What is Islamophobia?
Islamophobia threatens civil and religious freedom and is therefore incompatible with the Principles of Loyalism. As Loyalists we must therefore stand foursquare against this prejudice. This short article will introduce the concept of Islamophobia and how we as Loyalists can combat it.
Watch this excellent explainer from Tell Mama:
Islamophobia is a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world. Motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, it targets the symbols and markers of being a Muslim.
This definition emphasises the link between institutional levels of Islamophobia and manifestations of such attitudes, triggered by the visibility of the victim’s perceived Muslim identity. This approach also interprets Islamophobia as a form of racism, whereby Islamic religion, tradition and culture are seen as a ‘threat’ to the Western values.
Some experts prefer the label ‘anti-Muslim hatred,’ fearing that the term ‘Islamophobia’ risks condemning all critiques of Islam and, therefore, could stifle freedom of expression. But international human rights law protects individuals, not religions. And Islamophobia may also affect non-Muslims, based on perceptions of nationality, racial or ethnic background. (The United Nations).
A rising tide of anti-Muslim hate
Islamophobic incidents are rising in Northern Ireland. In 2024 Tell Mama (a group which records anti-Muslim hate and supports victims) verified 51 cases of Islamophobic hate in Northern Ireland, up from 31 verified cases the previous year. Whilst spikes were recorded linked to specific events (most notably the South Port murders) the background level of islamophobia in our society is significant. Tell Mama’s most recent report notes that this Islamophobic atmosphere is sustained by online disinformation, inflammatory rhetoric used by public figures, proliferation of conspiracy theories, racialised and gendered stereotypes, and sensationalist media narratives.
Combating Islamophobia
American author Ibram X Kendi defines a racist as ‘one who is supporting a racist policy through their actions or inactions or expressing a racist idea’. He defines anti-racism as ‘one who is supporting an anti-racist policy through their actions or expressing an anti-racist idea’. Just as anti-racism is about action, so is anti-islamophobia. It’s not enough to simply say ‘I’m not racist’, or “I’m not an Islamophobe”. As Loyalist women there are many anti-islamophobia actions we can take;
- Don’t vote for political parties or individual candidates who are not committed to the principle of civil and religious freedom.
- If you hear a colleague, friend or family member express support for an Islamophobic policy, public figure, or idea challenge them. This does not have to be confrontational, but it does have to be done.
- If you’re concerned about someone you love being radicalised reach out to the Exit Hate Trust or Hope Not Hate’s Deradicalisation Unit.
- Look at the educational material your child is given. If it does not promote civil and religious freedom raise this with the principal or Board of Governors.
- Tell Mama supports victims of anti-Muslim hate and is a public service which also measures and monitors anti-Muslim incidents. Tell Mama’s funding has been cut so if you can donate, please do.
The Principles of Loyalism are material wellbeing, civil and religious freedom, equal citizenship within the United Kingdom and the use of armed resistance to defend access to the first three principles (find out more about our feminist understanding of these principles, including “armed” resistance, here). Therefore, civil and religious freedom is at the core of what we believe as Loyalists and when it is under attack we must defend it.
