{"id":8142,"date":"2026-04-24T22:32:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T17:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/islamophobia-is-surging-again-but-muslims-wont-be-victims-again\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T22:32:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T17:02:50","slug":"islamophobia-is-surging-again-but-muslims-wont-be-victims-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/islamophobia-is-surging-again-but-muslims-wont-be-victims-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Islamophobia is surging again, but Muslims won\u2019t be victims again"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p><iframe title=\"Everlit Audio Player\" src=\"https:\/\/everlit.audio\/embeds\/artl_gaN16tv37GK?ui_title_intro=Listen+now%3A&amp;client=wp&amp;client_version=2.7.1\" width=\"100%\" height=\"136px\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>(RNS) \u2014 Last month, Muslims marked Eid al-Fitr amid war in Iran and surrounding countries, continued bombings in Gaza, violence in Sudan, crushing immigration enforcement and rising anti-Muslim attacks and verbiage, coupled with fear permeating in American Muslim communities as Islamophobic political efforts rise.<\/p>\n<p>That didn\u2019t stop about 480 Muslims and interfaith allies from gathering in Washington, D.C., in late March for a celebration that deliberately centered strength and joy, purposefully called An American Eid. The Muslim Public Affairs Council\u2019s Eid celebration was an organized respite from and a clap back to anti-Muslim attacks and rhetoric that have ratcheted up the past few months \u2014 that includes mosques (and a Utah-based imam) <a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2026\/02\/25\/shooting-incidents-unsettle-muslims-as-ramadan-begins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">being shot<\/a> at or vandalized, and bigoted statements against Muslims by members of Congress.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe idea was, listen, we\u2019re celebrating Eid. Deal with it,\u201d said Haris Tarin, MPAC\u2019s vice president of policy and programming. \u201cThis is who we are. In the moment of such difficulty, you\u2019re not going to take this away from us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MPAC\u2019s goal to instill joy was a success. But can one evening of strength and solidarity be enough to buoy the resolve of nearly 4.5 million Muslims in the United States against the <a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2026\/03\/26\/political-islamophobia-is-back\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reemergence of a Republican-led Sharia Free America Caucus<\/a> backing numerous anti-Muslim bills?<\/p>\n<p>Three federal anti-Shariah bills and at least five state-level ones have been introduced, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oklahoman.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2026\/03\/05\/republicans-push-anti-sharia-bills-framed-as-protecting-rights-christian-values\/88961139007\/?gnt-cfr=1&amp;gca-cat=p&amp;gca-uir=true&amp;gca-epti=z11xx55p116750l004550c116750e1190xxv11xx55d--48--b--48--&amp;gca-ft=210&amp;gca-ds=sophi\">Oklahoma legislation<\/a> arguing that Islam is not a religion and therefore doesn\u2019t deserve religious protection.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<hr\/>\n<p>Back in November 2025, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott declared the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national civil rights organization with chapters across the country, <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.texas.gov\/news\/post\/governor-abbott-designates-muslim-brotherhood-cair-as-foreign-terrorist-organizations\">a terrorist organization<\/a>. In February, Republican Florida Rep. Randy Fine tweeted that he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/show\/anti-islamic-rhetoric-from-gop-politicians-spark-concerns-over-religious-hatred\">would choose dogs over Muslims<\/a>, and in March, Tennessee Republican Rep. Andy Ogles tweeted \u201cMuslims don\u2019t belong in American society.\u201d Even President Donald Trump, in his massive power play threatening <a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2026\/04\/07\/religious-leaders-react-to-trump-warning-of-destruction-in-iran-standoff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">to wipe out an entire civilization<\/a> before coming to a ceasefire agreement with Iran, not only casually threatened genocide, but did so while pairing it with the phrase \u201cPraise Allah.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4254008\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 750px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4254008\" src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/webRNS-Trump-Iran1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/webRNS-Trump-Iran1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/webRNS-Trump-Iran1-427x284.jpg 427w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/webRNS-Trump-Iran1-807x538.jpg 807w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/webRNS-Trump-Iran1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/webRNS-Trump-Iran1-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/webRNS-Trump-Iran1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/webRNS-Trump-Iran1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\"\/> <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text edd-enabled\"><span class=\"caption\">President Donald Trump pretends to aim a sniper gun while speaking with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, April 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)<\/span><span class=\"credit\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>But maybe that question is wrong. While one evening probably doesn\u2019t have the power to stem the tide of Islamophobic statements and acts of violence of the past several months, it does serve as a powerful example of the ways many American Muslims are choosing unapologetic empowerment combined with strategic, meaningful and nonperformative allyships. They are walking a careful line between maintaining public pressure against what many Muslim communities are enduring, and rising above victimhood status.