Overview-

This wiki will go in depth of what is Islamophobia, definition of Islamophobia. What are the common causes of Islamophobia. The history of global events that have lead to the Islamophobia becoming normalized in the USA. History of Muslims immigration to Chicago and the experiences of Muslims living in Chicago. Statistics that show the alarming rise of Islamophobia in Chicago and what it means for life as a Muslim in Chicago. The Organizations that are actively trying to combat this rise of Islamophobia in Chicago. 

Table of Contents -

  • Definition 

  • Causes 

  • History of Islamophobia 

  • History of Muslims in Chicago 

  • Statistics

  • Organizations

  • References

  • Student Project 

 

Definition-

Islamophobia  is a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims or non-Muslim individuals that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world. Motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism which targets the symbols and markers of a being a Muslim[1].

Causes-

There are many different reasons that cause Islamophobia in the USA. The main ones are 

  • Viewing Muslims as a monolithic and not a diverse 

  • Viewing all Muslims as conservative and not will to change

  • Viewing Islam as a violent, aggressive, supportive of Terrorism

  • Viewing Islam as barbaric, primitive, sexist, and inferior to the West  

  • The normalization of anti-Muslim and Islam views

  • Opposition to Multiculturalism by extremist groups and ideologies  

History-

Islamophobia is also not new in the USA it has been round and in the cultural zeitgeist since the 1970s. It spawned out of the US media's coverage of the Islamic Revolution of 1979 in Iran and the subsequent Hostage Crisis in Iran[2]. Islamophobia increased in the US at the end of the Cold War where a racialized stereotype of a Muslim became more prominent in the US [3] . After the events of September 11th 2001 the US started the War on Terror which lead to a rapid rise in Islamophobic attacks[4]. 

Demonstrators hold up a poster of exiled Muslim leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini during an anti-shah demonstration in Tehran. [5].    American hostages being paraded by their militant Iranian captors.[6].  Nearly 3,000 people were killed and countless more injured in the terror attack, that forever transformed the United States, leaving it with deep, indelible scars, and prompted a drastic readjustment of its foreign and domestic policy [7]. 

History of Muslims in Chicago- 

The Encyclopedia of Chicago states that the first Muslims that emigrated to Chicago came from Palestine in the early 1900s. By the 1920s many African American Muslims would start moving to Chicago due to Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, the first missionary to the United States from the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, relocating to Chicago and establishing  the first Ahmadi mosque in the nation, at 4448 S. Wabash Avenue, and Chicago served as the movement's national headquarters until 1950. In 1948 many more Palestinians would flee during the The Nakba and the creation of the State of Israel. Many more Muslims from Arab States, South Asia, Africa, and Bosnia would create and call Chicago there new home [8]. 

Statistics-

Islamophobia is increasing all over the USA. This statistics from Axios shows that there has a been a 43% increase of islamophobia in Chicago from 2022 to 2023. This increase is projected to continue to surge and hit modern records dating back to the early 1990s when national hate crimes data collection began, the center said [9]. 

Organizations-

There are multiple different agencies actively working to combat Islamophobia in Chicago.

  • Council On American Islamic Relations Chicago Chapter (CAIR-Chicago) They describes themselves as "CAIR-Chicago is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit Muslim civil rights organization registered independently in Illinois.  CAIR is the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. CAIR-Chicago functions as an independent organization that sets its own strategy and goals. We work to attain equal opportunity for - and normalize the image of - Muslims in America through defending civil rights, fighting bigotry, and promoting tolerance. our Civil Rights Department provides pro bono legal services to Muslims who have faced discrimination as a result of their race, religion, or ethnicity"  [10]. 

  • The Council of Islamic Organizations of the Greater Chicago (CIOGC)They describe themselves as "Our mission is to be the unifying federation of Islamic organizations of greater Chicagoland, the leading advocate of Muslim community interests and a catalyst for enriching American society. the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) has served as the unifying force that brings together over 400,000 Muslim Americans in the greater Chicago region, and now increasingly all of Illinois. With over 70 member organizations, ranging from mosques to Islamic schools and community organizations based in the Chicagoland region, the CIOGC is made up of a very large and diverse body. Muslims are represented by a wide array of ethnicities, races, and cultures, including African Americans, Nigerians, South Asians, Arabs, Bosnians, Albanians, Turks, Latinos, Caucasians, and many more. The Council brings these extraordinary communities together in cooperation and collaboration to engage and work with the interfaith community, government, media, and the public in general" [11] .

  • Jewish Voice for Peace Chicago Chapter (JVP Chicago) They describe themselves as "Jewish Voice for Peace supports human rights and equality for Palestinians and all people.  We prioritize developing strategic campaigns and building people power through our working groups, investing in coalition work.  In all actions we seek to act in solidarity with oppressed communities struggling for liberation.  When requested, we try to serve as a source for speakers and resource materials" [12] .

  • Islamic Society of North America Chicago Chapter (ISNA) They describe themselves as "To help Muslim organizations achieve lasting impact by facilitating educational opportunities, fostering productive partnerships, and organizing for spiritual and civic engagement. In short, ISNA will work to uplift the Muslim community in all of its forms. ISNA will continue to engage even more actively in helping Muslim communities develop their capacity to serve their membership, encourage a moderating influence on Muslim attitudes towards issues such as obligations of citizenship and collaboration with people of other faiths, and serve as a unifying voice for Muslims, not necessarily the only voice, but the most respected and recognized voice" [13]. 

  • Muslim Student Association at University of Illinois at Chicago (MSA AT UIC) They describe themselves as "A organization dedicate to creating a safe space and community for Muslim students and non-Muslim students at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the city of Chicago" [14]. 

 

References - 

  1.  Awan, Imran, Zempi, Irene. (November, 2020). "A WORKING DEFINITION OF ISLAMOPHOBIA". OHCHR.org. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  2. Beydoun, Khaled. (16 November 2022). "The Roots of American Islamophobia". PBS. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  3.  Miles & Brown 2003,  Racism. p. 164-168. Retrieved 4 May 2024
  4.  Abbas, Tahir. (2021). "Reflection: the "war on terror", Islamophobia and radicalisation twenty years on". Critical Studies on Terrorism. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  5.  (3 February 2019). "What Happened To Freedom After Iran's Islamic Revolution"? Radio Farda. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  6. Longley, Robert. (26 May 2020). ''Iran Hostage Crisis: Events, Causes, and Aftermath". Thought Co. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  7. (11 September 2021). "20 years after 9/11: The three hours that changed the US forever". Indian Express. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  8. "Muslim". Encyclopedia of Chicago. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  9. Contreras, Russell. (4 January 2024). "Largest US cities saw record hate crimes surge in 2023". Axios. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  10.  "About Us". CAIR-Chicago. Retrieved 5 February 2024
  11. "About Us". CIOGC. Retrieved 5  February 2024
  12. "What We Do". JVP Chicago. Retrieved 5 February 2024
  13. "Mission and Vision". ISNA. Retrieved 5 February 2024
  14. "Mission". MSA at UIC. Retrieved 5 February 2024 

 

​Student project-  

This is a podcast done by a student at Heartland Community College. Which touches on Islamophobia in the Chicago. How it has effected the Muslim population in Chicago. It also includes an interview with a Muslims student living in Chicago who has experienced discrimination and feelin unsafe because he is Muslim. 

Islamophobia In Chicago 

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