfaced over the
weekend of 20-21 July 2013 from the EDL demo in Birmingham. Imagine if that were a Muslim
with a tattoo (though it could also be paint) that advocated blowing up churches. Hed be picked up
by the police within minutes.
In: http://liberalconspiracy.org/2013/07/23/edl-member-sports-tattoo-of-mosque-being-blown-up/,
31. Australia: Oz politician brands Islam religion from hell and building mosques high treason
An Australian politician branded Islam as a religion from hell and claimed that building mosques
in the country was high treason. The candidate for the Prime Ministers seat of Griffith Sherrilyn
Church, from the Rise Up Australia Party, said her top policy priority in the election was to ban the
building of mosques in the electorate, south of Brisbane. According to the Courier Mail, Church said
that Islam was not primarily a religion but a system of law because to the Islamic mind the existence
of a mosque in an area meant they believed that Sharia law applied and the Islamic flag must fly. The
61-year-old said she believed the Muslim faith and democratic citizenship were fundamentally
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2013/08/16/191-Oz-politician-brands-Islam-religion-from-hell-and-buildingmosques-high-treason-.html, retrieved on 17.08.2013
2. US: Draw Mohammed protest sparks dialogue Drawings of the Prophet Muhammad
became sparking dialogue between two University of Minnesota student groups. On 27 September
2013 evening the University of Minnesota Campus Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists (CASH) got
together for the controversial Everybody Draw Mohammed Day, which sparked both safety
precautions and campus discussion. The Universitys Muslim Students Association (MSA) was
hoping to talk with CASH afterwards about how the event affected them. Christopher Nolting,
physics junior and co-chair of CASH, said that his associations members chalked drawings of
Muhammad on sidewalks throughout campus on 27 September 2012 to raise awareness that
peoples freedom of speech shouldnt be censored because of other peoples religious affiliations.
But members of the MSA did not agree with the groups approach. Chemical engineering junior
Omar Alamy, spokesman for MSA, said: It just wasnt the right way to go about this.
In: http://www.mndaily.com/2012/10/01/%E2%80%98draw-mohammed%E2%80%99-protest-sparks-dialogue, retrieved on 02.10.2012
3. UK: Theres no God and Islam is evil speech earns Richard Dawkins standing ovation
Renowned atheist Professor Richard Dawkins received a surprise standing ovation in the
traditionally Christian community of Stornoway on 05 November 2012 night, following a twohour speech in which he said there was probably no God. In his talk delivered on Lewis during the
Hebrides Book Festival, the 71-year-old described Islam as one of the great evils of the world in
his lecture, The God Delusion. Members of the audience cheered loudly as Prof Dawkins used the
appearance to attack Islam.
retrieved on 07.11.2012
4. Ireland: Gardai hunt Irish racists who burned the Qurran A top Muslim association had
appealed for calm after a vile hate video was posted online by bigots in Galway. Then, Gardai
(Irish police) were probing the six-minute clip of racists burning the Quran. The nationalist
nuts, proclaimed themselves as anti-Muslim, anti-Jew, anti-gay, wanted to end all immigration into
Ireland. As of 06 November 2012, the book-burning had amassed just a few hundred hits on
YouTube. The video began with a declaration that the Nazi-style book-burning was a protest against
Islam which it warned was not welcome in Ireland. And the clip, which appears to have been shot in
a fireplace, is blacked out in places to protect the identity of the cowards who made it.
In: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/irishsun/irishsunnews/4629210/Gardai-hunt-Irish-racists-who-burned-the-Quran.html, retrieved on
07.11.2012, emphasis in the original.
5. US: Anti-Islam ads on RTD buses condemned The Anti-Defamation League released a
statement condemning ads that had been placed on a few RTD buses in metro Denver. The ads
read: 19,757 Deadly Islamic Attacks Since 9/11/01. Its Not Islamophobia, Its Islamorealism.
This Ad Paid For By The American Freedom Defense Initiative [of Pamela Geller]. RTD said it
appeared on 10 buses and would be there through late November 2012.
In: http://kdvr.com/2012/11/14/anti-islam-ads-on-rtd-buses-condemned/, retrieved on 15.112012
6. US: Traverse City church defends Muslim call ban at Vets Day concert Leaders of a
northern Michigan church were defending their decision to ban a Muslim call to worship that was
part of the planned program for a Veterans Day concert by public high school and community
college vocal groups. The call to prayer was part of a performance of The Armed Man: A Mass for
Peace. A video would run during the singing, showing graphic war scenes followed by people
from different faiths drawing together. At a point in the video where Muslim worshippers were
shown, there was silence rather than the call to prayer. Rev. David Walls, senior pastor of Traverse
Citys First Congregational Church, said leaders of his congregation feared causing offense to
those at the concert, as We were concerned that there was potential that some of our active
military personnel, military families with sons or daughters in Iraq, who have even lost their lives
there, would find it much too hard to handleA prayer in Arabic, addressed to Allah, with
references to Muhammad for an event that was intended to honor veterans. Doug Bishop, vice
president of the First Congregational Church council said: We are clearly a Christian church and
we don't apologize for thatWe have the right to control our content.
In: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121119/METRO/211190365/1361/Traverse-City-church-defends-Muslim-call-ban-atVets-Day-concert, retrieved on 20.11.2012
7. UK: A message from Tommy Robinson The English Defence League had posted the latest
missive from their imprisoned leader Stephen Lennon. It concluded with the following message,
which provided a good illustration of how the EDLs initial claim to be protesting against Islamic
extremism later evolved into the position that it was Islam as a whole that needed to be fought.
9. UK: Atheist Peter Crawford in court for ripping up Quran at stall in Leicester Peter James
Crawford (52), an atheist, shocked Muslim volunteers at a stall promoting Islam when he ripped
out pages from the Quran and threw the holy book onto the ground and told them: Your
religion is a load of b******s. He was on trial at Leicester Crown Court accused of causing
religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress, by demonstrating hostility based
on membership of a particular religious group, Islam. He denied the charge. The incident
happened at the Islamic Information Centres stall, near the Clock Tower in Leicester city centre,
on a busy Saturday afternoon, on 12 May 2012.
retrieved on 21.12.2012
Related: Protester who tore up Quran has case dropped at Leicester court A man who was put
on trial after staging an anti-religion protest by ripping out pages from the Quran in front of
Muslims had had the case against him dropped. A jury at Leicester Crown Court failed to reach a
verdict in the case against Peter James Crawford in December 2012. The case was dropped against
Mr Crawford, 52, when the prosecution offered no evidence against him at a hearing a move
described by Mr Crawfords advocate as sensible.
In: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Protester-tore-Quran-case-dropped-Leicester-court/story-17819452-detail/story.html, retrieved on 13.01.2013
10. US: Fox News promotes Islamophobic film News Hounds reported that Fox News latest
contribution to the incitement of Islamophobia was its promotion of an
Islamophobic documentary film called Jihad in America: The Grand
Deception, a film produced by the Investigative Project on Terrorism,
headed by Steve Emerson (listed in an August 2011 as one of the
leading lights of the Islamophobia network). It claimed to expose: the
covert structure and growing influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and
Islamist groups, masquerading under the false moniker of being
apolitical religious groups or civil rights groups in the United States,
specifically how they are infiltrating or intimidating major societal
institutions from Congress to Hollywood, from the mainstream news
media to federal law enforcement, from the publishing industry to museums.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/01/09/fox-news-promotes-islamophobic-film/, retrieved on 10.01.2013
11. US: The Reviews are in and Zero Dark Thirty makes me hate Muslims The film Zero Dark
Thirty that was being shown in theaters nationwide in January 2013 prompted the following
reactions on social networks. Here are some collected on the tumblr site dapsandhugs:
As Deepa Kumar wrote the film promoted extra judicial killing and the drone warfare that had
become the hallmark of the Obama administrations war on terror.
In: http://www.loonwatch.com/2013/01/the-reviews-are-in-zero-dark-thirty-makes-me-hate-muslims/, retrieved on 23.01.2013
12. France: Lorraine School principal threatened over class on history of Islam The Collectif contre
lIslamophobie en France reported that the Notre-Dame Catholic primary school at Saint-Mihiel, in the
la Meuse department of Lorraine in north-eastern France, had been subjected to a campaign of
Islamophobic harassment. In late December 2012, as part of the French national curriculum which
required pupils to receive a basic grounding in the history of the three main monotheistic faiths, the
school taught a class on the origins of Islam, just as it did on those of Christianity and Judaism. A
handout that included quotations from the Quran and named the architectural features of a
mosque was given to students.
