The current issue, Islamophobia and the Challenge of Integration: Muslim Perspectives in the Western World is the most discussed topic because it is discussed in Western countries. Many people in Western countries experience Islamophobia, a term that means fear of Islam and Muslims because of their fear of being harassed. By 11 September 2001, every aspect of Western life was affected, including social relations, economic opportunities, and political participation. In their efforts to integrate themselves, Muslims in Western countries face various difficulties. The process of integrating immigrant communities into mainstream society is often hampered by discriminatory and hateful laws.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of Islamophobia on the integration process. In addition, it will discuss how Muslim communities attempt to overcome these barriers. By understanding these dynamics, we can design policies and strategies that support social inclusion and harmony between communities in the Western world.
Unwarranted prejudice, discrimination, fear, and hatred towards Islam and Muslims is known as Islamophobia. These traits often appear in the form of negative stereotypes, discriminatory policies, physical and verbal violence, and social exclusion of Muslim people or communities. Islamophobia damages social relations and instills hostility and intolerance in society.
Within a country's Muslim community, integration is a process by which Muslim people or groups seek to adapt and become part of the larger society while maintaining their cultural and religious identity. Assimilation, on the other hand, is the process by which people or groups from a culture take on and integrate the cultural characteristics of the dominant group in society.
Discrimination and Prejudice, Western countries today are often faced with various discrimination and prejudice that will affect daily life. This discrimination will occur in various sectors, including the workplace, schools, and society.
Muslims are often discriminated against in the job recruitment process, for example. For example, reports show that individuals with Islamic-sounding names often get fewer job interview calls compared to those with yan names. At school, Muslim students may experience bullying or harassment based on their religious identity. In the general community, Muslims may face discrimination in the form of verbal or physical abuse, as well as social exclusion.
The Concept of Islamophobia and Integration
Based on the historical development of Islam in the West, our understanding of Islamophobia considers the historical influence of Islamic civilization within a particular region and across the globe. The history of Islamophobia in the West began with the medieval crusades, which reinforced negative perceptions of Islam as an external enemy. During the Crusades, several military campaigns from Latin Europe were initiated to take back the Holy Land from Muslims. This led to political and military conflicts that often perceived Islam as a threatening force.
Most Muslim territories in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia were controlled by European countries such as Britain, France, and the Netherlands in the 1800s and early 1900s. Besides generating labor and natural resources among Muslims, colonialism instilled a sense of religious and cultural superiority among the colonizers. Governments have attempted to use religion as a tool for societal and political control by creating negative stereotypes of Muslims as insolent or culturally inward-looking.
After the Second World War, the Cold War, fought between the Western bloc and the Soviet bloc, affected global geopolitics. In the Middle East, Muslims who wanted political and social change were often frustrated and dissatisfied because Western countries supported authoritarian regimes or secular monarchies. This suggests that the West is an enemy of Islam that imposes unfavourable policies.
Terrorist attacks carried out by groups claiming to be Muslims, such as the Al-Qaeda attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001, have greatly affected people's perception of Islam. Although the majority of Muslims reject and condemn such violence, the media often reinforces the link between terrorism and Islam as a whole. Unbalanced opinions or sensationalism can reinforce poor beliefs and cause more people to disparage Islam.
In a number of Western countries, especially in recent decades, populist politicians have used immigration and identity issues as a way to gain political support. Negative attitudes towards Islam can be reinforced by rhetoric that blames Islam for current social or economic problems. Political campaigns based on fears of "Islamisation" or loss of national identity have the potential to exacerbate cultural conflicts. Another factor contributing to the development of Islamophobia is a lack of deep understanding of Islam as well as a lack of direct interaction between Muslims and non-Muslims. Ignorance or misunderstanding of Muslim culture, values and religious practices can exacerbate prejudices and stereotypes.