(Summary at the bottom)

Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism affect Muslim communities around the world. From harmful stereotypes and media portrayals to harassment, discrimination and violence, hostility towards Muslims appears in many forms. But too often, these experiences are dismissed, they go unchallenged and discrimination is treated as something we simply have to accept.

Islamophobia Awareness Month (IAM) was co-founded in 2012 by Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) and other British Muslim organisations. The campaign aims to raise awareness of Islamophobia while highlighting the positive contributions of Muslim communities.

This year’s theme, “Don’t Let It Slide” calls on us to stop ignoring anti-Muslim racism and instead challenge it. 

What is Islamophobia?

Islamophobia refers to prejudice, hostility and discrimination directed at Muslims or people perceived to be Muslim. It can take many forms, from harmful stereotypes and everyday exclusion to hate speech, violence and discriminatory policies.

Why “racism”?

Although Islam is a religion, anti-Muslim racism goes beyond religious beliefs. People can be targeted because of their name, appearance, ethnicity, cultural background or clothing, regardless of their actual faith or how they practise it. This is known as racialisation: treating people as if they belong to a group with fixed characteristics.

These experiences can also overlap with other forms of discrimination. Intersectionality helps us understand how different aspects of a person’s identity can shape their experiences. For example, a Muslim woman who wears a hijab may face both sexism and anti-Muslim racism, while a Black Muslim may experience both anti-Black and anti-Muslim racism.

The Reality Today

A 2024 report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) found that 47% of Muslims across 13 EU countries had experienced racial discrimination in the five years before the survey. That’s an 8% increase from 2016. 
 

In the United States, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) received 8,683 complaints relating to anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination in 2025, its highest total on record.

But statistics only tell part of the story. Anti-Muslim racism also appears in everyday interactions, from offensive comments and exclusion to assumptions about someone’s beliefs or values. Many incidents go unreported, making the full extent of the problem hard to measure.

The Scrutiny of Muslim Women

Muslim women, particularly those who wear the hijab, can be especially visible targets of anti-Muslim racism. They face unwanted attention, harassment and discrimination in everyday life, education and the workplace simply because their faith is visible. Their appearance can also lead others to make assumptions about their beliefs, values or level of independence.

The hijab is often at the centre of debates about women’s rights and freedom. In some countries, Muslim women face pressure or legal enforcement to cover, while in others, they face restrictions on wearing the hijab in places such as schools or workplaces.

In France, religious symbols including the hijab, are prohibited in public schools and in 2023 the restriction was extended to abaya-style garments. Austria has also introduced a ban on headscarves for girls under 14 in schools which took effect in September 2026.

These restrictions raise an important question: who gets to decide what freedom looks like for Muslim women? Women should be able to make their own choices about their bodies and beliefs without being forced to cover or prevented from doing so.

Muslim women also find themselves excluded from feminist spaces and discussions when their experiences are overlooked or their choices are treated as incompatible with women’s liberation. Feminism should not require women to leave their religious identity behind to have their rights recognised. Supporting women’s freedom means listening to Muslim women, respecting their agency and making space for their voices rather than deciding on their behalf what liberation should look like.

Beyond the Stereotypes: Muslim Women Who Inspire

Muslim women have shaped science, literature, sport and activism throughout history, yet their achievements are often overlooked. In 859 CE, Fatima al-Fihri founded the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco, recognised as the world’s oldest continually operating educational institution. Centuries later, mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani became the first woman to win the Fields Medal, one of the highest honours in mathematics.

Today, Malala Yousafzai campaigns for every girl’s right to education, while American fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad made history as the first American woman to compete at the Olympics wearing a hijab in 2016. From education and science to sport and activism, their achievements reflect just some of the many ways Muslim women continue to shape the world.

These women have different backgrounds, experiences and ambitions. There is no single way to be a Muslim woman and their stories remind us to look beyond stereotypes and recognise their contributions, individuality and influence.

Knowledge, Culture & Representation

Muslim contributions to science, philosophy, education and the arts have shaped societies across the world for centuries. From the work of mathematician Al-Khwarizmi and physician Ibn Sina to the libraries and education-centres established across the medieval Islamic world. 

Muslim scholars also helped preserve, develop and transmit knowledge across different regions and traditions.

Muslim communities today are equally diverse, shaped by different languages, cultures, ethnicities and traditions. There is no single way to be Muslim, just as there is no single Muslim identity.

Yet public conversations often portray Muslims as one homogeneous group, reducing complex identities to familiar stereotypes. These representations influence how Muslim people are perceived and treated, while overlooking their everyday lives, contributions and individuality. Challenging these stereotypes means making room for more nuanced stories and recognising Muslims as part of the societies they help shape.

Allyship: What Can We Do?

• Challenge stereotypes. Question assumptions about Muslims instead of accepting them as facts.
• Speak up. Don’t stay silent when you hear anti-Muslim remarks or witness discrimination and harassment.
• Show support. Listen to Muslims who share their experience  and take them seriously.
• Amplify Muslim voices. Support Muslim creators, businesses, organisations and community initiatives.
• Keep learning. Seek out reliable resources and perspectives that help you understand anti-Muslim racism.
• Report discrimination. If you witness or experience an incident, consider documenting it and reporting it to the appropriate organisation.
• Keep showing up. Challenge prejudice beyond Islamophobia Awareness Month, not just when it’s in the spotlight.

Closing Words

Anti-Muslim racism affects people in many different ways, but challenging it starts with recognising prejudice, listening to those affected and refusing to accept discrimination as something normal. Muslim communities are diverse and their stories, identities and contributions deserve to be recognised beyond the stereotypes placed upon them.

“Don’t Let It Slide” is more than a theme for one month. It’s a reminder to speak up when we witness discrimination, question harmful assumptions and stand in solidarity with those affected. Islamophobia Awareness Month may not last forever, but our responsibility to challenge anti-Muslim racism does. Let’s keep learning, listening and standing up for one another, long after this month is over.

Summary

• Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism affect Muslim communities around the world, from everyday prejudice to discrimination and violence.
• Anti-Muslim racism goes beyond religion and can overlap with other forms of discrimination, including other forms of racism and sexism.
• Muslim women, particularly those who wear the hijab, face specific forms of scrutiny, discrimination and restrictions on their freedom to choose how they dress.
• Muslim women have made and continue to make important contributions to science, literature, art, sport, activism and many other fields.
• Muslim communities are diverse, and challenging stereotypes means recognising their histories, cultures, contributions and individual experiences.
• We can all help challenge anti-Muslim racism by speaking up against prejudice, supporting Muslim voices and standing in solidarity with those affected.
• “Don’t Let It Slide” is a reminder that challenging anti-Muslim racism is a shared responsibility that extends beyond Islamophobia Awareness Month.

You can chat in this topic about Islamophobia Awareness Month.

With Love,

The Inclusivity Group