Islamophobia Issues, Challenges, and Action

Abstract

This report is actually a comprehensive and highly informative two-partreport put out by the Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia,which was established by the Runneymede Trust in the United Kingdom in1996. In 1999, Dr. Richard Stone (vice chair of the Runneymede Trust) wasappointed chair of the commission.The first part details the issues and challenges Muslims face in Britain,while the second part focuses on the actions taken to deal with and combatIslamophobia. As a report, its applicability is limited to the socioeconomicand political conditions prevailing in Britain and, in particular, that country’surban areas. However, the substantial issues raised (namely, a broaderdiscussion of the concept of Islamophobia; the relationship of Islamophobiato racism; and whether racism as a concept ought to include intolerance,bias, stereotyping, and discrimination on the basis of religion) have a greaterresonance.The backdrop to the report consists of the events of 9/11 and the growingintolerance displayed in the media, governmental institutions, and societyat large toward Muslims, both individually and collectively. Centrally,the report asks how a secular society like Britain can provide a safe space,one that is free of discrimination, disrespect, and intolerance, in whichMuslims can observe and practice their faith. In addition, the authors alsoask two vitally important questions: “Why is the anti-racist movement soreluctant to address prejudice, hate, and discrimination based on religion?”and concomitantly: “Should Islamophobia be defined as a form of racism, inmuch the same [way] that anti-Semitism clearly is, and should the full forceof race relations legislation be brought to bear to defeat it?” ...