Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

Islamophobia: Tracing the Securitization of Islam and Muslims

  • Ruqiya Anwar Ruqiya Anwar
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 26 Sep 2021 20:44
  • 38 Shares
3 Min Read

Anti-Muslim sentiments and Islamophobia have been generated to the extent that, the identities and values are perceived to be threatened by Islam

  • x
  • Islamophobia: Tracing the Securitization of Islam and Muslims

In the wake of the 9/11 incident, concerns about Islamophobia have increased and terrorism is now perceived to be the reason (Rychnovská, 2014). Consequently, several groups of people have been represented as a security threat. This applies to Muslims in general and Religion-Islam in particular. Western countries equate Islam with the Palestinian issue, Iran and al-Qaeda movement, their discourses of Islam involve an essentialized approach to a multifaceted faith (Cesari J., 2012). Therefore, anti-Muslim sentiments and Islamophobia have been generated to the extent that, the identities and values are perceived to be threatened by Islam (Krumme, 2010).

In the United States and Europe, anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic sentiments are on the rise. As a result, Muslims and Islam have been securitized on several occasions in Europe and the United States. To name just a few, mosques controversies in different states of the US, discourses about an Islamic center at Ground Zero, the “minaret” issue in Switzerland, and anti-niqab/veiling legislation in France and other European countries (Zafar, 2019).

Securitization is the process of convincing an audience (state, individuals, or society) of an issue as an existential threat by a securitizing actor. The contemporary securitizing agents in the West predominantly use this method to securitize Islam as a threat to Western culture and security. The Non-state entities such as Daesh and Al-Qaeda or their affiliates' related terrorist actions against the West are used to justify such securitization ideologies (Cesari, 2012).

Related News

Witch hunt against Muslims in UK Civil Service continues

Islamic democracy and a democratic Islamic polity

In Western discourses, Islam is associated with "fundamentalism" and "extremism." It's also associated with terrorism, making it a huge security issue (Jawad, 2010). Furthermore, politicians and policymakers have securitized the integration of Muslims and Islam in western cultures, further provoking the public narrative. Islam has been securitized as an existential threat to the western countries and as a result of which extraordinary measures and policies towards Muslims and Islam have been formulated, which lead towards the exclusion of Islam from the West.

Until now, the securitization of Jihad, Wahabism, and Sharia Law had been the dominant component of Islam's securitization, but now immigrants and refugees have become an equal target, signaling a shift in the security discourse. Furthermore, unfavorable sentiments increase the public's concern of Islam as a security concern. Such misconceptions about Muslims and Islam are based on ancient times and prior experiences with colonial oppression, rather than a thorough understanding of the contemporary situation in the Muslim world. There is a need to educate the public about the inclusion of Islam in public spheres and to support the implementation of alternative counter-terrorism measures, both for the west by highlighting its counter-productive manifestations and for the Muslim world to avoid perpetuating conflict between the West and Muslim world (Zafar, 2019).

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Mayadeen’s editorial stance.
  • Islam
  • Islamophobia
Ruqiya Anwar

Ruqiya Anwar

Researcher.

Most Read

All
How is it that the Western regimes, which claimed to support the fake revolutions of Lebanon, Libya, and Syria, waged constant war against the actual Ansar Allah-led revolution in Yemen? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Understanding Yemen 1/2: The Revolution

  • Opinion
  • 30 Jun 2025
Why Netanyahu is on the ropes

Why Netanyahu is on the ropes

  • Analysis
  • 4 Jul 2025
Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

  • Analysis
  • 11 Jul 2025
Africa’s top university’s ‘Gaza Resolutions’ outrages pro-'Israel' lobby

Africa’s top university’s ‘Gaza Resolutions’ outrages pro-'Israel' lobby

  • Analysis
  • 4 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
War on Iran

More from this writer

All
Russian Economy Survives One Year of Sanctions

Russian Economy Survives One Year of Sanctions

Palestinian Journalists Face Severe Repercussions for Exposing Israeli Oppression

Palestinian Journalists Face Severe Repercussions for Exposing Israeli Oppression

'Israel' threatens Palestinians' unity through family separation

'Israel' threatens Palestinians' unity through family separation

Cementing Apartheid for Palestinians in 2023

Cementing Apartheid for Palestinians in 2023

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS