Introduction: Understanding Islamophobia

Abstract

This book deals with a controversial phenomenon that has become known as ‘Islamophobia’. Antipathy towards Islam, long-standing from many quarters (Bravo López 2014, 2011; Gottschalk and Greenberg 2013; Curtis 2013; Kumar 2012; Mastnak 2010; Tolan 2002; Daniel 1960), not only seems to be increasing but evolving into a phantasmagorical spectre (Werbner 2013), particularly since the 11 September 2001 attacks, which not only took thousands of innocent lives, but destroyed the few existing barriers preventing hate-speech against Muslims from proliferating (Sheehi 2011). Perceptions of Islam, and concerns about Islamic ideology and Islamist activities, constitute topics of on-going contemporary concern globally for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. With the emergence in parts of the Muslim-majority world of DAISH (ISIS/ISIL) claiming to resurrect an Islamic caliphate, and its undisputed horrific atrocities and extermination of various Muslims and non-Muslims as targeted enemies, the peaceable interpretations of Islam followed by many millions across the globe are in danger of being so overshadowed that Muslims everywhere are perceived as harbingers of hate toward any not like them. Furthermore, in what Pratt (2015) describes as ‘reactive co-radicalisation’, extreme anti-Islam and anti-Muslim hatred also manifests in acts of violence and murder such as the 2011 Norwegian massacre committed by Anders Behring Breivik.