Early in January 2013 the principal of Notre-Dame, Christelle Lainet, was accosted in the schoolyard
by the mother of one of the pupils vehemently objecting to her offspring being taught about Islam,
using what Lainet described as very racist language. The father then paid a visit to Lainet at her
office, expressing similarly extreme views and demanding the right to withdraw his child from the
course on Islam, which Lainet agreed to. (The CCIF noted that one of the common themes of
Islamophobic propaganda in France was scaremongering over often dubious reports of Muslims
withdrawing their children from classes in history, biology and sport. Such behaviour was held to
demonstrate that Islam was incompatible with the secular principles of French society. But
apparently it was OK when anti-Muslim racists did it.)
On 29 January 2013 the far-right secularist website Riposte Laque published an article on the case,
which claimed that pupils at Notre-Dame de Saint-Mihiel were being punished because their
parents had refused to allow them to learn a chapter from the Quran. As a result, Christelle Lainet
told the Rpublicain Lorrain, she had received threatening phone calls from people who treated her
like dirt and her inbox was filled with three hundred messages containing personal insults and
threats. Lainet also stated that the allegations in the Riposte Laque article were pure imagination.
With the support of the school administration, she had filed a complaint for defamation.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/2/8/lorraine-school-principal-threatened-over-class-on-history-o.html, retrieved on
13. Italy: Muslim convert quits Catholic Church, says its too weak against Islam A high-profile
Italian Muslim who converted to Catholicism and was baptized by Pope Benedict XVI announced
on 25 March 2013 that he would leave the church to protest its soft stance against Islam. Egyptianborn Magdi Cristiano Allam, 61, a prominent journalist and outspoken critic of Islam, publicly
entered the Catholic Church on 22 March 2008 during an Easter Vigil service, receiving baptism
directly from Benedict. After his conversion, Allam founded a small right-wing political party that
lost badly in Italys general elections in April 2012.
Allam, who had called Islam an intrinsically violent ideology, said his main reason for leaving the
church was its perceived religious relativism, in particular the legitimization of Islam as a true
religion. He warned: Europe will end up being subjugated to Islam,, unless it finds the courage
to denounce Islam as incompatible with our civilization and fundamental human rights, and to
banish the Quran for inciting hatred, violence and death towards non-Muslims. Europeans also
need to condemn Sharia as a crime against humanity and to stop the spread of mosques. Allam
said he would remain a Christian but that he did not believe in the church anymore.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/muslim-convert-quits-catholic-church-says-its-too-weak-against-islam/2013/03/25/1e7f8d0c9581-11e2-95ca-dd43e7ffee9c_story.html, retrieved on 26.03.2013
14. Anti-Islam Pastor Plans to Burn 2,998 Qurans to Mark 12th Anniversary of 9/11 Anti-Islam
advocate Terry Jones was upping the ante on his attacks on the
Muslim faith. Rather than burning a Quran to mark the 12th
anniversary of 9/11, Jones had another plan: He explained to
TheBlaze the plan to torch 2,998 copies of the holy book. According
to a press release put out by the pastors organization, Stand Up
America!, on 11 September 2013, Jones and his followers would
send Islam a very clear warning, by holding an International
Burning of 2,998 Qurans. And he would gather the books from
around the world. This number was not chosen without reason, as it was the figure Jones gave for
the Americans who were killed during the nations most horrific terror attack. The release read:
In: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/08/anti-islam-pastor-plans-to-burn-2998-Qurans-to-mark-12th-anniversary-of-911-andhe-explains-it-to-theblaze/, retrieved on 10.04.2013
15. US: Muslim Terrorist Doll: Card Painting Hijab-Wearing Girl as Suicide Bomber Angers
Civil Rights Group A member of a Chicago-area civil rights group made a disturbing discovering
when she found a neighborhood card and novelty shop selling a card that depicted a young hijabwearing Muslim girl as a terrorist. The Chicago Monitor, a website associated with the Chicago
chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, reported the card featuring the smiling
cartoon girl is covered with messages like, Shell love you to death! and Shell blow your brains
out! Inside, the card reads, Hope your birthday is a blow out!
Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago executive director, called the card moronic according to CBS
Chicago and said he had heard from plenty of people decrying the card as offensive and feeding into
negative stereotypes about Muslims. Rehab told CBS: The woman in Massachusetts just two weeks
ago that was punched while walking her kids for no other reason than wearing a hijab on her head,
was because someone thought that because she wears it, she is a terrorist.
In: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/06/muslim-terrorist-doll-car_n_3222996.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago,
16. US: Florida professors terrorism class: Muslims taught to hate from the cradle The
University of Central Florida was doing its students a disservice by allowing anti-Muslim professor
Jonathan Matusitz to spew bigoted and hateful Islamophobic propaganda in the classroom. He was
facing a formal complaint after he claimed that Muslims were taught to hate from the cradle in a
class on terrorism. According to excerpts from the professors seminar, he claimed that England
welcomed Muslims and had to say yes to polygamy and honor killingsImagine that symbolic
interaction that from the cradle until you are an adult you are taught to hateI would rather take a
chance and resist what is our enemy that just give up and embrace these foreign cultures.
In: http://www.loonwatch.com/2013/06/florida-professors-terrorism-class-muslims-taught-to-hate-from-the-cradle/, retrieved on 21.06.2013
17. French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo insults Muslims again in honor of Ramadan In yet
another anti-Islamic move, the French magazine Charlie Hebdo had chosen the first day of Ramadan
to publish images on its front cover that desecrated the Quran, featuring the recent anti-Muslim
Brotherhood protests in Egypt. In the cover, they printed: The Quran is s***. It does not stop
bullets. Islamic organizations in France called on Muslims to exercise restraint over the sacrilegious
move and remain calm to defuse the magazine agenda. Charlie Hebdo had previously insulted Muslim
sanctities several times publishing sacrilegious cartoons depicting Islams prophet Mohammed.
In: http://boltonbnp.blogspot.ca/2013/07/woo-hoo-french-satire-magazine-charlie.html, retrieved on 17.07.2013
18. French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo insults Muslims again in honor of Ramadan In yet
another anti-Islamic move, the French magazine Charlie Hebdo had chosen the first day of Ramadan
to publish images on its front cover that desecrated the Quran, featuring the recent anti-Muslim
Brotherhood protests in Egypt. In the cover, they printed: The Quran is s*** [expletive]. It does not
stop bullets.
In: http://boltonbnp.blogspot.ca/2013/07/woo-hoo-french-satire-magazine-charlie.html, retrieved on 17.07.2013
19. Frances Marianne muse stirs pot with anti-Islam tweet Inna Shevchenko, the leader of
topless feminist group Femen and one of the inspirations for the new stamp depicting Marianne, the
feminine symbol of France, created a mini-storm with a tweet slamming Ramadan and Islam in
general. The tweet in question, published on 9 July 2013 read: What can be more stupid than
Ramadan? What can be more uglier then this religion? Shevchenkos tweet had since been deleted
by Mohamed or by mistake, that is the same, the feminist posted to her Twitter account.
http://www.france24.com/en/20130717-marianne-inna-shevchenko-femen-tunisia-toplessfeminist-amina-ramadan, retrieved on 18.07.2013
20. Australia: Muslims Denounce Anti-Halal Stickers A new sticker campaign linking halal food
to terrorism had angered Australian Muslims, accusing rightist groups of spreading baseless
misconceptions about a peaceful Muslim community. The Muslim uproar had been sparked by the
discovery of a jar of coffee with its seal broken at a Woolworths supermarket at Underwood, south
of Brisbane, earlier in the month of July 2013. The jar had a sticker saying Beware! Halal food
funds terrorists. After search, the stickers were found to be sold by Restore Australia, whose CEO,
Mike Holt, had been the One Nation Partys candidate for the federal seat of Fairfax.
21. US: Islam bulletin board removed from Wichita school A bulletin board outside Minneha
Core Knowledge Magnet Elementary, a fourth-grade classrooms at a Wichita elementary school,
depicting the Five Pillars of Islam had been removed after a photo posted on Facebook page titled,
Prepare to Take America Back, drew condemnation over what school officials called a
In: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/08/20/630958ksislambulletinboardremoved_ap.html,
22. US: North Carolina governor allows anti-Sharia bill to become law North Carolina Governor
Pat McCrory on 25 August allowed a bill that prohibited North Carolina judges from considering
Islamic law in their decisions to become law. House Bill 522 [text, PDF] prevented courts from
applying foreign law in divorce, alimony and child custody actions, if doing so would violate a
persons federal or state constitutional rights. Anti-Sharia legislation had been proposed in 30 states
and adopted by seven including North Carolina.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/08/28/north-carolina-governor-allows-anti-sharia-bill-to-become-law/, retrieved on
23. US: Venice speakers denounce Islam and Muslims at 9/11 ceremony What was billed as a
9/11 memorial service took on elements of an antiIslamic rally on 11 September 2013, including a
lengthy speech by the leader of what had been labeled an anti-Muslim hate group.
An audience of about 500 people, including schoolchildren, gathered at Patriots Park heard three
speakers criticizing Islam, taking city officials by surprise, including Venice Mayor John Holic, who
called the message extreme. One speaker was Tom Trento, the head of an organization called The
United West, which said its mission was to defend Western Civilization against Shariah Islam. The
United West, based in Lake Mary, was classified as an anti-Muslim hate group by the Southern
Poverty Law Center. Trento, whose speech lasted for nearly 30 minutes, told the audience: Im not
talking about radical Islam or moderate Islam. Im talking about all Islam. Their goal is to get every
single one of us to convert to Islam. And they wont stop until we do.
In: http://www.loonwatch.com/2013/09/venice-speakers-denounce-islam-at-911-ceremony/, retrieved on 13.09.2013
24. US: Burned pages from Quran found outside Tampa office of CAIR The
executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Tampa,
Hassan Shibly, told WMNF he found burnt pages from the Quran outside the
CAIR Tampa office in the morning of 12 September 2013. He later posted a
photo of the charred remains on Facebook. Another CAIR employee, Samantha
Bowden, posted on Facebook that she found it when she stepped out of her car in
the morning. She said a report was filed with the Hillsborough County Sheriffs
Office, but it was not yet considered a crime because it wasnt burned on site.
retrieved on 14.09.2013
25. Russia Bans Quran Translation One year after a controversial ban on classic Hadith
collections and books on the Seerah (biography) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a
Russian court had ordered the destruction of an interpretive translation of Quran, inviting a storm
of fury from Russian Muslims. A court in Novorossiysk, a city in southern Russia, on 17 September
2013 ordered ban on the widely read translation of the noble Quran by Azeri theologian Elmir
Kuliyev. The court said that the text was outlawed under a Russian anti-extremism law that rights
activists said had been abused by local officials out of prejudice or to persecute groups frowned upon
by the dominant Russian Orthodox Church.
In: http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/464563-russia-bans-quran-translation.html, retrieved on 22.09.2013
retrieved on 02.10.2012
2. US: Speaker at Gellers New York conference advocated genocide against Muslims
Loonwatch drew attention to an attack on Islam made by a Hindutva extremist named Babu
Suseelan at the so-called International Freedom Congress in New York in September 2012 that
was organized by Pamela Geller and Robert Spencers Stop Islamization of Nations. Suseelan told
the audience: If we do not kill the bacteria, the bacteria will kill us. Otherwise, he warned,
Muslims will breed like rats and they will be a majority. But Suseelan finished on an upbeat
note: Islam can be stopped! And it can be wiped out.
retrieved on 09.10.2012
3. Cardinal causes uproar with Muslim scare video at Vatican A Roman Catholic cardinal
had caused an uproar at the Vatican by screening a spurious YouTube video that made alarmist
predictions about the growth of Islam in Europe. The seven-minute clip, called Muslim
Demographics, was the talk of an international gathering of bishops on 15 October 2012, two
days after Cardinal Peter Turkson screened it during a free discussion period. The clip, which had
been viewed over 13 million times on YouTube since it was uploaded by an anonymous user in
2009, combined dramatic music with skewed population statistics to make claims about various
European countries such as In just 39 years France will be an Islamic republic. Critics had
pointed out that the fertility figures used in the video, which claimed French women had an
average of 1.8 children while French Muslim women had 8.1 children, could not be genuine as
France did not collect statistics by religion.
In: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/15/us-vatican-islam-idUSBRE89E1A220121015, retrieved on 16.10.2012
4. US: Police: Anti-Muslim bigot beat Sikh cab driver A Federal Way man accused of viciously
beating a Sikh cab driver while shouting anti-Muslim slurs was facing a hate crime charge. King
County prosecutors contend Jamie W. Larson attacked the cab driver during ride on 17 October
2012 after commenting on the mans turban. According to charging documents, Larson, 48, tore
out chunks of the mans beard during the assault, which also loosened one of the drivers teeth.
During the attack, Larson pulled out parts of the drivers beard and punched him repeatedly. Even
after police arrived, Larson continued making bigoted comments about the driver, an immigrant
from India. According to police, Larson referred to him derisively as Iranian and Iraqi, and used
several anti-Arab slurs before also using an anti-gay slur. Writing the court, the Federal Way
detective noted Larsons comments were not only hateful but based on his misperception of the
drivers heritage. Larson was arrested at the scene and had since been charged with malicious
harassment under Washingtons hate crime statute. He remained jailed on $60,000 bail.
In: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Police-Anti-Muslim-bigot-beat-Sikh-cab-driver-3985421.php, retrieved on 29.10.2012
5. US: thugs savagely attacked elderly man in New York after asking if he was Muslim The
whole incident apparently started with a simple question and answer,
but it ended with the victim bloody and bruised from head to toe. It
happened just before 5:30 a.m. on 24 November 2012 in Queens, and
police wanted to know if it was an act of hate. Ali Akmal laid in his
hospital bed in critical condition with wounds and bruises covering most
of his body. The 72-year-old was savagely beaten after he went out for his
early morning walk on 46 Avenue in Corona. Akmals tongue was so
badly swollen that he couldnt talk for two days. When he finally could,
he told police that when he first encountered the two men, they asked
him, are you Muslim or Hindu? He responded Im Muslim, and
thats when they attacked. The beating was so savage and personal,
Akmal was even bitten on the nose. The crime has been assigned to detectives with the NYPD's
Hate Crimes Task Force. Police said the suspects are both in their late teens or early 20s.
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/12/1/new-york-thugs-savagely-attacked-elderly-man-afterasking-if.html, retrieved on 02.12.2012
6. US: South Carolina: Walmart employee fired after abusing Muslim co-worker and
threatening to cut her throat According to a local police report, a Rock Hill Walmart employee
was fired on 1st December 2012 after police said she grabbed a co-workers arm, threatened to cut
her throat and called her an anti-Muslim, derogatory name. Police spoke with the victim, 23, who
said she was on her break at the Walmart on Old York Road and tried to buy some items,
according to a Rock Hill police report. While in the checkout line, a co-worker stepped behind her
but tried to check out first by skipping in front of the woman and moving her items. The two
employees began to argue before the co-worker called the victim a derogatory, anti-Muslim name.
She grabbed the womans arm twice and said she was going to cut her throat, the victim told
police. The employee told her manager, who fired the employee, according to the report. No
arrests were made.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2012/12/04/police-rock-hill-walmart-employee-fired-after-calling-co-worker-anti-muslimname/, retrieved on 05.12.2012
8. US: All Saints Church, Hosting Muslim Public Affairs Council Convention, Receives
Threats, Hate Mail For the first time in its history, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
was holding its annual convention at a Christian church. But then the councils host, All Saints
Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California, started facing vitriolic backlash. Rev. Susan Russell,
senior associate for communications at All Saints said the church had received over 25 hate emails
and threats since 30 November 2012. Emails started coming in after the Institute on Religion and
Democracy (IRD), a conservative Christian group, published a criticism of the convention venue.
The IRD wrote on its website: Yet again, the Islamists are taking advantage of nave Christians
with a desire to show off their tolerance.
In: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/05/all-saints-church-muslim-public-affairs-council_n_2245495.html, retrieved on 06.12.2012
9. UK: Parliamentary report exposes employment discrimination against Muslim women The
All Party Parliamentary Group on Race and Community had expressed concern regarding high
levels of Black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi female unemployment in its new report on the issue.
The report followed a five month inquiry. The report and inquiry was written and undertaken in
partnership with the Runnymede Trust, which acted a secretariat for the group. It argued that
discrimination was present at every level of the recruitment process, and cited examples of women
changing their names or removing religious dress, such as the hijab, for job interviews.
