On September 8, Dr. Hatem Bazian hosted a conversation on his Facebook page with Naved Bakali and Farid Hafez on the new edited book, The Rise of Global Islamophobia in the War on Terror: Coloniality, Race, and Islam. This book discusses how anti-Muslim racism, or Islamophobia, is influenced by local economies, power structures and histories. The War on Terror created a homogenized Muslim “other” framed as a perpetual enemy, and has been core to the global Islamophobic narrative.
They discussed Islamophobia around the world, and Dr. Hatem Bazian made a point to discuss Islamophobia in formerly colonized states. “I was intrigued to see a piece on Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and then South Africa. Now, Brazil is interesting because in 835 the Bahira rebellion was led by Muslims. A number of Muslims were persecuted and four of them were executed as a result of the rebellion.” He then asked the panelists what the implications of Muslims in history have on current Islamophobia in politics and society, even in the global south.
The Muslim Resistance Against Global Islamophobia
While there are many books already published the War on Terror from a diverse variety of authors, The Rise of Global Islamophobia in the War on Terror” is unique in that it highlights activism and resistance confronting Islamophobia. Muslims in the United States were systemically victimized, targeted, and attacked from political parties, social organizations, and Americans across the country. The ways in which the Muslim community was in some ways, created, and in other ways, stregthened, as a result of those adversities speaks to the sacrifices and confidence of Muslim Americans in advocating for their rights.
Hatem Bazian Serves as Chair and Founder of CRG’s Islamophobia Research and Documentation Project at UC Berkeley
Dr. Hatem Bazian is the Chair and Founder of CRG’s Islamophobia Research and Documentation Project (IRDP). This is part of the Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies department of Comparative Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley. This project focuses on a systemic and empirical approach to the study of Islamophobia and its impact on the American Muslim Community. The publications on the website date back to 2011, and annual journals have been published with in depth research that delve into different dimensions and aspects of Islamophobia.
To follow more content and see ways to get involved in work Dr. Hatem Bazian is leading, you can find him on most social media platforms.