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re still super tiny [as a collective community in the U.S.], but we have made major, major strides,\u201d said Asma Uddin, a lawyer, author and assistant professor at Michigan State University who studies religious freedom. \u201cThere is a more sophisticated discourse we need to enter at this point. It\u2019s not all about persecution and victimhood. It\u2019s not all about minority rights.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In 2019, Uddin\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asmauddin.com\/book\">first book<\/a>, \u201cWhen Islam Is Not a Religion: Inside America\u2019s Fight for Religious Freedom,\u201d explored the politicization of faith in America and how the movement that claims Islam isn\u2019t a religion went \u201cfrom fringe to mainstream,\u201d as she puts it. She goes on to explain that such movements could constitute an immense loss of liberties for more than just Muslims.<\/p>\n<p>Around the time her book was published, American Muslim communities were coming through another wave of anti-Shariah rhetoric and proposed legislation at state and federal levels. This whipped-up, frenzied focus came at the tail end of a nearly two-decade period \u2014 from post-9\/11 through two terms of President Barack Obama into Trump\u2019s first term \u2014 when Muslim communities continually wrestled with how to respond to Islamophobic acts and speech. They were also reckoning with internalized racism and how to interact with government and public institutions as a whole.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Twenty-plus years of post 9\/11 discourse and civic engagement grew around competing themes\u00a0for Muslims\u00a0of proving worth, pushing back, engaging from within systems, disengaging and building power. And although Muslim communities have grown in strength across areas of civic engagement,\u00a0holding\u00a0political office and presence in American society in general,\u00a0it\u00a0doesn\u2019t surprise Uddin that demonizing Islam is once again de rigueur. But where we are now is different.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are more rooted now than we were post 9\/11,\u201d Tarin told me. \u201cThat is why Islamophobia is 1777050170 more intense, because they know that American Muslims now have a little more influence. They are able to push back, whether it\u2019s at the ballot box or [through] litigation or in advocacy, or in the purchasing and buying power of American Muslims.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe definitely are more well positioned. That\u2019s why this anti-Muslim sentiment is more fierce,\u201d he said. \u201cIn the midst of all that, we came to the conclusion that we have to celebrate. Because [along with all forms of building power], joy and celebration is an act of resistance and resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The hard-pressed movement of joy as resistance has grown since the terrible events of Oct. 7, 2023, and the horrific bombing campaign and genocide in Gaza, as declared by Amnesty International and other human rights groups, that followed. The movement is backed by deliberate, strategic moves from American Muslim communities to seek partnerships with and hold elected offices, build coalitions, increase philanthropic work, deepen civic engagement with trusted allies and burn down what historically has never worked to build better systems. They also are living as unapologetically as possible.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<hr\/>\n<p>The challenge for U.S. Muslims, along with numerous other minority communities, is to find a way to lean into their growing power and not live perpetually in fear and worry. The threats facing them include anti-Muslim rhetoric and related legislation aimed at stripping numerous religious, speech, health, disability and other rights. But our communities must also stay vigilant, proactive and strategic.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think it ever helps to be apathetic,\u201d Uddin said. \u201cRights don\u2019t defend themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tarin agreed, saying, \u201cI don\u2019t know if we can find balance, but we can find solace in that when we do have moments of joy, it\u2019s fuel to continue our fight and our struggle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And while the Eid celebration was about joy, Tarin said that\u2019s not where Muslims will end their efforts: \u201cJoy is the beginning. Joy gives us the ability to speak truth to power. It gives us the ability to bring partners into the room and get them on board.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut even this struggle, this fight we\u2019re in to save democracy and push back against nationalism and extremism, even in that process we need to bring joy into the mix,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are doing something that is bigger than ourselves in making sure people are seeing our humanity, that we\u2019re not just a community of victims. We have so much success, so much to celebrate in the American Muslim community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>(Dilshad D. Ali is a freelance journalist. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of RNS.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n        <\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2026\/04\/24\/islamophobia-is-surging-again-but-muslims-wont-be-victims-this-time\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(RNS) \u2014 Last month, Muslims marked Eid al-Fitr amid war in Iran and surrounding countries, continued bombings in Gaza, violence in Sudan, crushing immigration enforcement and rising anti-Muslim attacks and verbiage, coupled with fear permeating in American Muslim communities as Islamophobic political efforts rise. That didn\u2019t stop about 480 Muslims and interfaith allies from gathering [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8142"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8142\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}