Those who discriminate against Muslims are playing directly into the hands of IS
Anti-Muslim hatred leads people directly into the hands of IS recruiters and aggravates the very issue of radicalisation that we are trying to avert. The more people act out of fear and cause Muslims to be ostracised in our society, the greater the chances of them turning to extremism.
If all Muslims are approached as if they were extremists, with hostility and hatred, they may indeed develop such extremist views in order to defend themselves from this treatment.
Recent figures show that anti-Muslim hate crimes are up by 70 per cent. These crimes vary from cyber-bullying to extreme violence, but it appears that women, particularly those who are identifiably Muslim through their clothing, are targeted more frequently than others. As a result, many Muslims feel under attack and vulnerable in their own country, something that should surely be avoided in a liberal democratic state like ours.
Those who discriminate against Muslims are doing exactly what IS want. As hate crimes are committed, Muslims are cornered into looking elsewhere for protection, identity and solutions. This vacuum leaves Muslims vulnerable and thus more open to extremist exploitation.
IS propaganda is specifically designed to target those who are unfulfilled, defenceless or aggrieved. As Quilliam’s Charlie Winter has put it, IS ‘sell themselves as champions of social justice, law, order and defiance in the face of the ‘oppressor”. Hate crimes and anti-Muslim bigotry push people into a state that makes them more open to IS propaganda and, therefore, more vulnerable to radicalisation.
Hate crimes affect not only the current generation but also our children. We know environmental factors play a key role in growing up for young people. As hate crimes surge, the next generation is increasingly exposed to views that incorrectly paint all Muslims as extremists. This may cause Muslim children to grow up vulnerable to radicalisation, defensive about their faith, and less likely to integrate into British society. This defence can quickly turn to offence as more radicalising triggers present themselves.
Moreover, hate crimes hinder the public image of counter-extremism by unintentionally creating the façade that Islam, rather than Islamism, is being opposed. Counter-extremism tackles radicalisation and extremism as phenomena and is opposed to those who commit or support ideologically-motivated intolerance, violent or otherwise, to further political aims.
If Muslims are being attacked for their faith rather than Islamists challenged for their bigotry, we reduce ourselves to the very intolerance we are trying to fight. This is why human rights are so important to counter-extremism.
Rather than acting out of hate, those concerned about extremism should respond in more constructive ways:
1. We should defend the right for freedom from discrimination and the rights for people to practise their own religion or wear religious attire. We are all entitled to these freedoms, regardless of race, gender, religion or sexuality.
2. We must stop confusing the religion of Islam with the political ideology of Islamist extremism. That way, when we challenge extremists, we will not cause prejudice or impair anyone’s right to practise their faith.
3. When faced with extremism, whether Islamist, far-right or others, we should challenge it just as we would challenge bullying or racism. Preventing extremism is not a job solely for the government or security forces to uphold, but rather a role for everyone to engage in.
4. As TellMAMA identifies, we should engage with cross-cultural exchange and dialogue amongst all cultures, irrespective of faith differences. This will not only make our nation more open and accepting of varied backgrounds, but will also mean that Muslims can play a constructive role in challenging the extremism in their communities.
As a result of these constructive actions, people will feel increasingly at home in their own nation and IS propaganda will have less of a foothold. Critically, these actions are not only useful for combatting extremism; they are also vital components of life in Britain that are worth defending.
Therefore, as anti-Muslim hatred diminishes, so will the perceived need for it.
Jonathan Russell is a political liaison officer and Rachel Bryson is a researcher, both at Quilliam
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76 Responses to “Comment: anti-Muslim hatred is a self-fulfilling prophecy”
Mick
Muhammad was rightly booted from Mecca for trying to convert everyone and just pissing everyone royally off by assuming authority. In Medina, with a few diehards, he lured new followers with sugary talk of peace and love mixed with a burning sense of murderous victimhood. Kind of like a more successful Charles Manson.
Hence the Koran passages, in chronological order, becoming more bloodthirsty, until his band was strong enough to sack Mecca for Mo to become its king.
What, you think Muhammad was offered the key to the city for his charity work?!
F*** THE TORIES
RID THIS COUNTRY OF THE IMMIGRATION HATERS, RID THIS COUNTRY OF THE POOS THAT ARE THE TORIES, UKIP, ANYONE RIGHT OF CENTRE IS POISONOIUS!!
WELCOME THE REFUGGEES, WE HAVE THE MONEEY AND THE RESOURCES, WE CAN GET RIF OF THE POSHO FUCKS AND WE WILL GET ON HAPPY, END BORDER RESTRICTIONS, END BORDERS FULL STOP, THEY ARE AN ATTACK ON OUR CIVIL RIGHTS
JAMES MCGIBBON
I do not think he got a revelation. How come I have never had a revelation. It was just brainwashing of the masses. Make up a daft story and the plebs will follow. I would not exonerate Christians as they were up tae their knees in Jewish blood over centuries including the Holocaust.
Mick
Yeah. And guess what? New findings suggest a lot of the Koran was already written while Muhammad was a child or young man – contradicting Muslim folklore which insists Muhammad had his ‘revelations’ as an older man, which were not compiled ’til way after his death.
Was Muhammad more of a dumb plagiariser than even we thought??
And also read the Hadith’s descriptions of Muhammad’s spasms as he claimed to receive them – the exact symptoms of epilepsy.
Islam MUST be exposed to scrutiny and clarity, things Sharia Law KILLS you for trying to do!
Mark
Continually confused. I understand the Quilliam approach of seperating “Islam” and “Islamism”. But I’ve heard for years that Wahabbism and Salafism are potentially the main problems. Why do we not use those terms directly? Or is it that eg a Sufi or a Deobandi can be an Islamist? Or should it be “orthodox Wahabbism”? That would produce more focus rather than Islam/Islamism or the very silly moderate/extreme.
Or is that too focused?
I suppose only someone from Quilliam could answer that.
I’ll wait.