‘Islamophobia is rooted in unjustifiable fear and distorted perceptions’

Islamabad : Dr Anis Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor of Riphah University, has said that Islamophobia as a socially constructed phenomenon is rooted in unjustifiable fear and distorted perceptions of Islam and Muslims resulting in harassment, discrimination, exclusion and violation of fundamental human rights globally.

Dr Anis was delivering keynote address at a seminar on “Islamophobia in focus: three years of progress and emerging challenges” organised here by Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).

Drawing from Runnymede Trust Report (1997) and recent academic studies, Prof Anis highlighted the media's role in perpetuating negative stereotypes and the global spread of Islamophobia, including in non-Western countries like India. He emphasised institutionalised educational biases that glorify imperial narratives and depict Muslims negatively. He advocated for decolonisation of social sciences, projection of strengths and positive dimensions of Islam and Muslims, need for critical thinking, empathy and justice, universal ethical values, respect for dignity, religious freedom and educational reforms to accurately represent Islam and Muslims.

Prof Mujeeb Afzal from School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, explained Islamophobia in the context of India, attributing it to historical narratives from the era of Muslim dynasties through colonial rule, and subsequent marginalisation under Hindu nationalism. He critiqued contradictions within Nehruvian secularism, which masked grassroots communal politics.

Dr Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Director-General, Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), traced the historical origins of Islamophobia to medieval Europe and highlighted its perpetuation through Orientalism and colonial narratives. He underscored the critical need for interfaith dialogue and educational reforms, emphasising Pakistan's stability as essential to strengthening the broader Muslim community globally.

Dr Israr Madani, Founder President, International Research Council for Religious Affairs (IRCRA), discussed the significant rise of Islamophobia post-9/11, driven largely by Western media portrayals associating Islam with security threats. He recognised emerging global awareness and counter-efforts through advocacy, education, and alternative media.

Prof Greg Simons from Daffodil International University, critically examined Western media’s role in exacerbating Islamophobic perceptions post-9/11 asserting that Islamophobia was politically instrumentalised to justify foreign interventions. He proposed leveraging alternative media to challenge these biased narratives effectively.

Dr Sofya Ragozina from Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasised proactive measures to address Islamophobia advocating for positive representations of Islam rooted in universal ethical values. She called for substantial academic and curricular reforms to instil a confident Muslim identity among youth.

A message, Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General, OIC, described the proclamation of the International Day against Islamophobia by the United Nations as a significant milestone in combating religious discrimination. He expressed concern over the rise in anti-Muslim incidents globally, including online hate speech and attacks on places of worship which threaten human dignity and religious freedom. He stressed that this challenge demands collective action and innovative responses, affirming OIC’s commitment to effective strategies against Islamophobia, strengthening legal protections for minorities and combating religious hatred through dialogue and mutual respect.

Khalid Mahmood, Chairperson, BoG, and Sohail Mahmood, Director-General ISSI, also addressed the gathering.