Relations IslamophobicThemes 2013

Council on American-Islamic Relations
Report Part Title: Islamophobic Themes
Report Title: LEGISLATING FEAR

Report Subtitle: Islamophobia and its Impact in the United States January 2011-December
2012
Report Author(s): Council on American-Islamic Relations
Published by: Council on American-Islamic Relations (2013)
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep31106.6
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CHAPTER
Islamophobic Themes
Certain themes run through the Islamophobia
network’s messaging. Here we briefly explore some
of the more common ones.
03
Islam Is Not a Religion
In a surreal moment in 2011, a Tennessee judge ruled that Islam is a religion
after anti-mosque activists filed courts briefs arguing that it is not. The
federal government filed a legal brief in the case supporting Islam’s centu-
ries long standing as an actual faith. Many in the Islamophobia network,
including former Congressman Allen West, prefer to characterize Islam as a
totalitarian, theocratic, political ideology. Former General Jerry Boykin also
makes such arguments in an effort to deprive Muslims of First Amendment
protections.
Islam Is an Extremist Religion

At the other end of the spectrum, many in the Islamophobia network argue
that Islam itself is extremist. This argument is often advanced by selective
quoting or incorrect understanding of the Quran’s verses. This theme is often
found in the works of Robert Spencer and Act! for America.
All Muslims Are Violent Extremists

Some take the previous theme and extrapolate that since Islam is a violent
religion, every Muslim is a potential threat. This view leads to arguments for
anyone who looks Muslim getting extra scrutiny by law enforcement. Sam
Kharoba, who claims to have trained more than 20,000 law enforcement
officials, is but one proponent of this theme.
Muslims Plan to Subjugate America and Supplant the Constitution

Newt Gingrich famously told an audience of his fears that his grandchildren
may grow up in an America that is “a secular atheist country, potentially
one dominated by radical Islamists.” Proponents of this thesis, such as the

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ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS IMPACT IN THE UNITED STATES | LEGISLATING FEAR
Center for Security Policy and legislators in at least 31 states, have convinced
themselves that Muslims have both the desire and ability to stealthily destroy
America from within.
The Muslim Brotherhood Is the Driving Force Behind Almost

Every Muslim
Prior to 9/11, it was in vogue to accuse Muslims engaged in public service of
being agents of Saudi Arabian Wahhabi, or more properly Salafi, ideology.
After 9/11, this narrative shifted to accuse everyone of being agents, or apol-
ogists for, terrorist groups. The new conspiracy theory is that every Muslim
in the public eye is fronting for the Muslim Brotherhood. This theme
manifested itself in Rep. Michele Bachmann’s 2012 allegations that, among
others, a senior aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a man who had
recently received high honors from a group representing retired FBI agents
had both deceived the system and were covert Islamic supremacists.
Minimize, Dismiss or Mock Assertions of Concern over

Anti-Muslim Sentiment
Islamophobes call Muslims “whiners” when Muslims point out the bias
being directed at the community. After the FBI released numbers for bias
crimes in 2011, advocates of this theme attempted to use the 157 hate crimes
against Muslims as proof that Islamophobia is either not really happening or
is minimal.
A Murky Endgame
What is never clear is where the Islamophobic vision for America takes
us. Should all the Muslims be deported? Disenfranchised? Put in camps?
Worse? Rhetoric advanced by Pamela Geller, Walid Shoebat and blogs like
Bare Naked Islam gives cause for concern. Legislators passing laws designed
to vilify Islam while serious candidates for our nation’s highest office speak
of loyalty oaths demands a national pause and realignment with founding
principles.
38 Council on American-Islamic Relations

03 | ISLAMOPHOBIC THEMES
The Right Wing Playbook on Anti-Muslim Extremism

(People for the American Way)
After conducting an analysis of anti-Muslim rhetoric, People for the
American Way identified “eight key strategies” used to “inflame anti-Muslim
sentiment”:
Strategy 1: Frame Muslim Americans as dangerous to America.
Strategy 2: Twist statistics and use fake research to “prove” the

Muslim threat.
Strategy 3: Invent the danger of creeping Sharia.
Strategy 4: “Defending liberty” by taking freedoms away from

Muslims.
Strategy 5: Claim that Islam is not a religion.
Strategy 6: Maintain that Muslims have no First Amendment rights

under the Constitution.
Strategy 7: Link anti-Muslim prejudice to anti-Obama rhetoric.
Strategy 8: Claim an “unholy alliance” exists that includes Muslims

and other groups targeted by the Right wing.

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ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ITS IMPACT IN THE UNITED STATES | LEGISLATING FEAR
40 Council on American-Islamic Relations


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Council on American-Islamic Relations

Report Part Title: Islamophobic Themes

Report Title: LEGISLATING FEAR

Council on American-Islamic Relations is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and

Islam Is an Extremist Religion

All Muslims Are Violent Extremists

Muslims Plan to Subjugate America and Supplant the Constitution

Council on American-Islamic Relations

The Muslim Brotherhood Is the Driving Force Behind Almost

Minimize, Dismiss or Mock Assertions of Concern over

38 Council on American-Islamic Relations

The Right Wing Playbook on Anti-Muslim Extremism

Strategy 1: Frame Muslim Americans as dangerous to America.

Strategy 2: Twist statistics and use fake research to “prove” the

Strategy 3: Invent the danger of creeping Sharia.

Strategy 4: “Defending liberty” by taking freedoms away from

Strategy 5: Claim that Islam is not a religion.

Strategy 6: Maintain that Muslims have no First Amendment rights

Strategy 7: Link anti-Muslim prejudice to anti-Obama rhetoric.

Strategy 8: Claim an “unholy alliance” exists that includes Muslims

Council on American-Islamic Relations

40 Council on American-Islamic Relations

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