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/12/7/parliamentary-report-exposes-employmentdiscrimination-again.html, retrieved on 08.12.2012
10. UK: Graffiti and ham cross outside Muslim home in Bingham Offensive graffiti attacking
Allah and Islam had
been painted outside a
Muslim familys home
weeks after a cross
wrapped in ham was left
by their door. The 31year-old mother and two
sons, eight and 10, said
they had suffered five or
six racist incidents since
they moved to Bingham, Notts, in October 2012. The graffiti was painted on their path on the
morning of 08 December 201. A 13-year-old Bingham boy was arrested in connection with the
ham-covered cross on 07 December 2012 and bailed.
In: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-20657244, retrieved on 10.12.2012
11. US: Texas School District Investigates Muslim Bias in School, Finds Christian Bias Instead
Avi Selk reported on 15 December 2012: Back in late October [2012], someone named Ginger
Russell sent a chain email with the subject IRVING ISD INDOCTRINATING ISLAM to school
board members and district officials and other emails instructed Christians to stand up against
the pro Islamic teaching in our public schools. The alleged indoctrination had to do with the fact
that the district used a state-wide teaching program called CSCOPE, which was put together by the
Texas Education Service Center Curriculum Collaborative, administered by an organization
called Region 10. Selk wrote: The director, Jan Moberly, said she hired a very socially and fiscally
conservative former social studies teacher who watches Glenn Beck on a regular basis to seek
out any Islamic bias in CSCOPE. Guess what Moberly found? There was religious bias, but in fact
it was a bias against Islam. Christianity got the highest billing, with twice as many mentions as any
other religion in CSCOPE.
http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2012/12/15/texas-school-district-investigates-muslim-bias-in-school-finds-christian-biasinstead/, retrieved on 17.12.2012
12. Scotland: Dundee man jailed for throwing sword at Muslims A Dundee man had been
jailed for almost two years for hurling a sword at three Muslim men after they
escaped from a fire. Dundee Sheriff Court heard Grant Robertson also shouted
racist abuse at the men as they waited for the fire service outside their flat on 26
January 2012.
Robertson pleaded guilty to a charge of acting in a racially aggravated manner.
The 28-year-old also admitted a second charge of assaulting the three men. The
court heard that when he was arrested Robertson told police: I threw my sword out the window
at them, I wish it got them in the throat.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/12/17/dundee-man-jailed-for-throwing-sword-at-muslims.html, retrieved on
13. US: Woman who says shes hated Muslims since 9/11 is charged with hate-crime murder of
man pushed in front of New York subway Prosecutors said that Erika Menendez was charged
on 29 December 2012 with murder as a hate crime in correlation with the death of Sunando Sen,
who was crushed by a 7 train in Queens on the night of 27 December 2012. Menendez, 31, told
the police: I pushed a Muslim off the train tracks because I hate Hindus and Muslims ever
since 2001 when they put down the twin towers Ive been beating them up. She could face 25
years to life in prison if convicted.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20121229-woman-who-says-she-s-hated-muslims-since-911-is-charged-with-hatecrime-murder-of-man-pushed-in-front-of-new-york-subway.ece, retrieved on 30.12.2012, emphasis added.
14. US: Cameron Mohammed: Armed hate crime victim doesnt shoot back Surveillance video
captured the moment Mr Mohammed and his girlfriend were attacked at point-blank range outside a
shopping centre parking lot in Florida around 3am on 3rd January 2013. Police said that their alleged
assailant, Daniel Quinnell, had approached the couple from behind, yelling racial slurs, before
squeezing the trigger on his gas-propelled pellet gun as many as 20 times.
But Mr Mohammed kept his concealed gun in its holster throughout the attack even though firing
back may have been justified under Floridas controversial stand-your-ground laws, which permits
people to use deadly force when there is a reasonable belief of an unlawful threat. Quinnell, 25, had
allegedly asked Mr Mohammed if he was Muslim or from the Middle East. When Mr Mohammed,
who was born in Trinidad and raised in Tampa, said no, Quinnell began shooting him and his
girlfriend anyway, police said. Mr Mohammed was to have surgery to remove a few of the pellets.
Quinnell was arrested a few days later and he would face court charged with aggravated battery.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/01/12/cameron-mohammed-armed-hate-crime-victim-doesnt-shoot-back/, retrieved on 13.01.2013
16. US: University in New Jersey investigating anti-Muslim graffiti in student center On 08
February 2013, campus officials said that Montclair State University was investigating a bias incident
in which someone drew a picture of planes hitting the World Trade Center on the door of the
Office of the Muslim Student Association, which was found on 04 February 2013.
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/2/8/new-jersey-university-investigating-anti-muslim-graffitiin.html, retrieved on 10.02.2013
17. UK: Tube worker posts offensive anti-Muslim taunts on Facebook British train engineer
Martin Aitken used Facebook to insulted Muslims, Asians and disabled people in a series of offensive
posts. Aitken, who joined London Underground in 2013, was caught by the Standard following a tipoff and when confronted said: Oh for f**ks sake its going to jeopardise my job. Aitken began
posting the hateful messages online as far back as 2010. On 8 February 2013 he made a post
equating Muslims with terrorism. A co-worker said: The content posted on Mr Aitkens Facebook
timeline appears to demonstrate a deep seated hatred for anyone different to himself. He is using
social networking sites to promote racism and his personal hatred of Muslims. A spokesman for
Transport for London said it was launching an investigation into the posts.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/2/19/tube-worker-posts-offensive-anti-muslim-taunts-on-facebook.html, retrieved
on 20.02.2013
18. Switzerland: Halal Pork Shocks Swiss Muslims The discovery of pork traces in halal food in
several stores had shocked the Muslim community in Switzerland and ignited debates for launching
a Swiss halal label. The Swiss Central Islamic Council (CCIS) said in a statement cited by Agence
France-Presse (AFP) on 26 February 2012: Sample analysis show a very low proportion of pork meat,
or less than 0.1 percent. The CCIS had found traces of pork in halal kebabs in famous meat stalls in
several Swiss cities including Bern, Biel, Zurich, Winterthur, Basel, Lucerne, Kreuzlingen, Lausanne
and Geneva. The test sampling was ordered by the Muslim group after being alarmed by the scandal
that recently erupted in Germany where 7 percent of pork meat was found in meat for kebabs. The
CCIS said it was shocked by the discovery that pork traces were confirmed in seven out of 20 Swiss
kebab samples tested.
19. Australia: Sydney suburb bombarded with anti-Muslim literature Residents had been
bombarded with an anonymous anti-Islamic letter drop, protesting against the proposed
development of 150 houses by Qartaba Homes in Riverstone and Schofields. Rivo Respect,
Responsibility & Recognition founders Danielle Fragomeli and Carroline Parkes said hundreds of
flyers titled Future of Riverstone a Muslim enclave, as well as an eight-page booklet titled Islam
Aggressive Religion, Totalitarian Political System had been distributed.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/3/1/sydney-suburb-bombarded-with-anti-muslim-literature.html, retrieved on
20. US: Two Perham exchange students are kicked out of church Two exchange students, Elshan
Mirzazade, from Azerbaijan, and Fikri Rahmat, from Indonesia, attending school in Perham,
Minnesota said they were kicked out of a church there when they questioned a nationally known
speaker who said Islam equals terrorism. The boys were kicked out of the Assembly of God church
in Perham during a question answer period following a speech by Walid Shoebat, who said he was a
former terrorist, and claimed to be an anti-terrorism expert, calling Islam the devil and touring the
US speaking to churches and schools - even collecting fees from Homeland Security. CNN had
exposed ShoebSat, calling him a fraud.
In: http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/76361/, retrieved on 06.03.2013
21. France to ban website documenting police violence against Muslims Alleging defamation,
Frances interior minister Manuel Valls was trying to shut down a website which gave a voice to the
victims of police harassment. The site, started by Bentounsi the website in 2012, after her brother
was reportedly shot in the back by a policeman, had become especially popular with Frances Muslim
population, who often claimed that police targeted, harassed and even killed them with impunity.
Statistics proved that non-whites justifiably felt under attack: Researchers said that Arabs and black
Muslims composed up to 70% of Frances prisoners.
In: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/03/06/292118/france-to-ban-website-documenting-police-violence-against-muslims/, retrieved on 07.03.2013
22. Russian converts to Islam face persecution According to a statement made by human rights
defenders in Dagestan, Russians in the region who accepted Islam were persecuted by employees of
the security and intelligence services. The president of the Pravozashita organization, Gulnare
Rustemova, explained that recent converts often asked for her help. Gulnare indicated that the
homes of such people were continuously searched and they were interrogated by the police.
