Facing Religious Hate Crime; A Critical Study of Islamophobia and Racism Against Muslims in the United States
Akhlāq-i zīstī i.e., Bioethics Journal,
Vol. 14 No. 39 (1403),
28 Tir 2024
,
Page 1-14
https://doi.org/10.22037/bioeth.v14i39.43301
Abstract
Background and Aim: Islamophobia or anti-Islamism refers to fear, hatred or discrimination against the religion of Islam or Muslims in general. Especially when it is perceived as a geopolitical force or a source of terrorism. The debate about the meaning of this word is still discussed and some consider it problematic. Many scholars consider Islamophobia to be a form of xenophobia or racism, although the legitimacy of this definition is disputed. Some scholars consider Islamophobia and racism to be partially overlapping phenomena, while others dispute this relationship primarily because religion is not a race. The causes and characteristics of Islamophobia are also discussed. Therefore, the questions that we seek to answer in this article are whether or not Islamophobia can be included under the category of hate crimes and how this issue is viewed in the United States, which is the main breeding ground for Islamophobia.
Methods: The research method of the present study is descriptive-analytical and the method of collecting information is library studies.
Ethical Considerations: This article adheres to ethical principles, honesty, respect for rights, confidentiality, and the principle of material and intellectual ownership.
Results: The findings of this research, which was carried out by the descriptive-analytical method and by collecting information from library sources, indicate that the primary objectives of Islamophobia include creating an enemy, preventing the spread of Islam, countering the Islamic Revolution of Iran, and maintaining military presence in the region. Various tools such as the media, extremist groups, influential politicians, sanctions against Islamic countries, and public diplomacy have been employed to achieve these goals. The consequences of Islamophobia have been severe both within the United States and beyond, leading to acts such as murder and massacres, security-police confrontations, insults to sacred beliefs, and the plundering of resources from Islamic countries. The results of this study suggest that Islamophobia holds significant importance as an ideology in the U.S. and is systematically implemented to promote hatred and discrimination within the country.
Conclusion: The presented findings show that race is a symbolic form of Islamophobia. According to the symbolic forms of Islamophobia, they are disseminated, produced and constructed through events of anti-Muslim discrimination. The incidents reviewed in this article show that Islamophobia is not in the realm of "rational" criticism of Islam or Muslims. This is often discrimination against people who look different to the majority of US citizens. The manifestation of Islamophobia in the United States also often conflates racial and religious prejudice, largely because the stereotyped Muslim is constructed as a sinister figure: the bearded, dark-skinned, turban-wearing terrorist perceived by ancient religious practices. The production of Muslims as "visible archetypes" perpetuates the negatively assessed meanings about Islam and Muslims in the United States.
- Crime Based on Religious Hatred
- Islamophobia
- Racism
- America
How to Cite
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