Introduction
In today’s world, discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, and religion is recognized as racism, which is strongly condemned in almost every form. In the contemporary era, where hate against black, Asian, and Jewish people is building momentum, the world has shown zero tolerance against any racial prejudice. In contrast, Islamophobia is a form of racism that is often legitimized under the name of “freedom,” “secularism,” or “protection of human rights,” making it one of the most accepted and tolerated forms of racism around the world.
While other forms of racism are rightfully challenged, Islamophobia continues to grow unchecked. This continued neglect has become a pervasive threat that needs to be recognized and criticized. To condemn this marginalized racism, society must first be aware enough to accept it as racism. Actions against the rapid spread of racism and the legitimization of irrational fear under the name of Islamophobia are also crucial.
Hate Crime on the Rise
Racism is not a new world problem—its roots run deep in history. However, in the recent decade, hate crimes, discrimination, and exploitation of the rights of black and Asian people have taken a heinous turn. Many African-Americans have been killed on the basis of false allegations and racial profiling. For instance, the murder of Trayvon Martin led to a countrywide protest and sparked a civil rights movement under the name of “Black Lives Matter,” which brought systemic racism into the world’s focus.
Similarly, after the outbreak of Covid-19, the hate and discrimination against Asians was utterly atrocious. It led to a series of hate crimes against Asians, including a horrific tragedy—the killing of six Asian women in the 2021 Atlanta spa shooting. This attack later triggered a mass protest, and the “Stop Asian Hate” movement gained momentum. Several laws were enacted to tackle the situation. Awareness programs were launched, and media support played a timely and effective role in addressing the crisis. These examples prove that when racial and religious prejudices are acknowledged, change is possible.
Silence on Islamophobia
However, when it comes to Islamophobia, the same sort of moral urgency is often absent. When religious symbols and attire were banned in France, Belgium, and across Europe, the most prominent target of authorities was Muslims, especially Muslim women. Muslim women were brutally targeted and abused for wearing hijab, making hijab one of the greatest symbols of Islamophobia. These restrictions were imposed under the guise of secularism and modernization.
Even Muslims who serve within democratic institutions are not spared from this discrimination. Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim New York state representative, has been openly targeted and threatened, solely because of his Muslim identity. The Trump administration also raised the possibility of stripping Mamdani of U.S. citizenship. Unlike the global condemnation of racism, Islamophobia remains highly overlooked. Muslims are often left unsupported—even though their rights have been violated publicly—showing clear double standards. It reflects how discrimination regarding certain groups is often overlooked—making Islamophobia the most acceptable and ignored form of racism today.
Selective outrage and silence around Islamophobia are not the only concerns, but there are some clear objections over legal double standards when it comes to Islamophobia. Actions against other forms of racism are firmly taken, but the issues related to Islamophobia are often sidelined. To control the hate crimes against Asians, the Asian hate crime bill was passed by Joe Biden. The bill was passed to prosecute hate crimes against Asians.
News coverage and public pressure were taken into account and ethnicity was given the respect and legal protection it deserves. But this kind of recognition and action are always missing in cases involving Muslims and Islam. For instance, in 2023 a police officer in India killed three Muslim men after confirming their religion from them but this issue did not stand out as significant enough to take any proper measures.
In fact, the police officer was later reported to be “suffering from hallucinations.” No actions were taken for the protection of Muslim minorities. In countries like India, the exploitation of the basic rights of Muslims is often disguised under the sham of minority protection—a clear example of how Islamophobia is so far the most tolerated form of racism.
Additionally, media representation is a factor that can’t be ignored. It’s a fertile ground that can either amplify or curb the hate, and digital platforms—when it comes to Islamophobia—always fueled hostility. The media has often fueled the hatred by portraying Muslims as villains, oppressors, and barbarians. According to a report in 2022—The Center For Countering Digital Hate—89% of posts containing anti-Muslim hatred were not acted upon, where social media companies like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok failed to act on 89% of posts containing Muslim hate.
Almost 530 posts contain disturbing and dehumanizing content with millions of views. If this kind of ignorance and cyberattack solely based on religion is not racism, then what is? These findings prove that the digital environment is also legitimizing hate via algorithm. It is not just the failure of the system but also the failure of our society to protect the rights of Muslims in every field. This systemic failure allows Islamophobia to become the most tolerated and socially acceptable form of racism in the digital era.
Finally, in this case, despite the otherwise successful steps to tackle the issue of racism against many groups of people, the world oddly lacks the same moral coherence when the offended group comprises Muslims. Whereas the hatred towards black, Asian, or Jewish people is rightfully condemned and action is taken towards it, hatred towards Muslims, in many cases, remains ignored, downplayed, or even justified.
Conclusion
The concept of Islamophobia remains a systemic and institutionalized type of racism that is most often camouflaged under such concepts as secularism, the freedom of speech, and national security. Until this hypocrisy can be accepted, real progress will remain impossible. Islamophobia should never be considered an exception and it should not be accepted as any part of political or ideological agendas. The world should learn to regard hate towards the Muslims as appalling and scarier as any other act of racism. Ensuring that everyone has equal rights and encouraging awareness and maintaining consistency with regard to standards of justice is not only a political requirement but also a moral act. Only in this way can we state claims to the defense of human rights without any discrimination.
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