In: http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=106534, retrieved on 13.04.2013
23. US: Muslim Cabdriver, an Army Reservist and Iraqi veteran, assaulted for being Muslim
Mohamed A. Salim, an Army reservist and Iraq veteran who worked as a cabdriver, said a passenger
he picked up early on 26 April 2013 at a Northern Virginia country club accused him of being a
terrorist because he was Muslim, then fractured his jaw in an attack being described by Islamic
activists as a hate crime.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/05/01/muslim-cabdriver-an-army-reservist-and-iraqi-veteranassaulted-for-being-muslim/, retrieved on
24. US: Islamic School of San Diego threatened: Authorities investigate threatening messages
Investigators sought to determine who was responsible for several recent bomb threats directed at a
Muslim school in Clairemont. Authorities reported that on 18 May 2013, a woman left three
menacing telephone messages on an office answering machine at the Islamic School of San Diego.
Among other hostile statements, the anonymous caller said: Im going to throw a bomb in your
(expletive) school. Authorities were treating the incident as a terrorist threat, but if more evidence
came to light, it would then be treated as a hate crime.
http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/05/22/islamic-school-of-san-diego-threatened-authorities-investigate-threateningmessages/, retrieved on 23.05.2013
25. Russia Detains 300 Muslims during Prayer In a new crackdown on Russian Muslims,
Moscow police detained more than 300 worshippers after rounding them up during prayer at a
Muslim prayer room in the Russian capital. In a raid carried on 07 June 2013, the forces detained
300 Muslims, including 170 foreigners, without disclosing reasons behind their arrest. The forces,
led by Federal Security Service (FSB), also confiscated Islamic literature to check its content. This
was the third raid targeting Muslim places of worship in Moscow or St Petersburg in 2013.
In: http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/463038-russia-detains-300-muslims-during-prayer.html, retrieved on 09.06.2013
26. US: 2 accused of plot to kill Muslims with X-ray weapon Federal authorities announced on
19 June 2013 that a Ku Klux Klansman working for General Electric and an accomplice were facing
terrorism charges in Upstate New York for allegedly planning to build a mobile X-ray weapon to kill
Muslims and other enemies of Israel. Glendon Scott Crawford, 49, of Galway, N.Y., and Eric J.
Feight, 54, of Hudson, N.Y., were charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists,
which carried a maximum prison term of 15 years, U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian said. They were
due in federal court in Albany on the same day.
In: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/19/terror-plot-arrest-radiation-device-x-ray/2438599/,
27. UK: Police seek racists who left pig heads in Bradford Muslim family garden In July 2013,
members of the Ditta family were sickened to discover the pig heads on their front and back
doorstop at their home in the Bolton area of the city. They later found another two in a bag, placed
in bushes. The Muslim family had been living in the city for decades but had never been the target
of racism in all those years. A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers were
investigating and that it was being treated as a racially-motivated hate crime.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/07/01/police-seek-racists-who-left-pig-heads-in-bradford-muslim-family-garden/, retrieved on 03.07.2013
28. UK: Horrific Attack on 55-year-old Muslim Woman A Muslim woman was brutally attacked
in the early hours of 29 July 2013 in Mayfair, London as she was returning home after Suhur
(closing fast) at a friends house. A man grabbed her from behind and repeatedly punched her in
the back of the head. She fell to the ground face first, he continued his attack with added profanities
against Muslims, Ramadan and Islam. He then grabbed her headscarf that was around her neck and
then dragged her along the pavement. The woman was bleeding and the attacker had her blood on
his hands and clothes. In his final act of cowardice he slapped her across the face with his bloodstained hands leaving an imprint of it on her face. She fell unconscious as he ran away leaving her in
the street. The victim was treated in hospital and needed surgery to her face.
In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/08/01/horrific-attack-on-55-year-old-muslim-woman/,
29. US: No Muslim Parking Sign Angers US Muslims Signs banning Muslims from using a
Houston shopping center parking lot mysteriously appeared in the
week of 10 August 2013, generating massive Muslim outrage to the
insensitive, discriminatory posters. Muslims heading to worship
services said they were offended. The signs, written in black letters,
read, No Muslim parking in the Westview Shopping Center. Your
car will be towed. El Farouq Mosque sits across the street from the
shopping center, in front of which the signs were put.
30. UK: EDL supporter calls for shooting at Muslims, on Facebook An EDL supporter, angry
about the islamification of [his] country called for people on the English Defence Leagues page to
shoot at Muslims. For that he got Likes rather than having the comment deleted. What was ironic
was that he did not even live in the UK, having moved to Thailand permanently.
In: http://liberalconspiracy.org/2013/09/16/edl-supporter-calls-for-shooting-at-muslims-on-facebook/, retrieved on 18.09.2013
31. UK: One in four young people distrust Muslims and think Britain would be better off
without them a new poll for BBC Radio 1s Newsbeat had shown that around a quarter of young
people in Britain distrusted Muslims and thought the country would be better off without them.
The study also showed that 44% believed Muslims did not share the same values as the rest of the
Additional findings:
Of the 18- to 24-year-olds polled, 26% said foreign terror groups were to blame for Islamophobia
compared to 21% who thought the reason was UK Muslims who had committed acts of terror.
But some 23% thought it was the media who were to blame for anti-Muslim feelings.
Of 1,000 people interviewed for the study only one in three thought Muslims were doing enough
to combat extremism in their communities.
By and large, around half of those polled agreed Islam is a religion of peace, compared to 27 per
cent who disagreed.
Young people are divided over whether or not immigration was good for Britain overall with twofifths saying it was a good thing but more than a third disagreed.
Some 60% thought the British public had a negative image of Muslims.
Professor Matthew Goodwin, one of the members of the group, said: Every survey that I have run,
and surveys run by my academic colleagues, makes it quite clear that a significant proportion of the
British population hold negative views of Islam, and by extension British Muslim communities.
In: http://metro.co.uk/2013/09/25/one-in-four-young-people-distrust-muslims-and-think-britain-would-be-better-off-without-them-4108190/, retrieved
on 26.09.2013
They also denounced the draft law to ban the wearing of the veil by child minders, or the circular
which prohibited veiled women from accompanying their children on school trips.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/10/2/french-women-demonstrate-against-discrimination.html, retrieved on
2. Outrage in Russia over hijab school ban Several Muslim families pulled their daughters out
of schools in Russias south after the girls were told they were not allowed to wear their hijabs. On
15 October 2012, the Mufti of the southern Stavropol region Muhammad-Haji Rakhimov said he
had received complaints from several parents whose daughters were for the first time not being
allowed into their schools wearing their hijabs. The situation resembled a stalemate because
both the Muslim parents and school authorities refused to budge, and several girls including
second-graders had not been to school for two weeks by the time of this news.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/10/16/outrage-in-russia-over-hijab-school-ban.html, retrieved on 18.10.2012
3. US: Okla. Muslim Told She Needs Bank Escort Because of Hijab The Oklahoma chapter of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was calling on Tulsas Valley National Bank to
review its inappropriate and discriminatory policy that treated customers wearing religious head
coverings differently than other patrons. CAIR-OK said a Muslim customer at a Valley National
Bank branch in Tulsa reported that she was singled out by bank officials because of her religiouslymandated head scarf, or hijab. The Muslim customer was allegedly told she would not be able to
enter the bank unless accompanied by a bank employee to and from the teller because of a no
hats, no hoods, no sunglasses policy. Valley National Bank has confirmed in a letter to CAIR-OK
that it was their policy to single out women who wore a head scarf, whether for religious reasons or
In: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/07/4968235/cair-okla-muslim-told-she-needs.html, retrieved on 08.11.2012
4. Russia: Stavropol student barred from school for wearing headscarf The parents of a
schoolgirl living in the village of Privolny, Stavropol Territory, were complaining that their
daughter had been barred from school for wearing a headscarf. The girls father Rizak Rizakov told
Interfax that the teachers were saying this decision had been made because of a decree issued by the
governor. In the meantime, the press service for the territorys Education Ministry told Interfax
these actions violated the school charter, which outlined requirements for students appearance.
