Talking Points: Islamophobia

Talking Points: Islam/West Relations

Defining Islamophobia: Islamophobia is defined by FAIR (Forum Against Islamophobia and Racism) as the fear, hatred or hostility directed towards Islam and Muslims. Islamophobia includes attacks, abuse and violence against Muslims; attacks on mosques, Islamic centers and Muslim cemeteries; discrimination in education, employment, housing and delivery of good and services; and lack of provisions and respect for Muslims in public institutions.

Anti-Americanism and Islamophobia

American Public Opinion Trends on Islam: (These opinion trends will be released in a book by Indiana University Press entitled Muslims in Western Politics in September 2007, based on polling data from Cornell University.)

• In a poll conducted by Cornell University, low levels of knowledge and familiarity with Islam among the general public were seen, with an average 37% expressing feeling knowledgeable about Islam between July 2005 and March 2005 and only about half of Americans knowing the most basic facts about Islam.

• The lack of knowledge of Islam leaves the public very dependent on media content for making evaluations and judgments regarding Islam and Muslims.

• There was a 40% increase in Americans who believe the U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan is a major conflict between Islam as a whole and the U.S., instead of the U.S. and a small radical group.

• 40% of Americans polled believe Islam encourages violence more so than other religions.

• A recent Gallup poll found that 39% of Americans support special identification cards for Muslim American citizens.

• An August 2006 Gallup poll found that four in 10 Americans admit feeling prejudice toward Muslims. Nearly one in four expressed unwillingness to live next to Muslim neighbors.

In 2006, the Council on American-Islamic Relations received more than 150 hate crime incident reports and 2,000 reports of alleged discrimination.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Merrill Lynch for discriminating against an Iranian Muslim, failing to promote and fire him because of his race and religion. 7/2/2007

U.S. Sues Merill Lynch Over Treatment of Iranian

Muslims believe US Seeks to Undermine Islam (Poll by World Public Opinion 2007):

• Four major Muslim countries were polled: Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan and Indonesia. All four had large majorities that believe that the undermining of Islam is a key goal of US foreign policy.

• There is mixed support for Al Qaeda in the four countries. Large majorities agree with many of its goals, like “stand up to Americans and affirm the dignity of the Islamic people”, and “push the US to remove its bases and its military forces from all Islamic countries”, but believe that terrorist attacks on civilians are contrary to Islam.

• Strong majorities in all countries believe that the US seeks to “weaken and divide the Islamic world” and that it is a US goal to spread Christianity in the region.

• A majority in all four countries support the goal of getting the US to remove its bases and military forces from all Islamic countries.

• While some countries showed support for attacks on US troops, all four countries rejected attacks on civilians, taking the strongest position offered by saying such violence cannot be justified at all.

• Majorities in all four countries felt that it is a good thing that the world is becoming more connected through greater economic trade and faster communication. Overall, 67% agree that “a democratic political system” is a good way to govern their country. They also agreed that people of any faith in their country should be allowed to worship according to their own beliefs.