The document explores the concept of Islamophobia, tracing its origins and definitions, particularly in relation to orientalism and eurocentrism. It highlights the increase in Islamophobia in Australia, particularly post-9/11, and the perceptions of Muslims as threats to security while contrasting this with how white violence is often framed. Additionally, it discusses the social constructs of identity and the political implications of Islamophobia, emphasizing the legitimacy of Muslim political identity.

1. Islamophobia
The Racial State Week 12
A/Prof Alana Lentin
a.lentin@westernsydney.edu.au

2. Overview
Origins & Definitions of Islamophobia?
From Orientalism and Eurocentrism
Islamophobia in Australia
Producing threat
The mainstream and the extreme

3. Origins & Definitions
Origins
Runnymede Trust
(1997)
‘unfounded hostility
towards Muslims, and
therefore fear or dislike of
all or most Muslims.’
Runnymede Trust (1997)
Criticisms and
responses

4. But, Islam is not a race…
‘Racialisation does not dependon biology to produce'races'; rather
it sees the construction of collective identitiesasa productof social
processes. lt does not follow that just because Muslims are not a
'race’, or there is yet no Muslim gene, their subjugation is not
racism.’
Sayyid (2012)

5. Eurocentrism & Orientalism
A ‘violent
hierarchy’
Being Muslim as
political
‘What Islamophobia seeks to
discipline is the possibility of
Muslim autonomy, that is, the
affirmation of Muslim political
identity as a legitimate
historical subject.’
Sayyid (2012)Orientalist attitudes
The Orient is seen as separate, eccentric,
backward, silently different, sensual, and
passive. It has a tendency towards
despotism and away from progress. It
displays feminine penetrability and supine
malleability. Its progress and value are
judged in terms of, and in comparison to,
the West, so it is always the Other, the
conquerable, and the inferior.
Paraphrased from Orientalism (Said, 1978)

6. Islamophobia in Australia

7. Report into Islamophobic Incidents

8. Randa Abdel-Fattah
22 September 2014

9. Confected Controversies
me to be a hollowed, emptied term that functions as a trig
Yassir Morsi, The Guardian, 29 September 2016

10. ‘Somewhere out there is the Muslim that the British government
seeks. Like all religious people he (the government is more likely to
talk about Muslim women than to them) supports gay rights, racial
equality, women's rights, tolerance and parliamentary democracy.
He abhors the murder of innocent civilians without qualification -
unless they are in Palestine, Afghanistan or Iraq…
He raises his daughters to be assertive: they can wear whatever
they want so long as it's not a headscarf. He believes in free speech
and the right to cause offence but understands that he has neither
the right to be offended nor to speak out. Whatever an extremist is,
on any given day, he is not it.
He regards himself as British - first, foremost and for ever. But
whenever a bomb goes off he will happily answer for Islam...’
Gary Younge, The Guardian, 30 March 2009

11. Producing Threat
Post-secular anxiety:
Cartoons, Minarets &
Schools

12. Producing Threat
Criminal tendencies:
‘Asian grooming gangs’
and ‘Sydney rape gangs’

13. The mainstream & the extreme
‘I am not condoning the slaughter in Norway or anywhere... But the jihad-loving media
never told us what antisemitic war games they were playing on that island. Utoya Island is a
Communist/Socialist campground, and they clearly had a pro-Islamic agenda... The slaughter
was horrific. What these kids were being taught and instructed to do was a different kind of
grotesque. There is no justification for Breivik's actions whatsoever. There is also no
justification for Norway's antisemitism and demonization of Israel.’
Pam Geller, Atlas Shrugged

14. Summary• Islamophobia is a contested term
• Islamophobia was coined in early 20th
century but grows exponentially after
9/11
• Muslims are associated with threats to
security and as sexual predators
• Muslim violence is seen as intrinsic while
white violence is that of ‘lone wolves’
• Mainstream Islamophobia produces
extreme response of violent
Islamophobes

15. Tutorial Questions
Using Yassir Morsi’s text, think about the following…
Pros and Cons of ‘Hug a Muslim’, ‘Mosque Open Days’
What are Muslims being asked to apologise for?
hink Muslims should have to apologise for the actions of
mplications for does this have for our understandings of