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2012/11/30/stavropol-student-barred-from-school-for-wearingheadscarf.html, retrieved on 01.12.2012
5. US: Philly security firm sued over Muslim head scarf The EEOC was suing ABM Security
Services, which provided guards for the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, for
religious discrimination after an employee claimed she was forced to choose between keeping her
job and wearing her traditional Muslim head covering. ABM hired Tahira, a devout Muslim, and
she reported for training wearing a khimar, a head covering worn by some Muslim women. Her
trainer told her to take off the scarf, but she refused, explaining that her religion required it. An
ABM representative told her that she could not work at the convention center while wearing the
khimar and sent her home. Tahira filed an EEOC complaint, noting that ABM never discussed
accommodations that would allow her to perform the job and observe her religious beliefs.
In: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/33340/philly-security-firm-sued-over-muslim-head-scarf, retrieved on 19.12.2012
7. UK: Muslim family taking school to High Court over hijab ban A Greek Orthodox school
was being taken to the High Court for banning a Muslim pupil from wearing a headscarf. The
nine-year-old girls parents were so incensed at the decision they had pulled her out of St Cyprians
Greek Orthodox Primary Academy, in Thornton Heath. Now they have applied to the High Court
in an attempt to force the school the only one of its kind in the country to reverse its ban on
their daughter wearing a hijab.
In: http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/story-17646844-detail/story.html, retrieved on 22.12.2012
8. Scotland - Woman jailed after pulling hijab from victim in racist attack A woman who
launched a racist attack against a Muslim and pulled her hijab from her head as she robbed her of
her phone had been jailed for more than two years. Eileen Kennedy, 28, and her 16-year-old niece
Paige Bain assaulted Umaimi Musa in Glasgow in September 2012. The teenager also assaulted Ms
Musas friend, Mary Marandran, who was five months pregnant with her third child. The victims
were sitting in a playpark when they heard one of the accused make racist comments before they
were attacked. The incident was captured on CCTV and the camera operator alerted the police as
the incident happened.
In: http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/woman-jailed-after-pulling-hijab-from-victim-in-racist-attack-1-2713903, retrieved on
9. Belgian Hema store wrong to sack headscarf-wearing worker A Belgian industrial tribunal
ruled on 2nd January 2013 that a Belgian branch of Dutch department store Hema was wrong to
sack a woman worker for wearing a headscarf. The woman had worked for the store in Genk for
two months wearing a headscarf but was then sacked for refusing to remove it after complaints
from customers. The tribunal ordered Hema to pay the 21-year-old woman six months salary
9,000 in compensation. The company had since drawn up formal clothing requirements for its
Belgian stores.
retrieved on 04.01.2013
10. South Africa: School Hijab Ban Shocks Cape Town Muslims Two Muslim students had been
traumatized after being kicked out from their Cape Town high school after refusing to remove
Islamic headscarf, a right protected in the countrys constitution. Mail & Guardian Online reported
on 23 January 2013 that Nabila Dramat, the students mother told Die Burger that Sakeenah Dramat,
16, and her brother Bilaal, 13, taking their first classes at Eben Dnges high school on 16 January
2013, teachers asked them to remove their headscarf and fez respectively. The mother confirmed
that during an interview at the school in 2012, they were told that the children could wear their
headgear, provided that was in school colors.
In: http://www.onislam.net/english/news/africa/461020-school-hijab-ban-shocks-cape-town-muslims.html, retrieved on 24.01.2013
11. France: Frenchman convicted of veil assault On 13 March 2013, a Frenchman who ripped a
Muslim womans veil off her face as she strolled in a fairground was given a five-month suspended
prison sentence and ordered to compensate his victim. The 30-year-old man, who admitted charges
of aggravated assault, had justified the September 2012 attack at the time as an attempt to uphold a
controversial law banning women from wearing niqabs, face-covering veils, in public. That defence
was thrown out by public prosecutors, who accused him of acting as a vigilante and carrying out an
assault motivated by his victim's religious faith.
In: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2013/3/13/frenchman-convicted-of-veil-assault.html, retrieved on 14.03.2013
12. France: 80% of French public favor tougher anti-veil laws Data from a front-page BVA survey
in Le Parisien newspaper showed on 25 March 2013 that the Islamic veil was still very much a French
national controversy. More than 80% of respondents favored toughening the countrys 2004 law,
which banned religious dress and insignia in schools, nurseries, and anywhere that involved the care
and education of children. Another 83% was in favor of extending the ban to the private sector, and
16% was against. Socialists, intellectuals, politicians and humanitarian NGOs signed an online
petition launched by Marianne weekly, calling on the government to enact a new, tougher law in
defense of secularism, one that would explain with pedagogy and clarity where and when the
principle of secularism was to be applied.
http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/nations/france/2013/03/25/Islam-80-French-public-favor-tougher-anti-veillaws_8457461.html, retrieved on 26.03.2013
13. UK: Knifeman ordered Bristol women to take off hijabs In September 2012, Drunken
Norris, who was brandishing a six-inch knife told Miss Jama: Take the hijab off. This is England,
you are not allowed. Take the hijab off before I stab you. He then pointed the blade at Miss Jama
and put the blade to the left and right of her throat. Later the same day Norris approached Iqbal
Osman who was watching her four-year-old play in Barton Hill Urban Park. He asked her why she
was wearing too many clothes and accused Muslims of taking over his country. He again
brandished the knife before leaving. Recorder Nicholas Rowland made Norris, of Canterbury Street,
Barton Hill, subject to a two-year community order with two years supervision and a six-month
alcohol treatment requirement.
14. France: Muslim woman loses baby after veil attack A young pregnant Muslim woman, who
was allegedly attacked in the street for wearing a veil had lost her baby, her lawyer announced on 17
June 2013. According to reports in the French media, the woman, who was four months pregnant,
was assaulted in the Paris suburb of Argenteuil on 13 June 2013. Four days later, the 21-year-olds
lawyer Hosni Maati told AFP that the woman had since suffered a miscarriage.
In: http://www.thelocal.fr/20130618/muslim-woman-miscarries-after-veil-attack, retrieved on 19.06.2013
15. US: Abercrombie Struggling To Prove Fired Womans Hijab Hurt Sales: Report Law360
reported that Abercrombie & Fitch was having a hard time proving in court that the Muslim
headscarf worn by an employee who was fired in 2010 hurt the clothing companys sales. On 18
June 2013, when a federal judge in California pressed attorney Mark Knueve, who was representing
Abercrombie, if he or any of his witnesses had financial records to show the womans hijab hurt
sales, Knueve said he didnt. A defendant says were harmed but provides no real evidence? Judge
Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers retorted, according to the report. And you want me to grant summary
judgment [in your favor]? On 20 June 2013, Abercrombie spokesman Mackenzie Bruce told The
Huffington Post the company did not discriminate based on religion and that it granted religious
accommodations, including for hijabs, when such accommodations were considered reasonable.
The spokesman refused to comment on the pending litigation, as did the EEOC and the law firm
representing Abercrombie (Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP). This was not the first time
Abercrombie had been in trouble over this issue. In 2009 the clothing store was found guilty of
discrimination and ordered to pay $20,000 to a 19-year-old Muslim college student who was refused
a job because her hijab violated the store's Look Policy.
In: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/19/abercrombie-headscarf-hani-khan-hijab-lawsuit_n_3466226.html, retrieved on 20.06.2013
16. Russia: Supreme Court upholds ban on Muslim headwear in schools On 10 July 2013, a
branch of Russias Supreme Court rejected an appeal by a group of Muslims for the right of
schoolgirls to wear traditional religious attire, specifically the hijab, in classrooms. The appeal was
made by a group of citizens of Muslim faith from southern Russias Stavropol Region. They
complained that a decree by the local administration ordering all schoolchildren to appear in classes
only in regular secular clothes, which came into force in January 2013, infringed their freedom of
faith as guaranteed by the constitution. At the Supreme Court session, the representative of the
Stavropol administration reiterated the position that the school regulations concerning dress did not
prevent Muslims from believing in God and were therefore not infringing anyones rights. The
defense team said they would then appeal the case in the Supreme Court Presidium, the final right
of recourse within Russia.
In: http://rt.com/politics/hidjab-russian-court-ban-878/, retrieved on 11.07.2013
17. US: Muslim woman asked to remove headscarf during bar exam in Springfield On 31 July
and 01 August 2013, law school graduates aspiring to practice in the Commonwealth gathered in
Boston and Springfield to take the 16-hour bar exam, broken into several parts. During the morning
portion of the test on 01 August, recent graduate of the University of Michigan Law School Iman
Abdulrazzak was handed a note from an exam proctor asking her to remove her headscarf.
Though it was clear that prior approval was needed for headwear, Abdulrazzak said her request to
wear the hijab was approved on 29 July 2013. Additionally, it was unclear why the proctor gave her
the note during the exam instead of waiting until the lunch break. During the break for lunch,
Abdulrazzak called the Bar office to request she be allowed to take the exam in the afternoon with
her hijab on, which happened.
retrieved on 06.08.2013
18. France: In a Climate of Islamophobia Two attackers rip veil off French girl A 16-year old
girl was attacked by two European looking men, one of whom was also described as having a
shaven head in Paris suburb (Trappes) and had the Islamic veil she was wearing torn from her face.
Her assailants then shouted anti-Muslim and racist abuse at her while brandishing a box cutter,
before tearing off her veil, pushing her to the ground and hitting her. The victim was driven to
hospital in Trappes where she was treated for light scratch marks on her face and throat.
In: http://rt.com/news/france-anti-muslim-attacks-460/, retrieved on 15.08.2013
19. Islamophobia in Quebec [Canada]: Veiled Woman Verbally Assaulted inside a Mall Badia
Senouci, a resident of Quebec for over 10 years, was recently a target of hateful and discriminatory comments for
her choice to wear the Islamic veil in public. Senouci, Algerian by birth, was going about her daily
business in Quebec while fielding comments from strangers calling on her to change her religion,
hounding her for wearing the veil, and using the new Charter of Values as a reminder that the
government will force [her] to remove [the veil].
When Senoucis son and husband tried to defend her, they were met with equally vulgar behavior
spitting and being hit with a womans handbag. Because of the disturbance, local security was called
to the scene and Senoucis family was accused of causing public disturbance.
In: http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/09/105013/islamophobia-in-quebec-veiled-woman-verbally-assaulted-inside-a-mall/,
20. Swiss region votes to ban full-face Muslim veils Voters in southern Switzerland had backed a
ban on full-face veils, following similar laws implemented in France and Belgium. Activists argued
that the law discriminated against the fundamental rights of Muslims. The new law would still need
federal approval, after receiving two-thirds of public support in the Italian-speaking Swiss canton of
Ticino. This was the first time that such a ban had been passed in a Swiss canton.
The creator of the proposal, Giorgio Ghiringhelli, argued that the ban was aimed at sending a
message to Islamist fundamentalists in his district and all across the country because Those who
want to integrate are welcome irrespective of their religionBut those who rebuff our values and aim
to build a parallel society based on religious laws, and want to place it over our society, are not
In: http://rt.com/news/swiss-region-bans-veils-212/, retrieved on 24.09.2013
B: CFM Res. No 41/39-P on an OIC Approach for Combating Discrimination and Intolerance
against Muslims
RESOLUTION No.41/39-P
The Thirty-ninth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, (Session of Solidarity for Sustainable
Development), held in Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti, from 1-3 Muharram 1434H (15-17 November 2012),
Reaffirming the commitment made by all States under the Charter of the United Nations, and other
relevant international instruments, to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance
of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or
Reaffirming the objectives of the OIC, in particular to protect and defend the true image of Islam, to
combat defamation of Islam and encourage dialogue among civilizations and religions,
Reaffirming also OIC resolutions on Combating Islamophobia and Eliminating Hatred and Prejudice
Against Islam and on Combating Defamation of Religions,
Reaffirming further the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council on
Combating Defamation of Religions, and resolution 16/18 of the Human Rights Council on
Combating Intolerance, Negative Stereotyping and Stigmatization of, and Discrimination,
Incitement to violence, and Violence against Persons based on Religion or Belief, and subsequent
adoption of corresponding Resolutions 66/167 and 19/25 at the 66th Session of UN General
Assembly and 19th Session of the Human Rights Council, respectively,
Reiterating the importance of promoting dialogue, understanding and cooperation among religions,
cultures and civilizations for peace and harmony in the world and welcoming all international and
regional initiatives and efforts in this regard,
Stressing the need to ensure that the right to freedom of expression should be exercised by all, with
responsibility and in accordance with the relevant international human rights laws and instruments,
Deeply concerned at the inaction of some states in combating the burgeoning trend of defamation of
Islam and the resulting discriminatory practices against Muslims,
Noting with deep concern the continuing instances of intolerance, discrimination, profiling, negative
stereotyping, stigmatization, religious hatred and violence against Muslims occurring in many parts
of the world,
Reaffirming the Declaration by the Annual Coordination Meeting of Minister of Foreign Affairs of
OIC Member States to condemn the sacrilegious acts of release of defamatory video Innocence of
Muslims and publication of offensive caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), held on the
sidelines of the ongoing 67th United Nations General Assembly,
Taking note of the concept paper entitled, An OIC Approach for Combating Discrimination and
Intolerance against Muslims, presented by the OIC General Secretariat to the Ministerial
Brainstorming Session held during the 39th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, held in
Djibouti in 2012,
1. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the reprehensible release of the film Innocence of
Muslims on YouTube as a deliberate act of incitement to hatred that has deeply offended more
than a 1,5 billion Muslims and all peoples of conscience around the world,
2. Condemns any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility
or violence, where it involves the use of print, audio-visual or electronic media or any other means;
3. Acknowledges that open and public discussion, further to the dialogue between religions and
civilizations on the local, national, and international levels, constitute the best protection and
practice against religious intolerance, and together they play a positive role in strengthening
democracy and combating religious hatred; and expresses its confidence that continuing the dialogue
on these issues would help eliminate prevailing wrong conceptions.
4. Supports the request made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud, to the UN to issue a resolution that condemns any state or group or individuals
offending religions, prophets and messengers, Peace be Upon Them, and set up deterring sanctions.
5. Calls upon all the Member States and the international community to confront the production
and promotion of media offensive to divine religions and religious symbols, through international
institutions and mechanisms, to respect religious and cultural diversity, and to uphold the principles
outlined in the initiative proposed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin
Abdelziz Al Saud, to establish dialogue between religions and cultures, and which was adopted at the
Madrid World Conference on Dialogue in 2008, to refrain from committing acts offensive to
religions and religious symbols.
6. Requests the Secretary General to constitute and convene a panel of Eminent Persons, including
Legal Experts and Human Rights practitioners, to lend the Member States the benefit of sound
professional advice entrenched in international law by elaborating and examining the whole range of
available options for a unified OIC position for combating discrimination and intolerance against
7. Further requests the Secretary General to present the output of the panel of Eminent Persons
preferably to the Senior Officials Meeting preparatory to the 12th Summit with a view to finalizing
the parameters of a unified and politically tenable OIC position for combating discrimination,
intolerance and bias against Muslims, as well as drafting an action plan for the Organization in this
8. Requests that the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission to consider a set of
available options to adopt a unified stance on combating discrimination and intolerance against
Muslims. The Commission may, according to its statute, seek the expertise of professional high-level
persons, and submit them to the Member States.
9. Welcomes the efforts exerted by the OIC Secretary General to work constructively with the
political and ideological elite and influential public opinion centers, especially in the West, in order
to combat Islamophobia through devising a comprehensive strategy that aims at preparing an
international environment leading to harmony among religions and civilizations, and requests the
continuation of such efforts.
10. Requests the Secretary General to follow-up the implementation of this resolution and submit a
comprehensive report thereon to the 40th Session of the CFM.
C: Statement by H.E. the OIC Secretary General, Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, at the 3rd Istanbul
Process Meeting on the follow-up of Implementation of UN HRC Resolution 16/18
Geneva, Switzerland, (19 21 June 2013)
Mr Director General of the United Nations in Geneva
Distinguished Panelists,
Dear guests and colleagues,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to this 3rd Istanbul Process Meeting on the follow-up
of Implementation of Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18 on Combating Incitement to
violence, and Intolerance based on religion or belief.
I am grateful to all participants for their attendance, and particularly the distinguished panelists for
sharing their valuable time and expertise. I would also like to thank all the esteemed State
representatives and high officials from the UN and other international organizations for their
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Combating discrimination and intolerance forms a most daunting challenge of our times. It
constitutes a matter of vital concern at the OIC. Over the past decade, the debate over religious
intolerance and its relationship with freedom of expression received greater attention in both the
media and political discourse. Unfortunately, notwithstanding the exposure and recognition
accorded to the core issue, divergences in approach prevented the enactment of effective and
concrete remedial measures at the international level. It was in this context that, highly committed
to the matter and determined to reach common ground, the OIC came up with an alternative
approach reflected in the Resolution 16/18 on Combating Intolerance, Negative Stereotyping and
Stigmatization of, and Discrimination Incitement to Violence, and Violence against Persons Based on Religion
and Belief.
The consensual passage of HRC resolution 16/18 in March 2011has been widely acknowledged as a
positive development. It demonstrated OICs ability to forge consensus on the most sensitive of
issues in contemporary international relations. The resolution codified the eight points identified in
my address to the 15th Session of the Human Rights Council in September 2010. These points
constitute areas of action at the national and the international levels. I am gratified that they could
form the basis of consensus. It afforded the opportunity to focus on the real issues away from the
politicization and polarization of a decade.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We did not stop at mere passage of a resolution. The Istanbul Process initiated with Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Catherine Ashton to build further on the consensus building that went into resolution 16/18 must
be carried forward. While the resolution forms a triumph of multilateralism, Istanbul Process must
also be seen as a poster child of OIC-US-EU cooperation. Our meeting today is a part of this
Process. I appreciate that this Process has come to be recognized as the way forward by all
stakeholders. Its merit lies in acceptance as the least common denominator. This approach carries a
lot of potential in terms of evolving an international consensus to deal with the matter while
addressing genuine concerns of all parties. The real test, however, lies in implementation. The
consensus would, otherwise, be fragile. The approach signified by the resolution 16/18 is not an end
in itself. It is a means to an end. We need to build on it.
To date, two expert meetings have already been held in the framework of the Istanbul Process in
Washington D.C., in December 2011 and the Wilton Park event in London in December 2012.
Each of these two experts meetings focused on specific action points contained in Resolution 16/18
with a view to assessing and promoting their implementation. Furthermore, both expert meetings
offered significant contributions by first of all maintaining a live debate of ideas and keeping open
channels of communications but also by compiling comprehensive reports, containing a set of
recommendations and best practices from which all concerned parties can take stalk.
Distinguished panelists and participants,
This third meeting of Istanbul Process, being held before the Geneva based diplomatic
community, is of no lesser significance. It has brought the Istanbul Process to where it essentially
belongs the home ground of governing resolution. With the Geneva based experts from Member
States and the distinguished panelists and participants in our midst, this meeting is perfectly poised
over the next three days-to address three important points that lie at the heart of the resolution
16/18. This is an opportunity for frank and candid debate particularly on the grey areas
characterized by divergence of views. The significance and utility of the Istanbul Process lies in
affording a forum for structured and open debate. Such debate must not, however, be sterile. It must
generate ideas that can continue to feed the process of building on the consensus.
Let me briefly comment on each of the three substantive sessions.
In the first Session later this afternoon, distinguished panelists would lend the benefit of their
perspectives and expert opinion on the importance and urgency of speaking out against intolerance,
including advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or
violence. International communitys commitment to condemn intolerance and incitement to hatred
on religious grounds is surely the most basic and simple step to be taken in implementation of HRC
Resolution 16/18. It is essential for such condemnation to be strong, categorical and unified
encompassing all aspects of the issue. The key message that must be consistently repeated, and which
our meeting should echo loud and clear, is simple. In a world of increasing interconnectivity and
multiculturalism, fast flow of information and human migration, Intolerance and incitement are not
admissible. They continue to pose a clear and present danger to peace, security and stability at the
national, regional and global levels.
The approach signified by resolution 16/18 has indeed been helpful to that end. The Joint
Statement issued by the OIC, Arab League, the African Union and the European Union in
September 2012 - in response to the reprehensible release of the highly provocative film innocence
of Muslims on the Internet forms a case in point. The joint statement condemned a clear act of
advocacy to religious hatred that constituted incitement to hostility and violence. It also emphasized
the need to respect believers legitimate and objective sensitivities with regard to the sanctity of
religious figures and symbols, and that, irrespectively of their religious background. It is, of course,
regrettable that acts of provocation often lead to violent reactions, which must not be condoned.
The international community stands to gain from a unified and even handed approach in this
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Second Session of the Meeting touches upon a most important element of Resolution 16/18. It
is most significantly characterized by divergence of views on the adoption of measures to criminalize
incitement to violence based on religion or belief. It needs to be appreciated that there is sufficient
clarity, at least in terms of the existing international law, on how to address advocacy of national,
racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or
violence. However, progress with regard to concerted international action to that end, has been
marred by extensive politicization and polarization of the issue.
Let me clearly reiterate that this is a matter of vital concern for OIC. The alternative approach
signified by the resolution 16/18 was intended to move beyond the politicization and polarization
with regard to content or title of the erstwhile resolution in addressing the real issues on a
consensual basis. The increasing trend of Islamophobia is indeed ominous in a globalized world.
There has been an alarming increase in intolerance and discrimination against Muslims. It must be
appreciated that there is mounting public pressure on OIC Member States to take concrete action.
Alarming increase in Islamophobic incidents like the Utoya massacre in Norway, the burning of
Quran by the Florida Pastor and release the reprehensible trailer on You tube continue to hurt the
religious sentiments of over 1.5 billion Muslims. The political leadership of OIC Member States has
been calling for immediate remedial action. It was in this situation that OIC as a responsible
International Organization constituted a panel of eminent lawyers and human rights practitioners to
examine the issue from the international law perspective. The panel endorsed the 16/18 approach
and the Istanbul Process as the avenues for engagement. It was agreed that there is no need to move
towards an entirely new legal instrument. The provisions of existing instruments, including articles
19 and 20 of ICCPR, suffice in covering OICs concerns. It is the voids or gaps in interpretation,
implementation and information that need to be plugged. There are differences that must be ironed
out to develop a common understanding. Concerns of all parties must be understood and addressed
in evolving a consensual solution. I believe according equal weight to the concerns on both sides
could form a good point of departure. The Istanbul Process carries the necessary resilience in this
regard. I am confident deliberations at this meeting will make an important contribution.
Distinguished colleagues,
The third substantive session at this important meeting would focus on the need to recognize that
the open, constructive and respectful debate of ideas, as well as interfaith and intercultural dialogue
at the local, national and international levels can play a positive role in combating religious hatred,
incitement and violence. This is a very important aspect of the larger discourse that requires careful
consideration. I would like to emphasize here, at the outset, that religions are part of international
heritage and have all along accommodated critical thinking as an important pillar of human
evolution and progress. For instance in Islam, the concept of Ijtihad forms a dynamic tool of
jurisprudence that accommodates dissent and critical thinking. It is duly reflected in the
admissibility of the different interpretations. Such dynamism, I believe, is a precondition to the
progressive development of all legal systems.
Let us now focus on the word respectful. An open and constructive debate of ideas is indeed useful.
It must be upheld as a matter of freedom of opinion and expression. It, however, transforms into a
case of incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence when the freedom is abused to denigrate
symbols and personalities sacred to one or the other religion. It needs to be understood as a matter
of identity. It needs to be acknowledged that people in some parts of the world tend to identify
themselves more with a particular religion than elsewhere. It is, therefore, essential to draw a line
between free speech and hate speech - Hence the importance of interfaith and intercultural dialogue.
OIC was the first to call for such a dialogue in 1998. We have seen that the dialogue has continued
for a considerable time without much to show for result. What we need is a movement beyond event
based calls towards a serious, structured and result oriented dialogue. Similarly, we could benefit
from an integrated approach with regard to international efforts geared towards combating
intolerance, discrimination and incitement to hatred. The Istanbul Process, I believe can serve as an
avenue for such an integrated approach drawing on and lending a concrete shape to the
understandings reached elsewhere.
Distinguished Guests,
In a world faced with the menace of terrorism, incitement to hatred, discrimination, and violence,
cannot and must not be ignored. We would, otherwise, be faced with the unaffordable risk of the
agenda hijacked and set by radicals and non-state actors. We need to act to wrest the initiative away
from the street to the table of meaningful and result oriented multilateral discourse. Events like this
meeting are increasingly important. Our deliberations here must aim at squarely addressing
interrelated issues with particular reference to the grey areas. We need to evolve approaches that can
remove the gaps in interpretation, implementation or information on a consensual basis. I
personally believe and propose that we may look into the prospect of developing soft law that could
reflect the common understanding of international community on this important issue. It could be
in the form of some principles, guidelines or a declaration. I would like to leave it for the collective
wisdom and common understanding of the experts to enlighten us to that end. The Istanbul Process
based on the shared objectives reflected in the consensual approach signified by the resolution
16/18 lends me with reason for optimism in this regard.
I thank you all and wish you success in the important deliberations over the next three days.
Prepared by:
The OIC Islamophobia Observatory
October 2012 to September 2013