Browsing: Islamic Education and Pedagogy

Combatting Islamophobia: A Unified Approach

Two decades following the 9/11 attacks, the persistence of Islamophobia continues to cast a shadow over Muslims and Arab Americans. According to Pew Research in 2016, nearly half of Muslim-American adults reported experiencing discrimination personally. This discrimination became especially pronounced during the 2016 presidential campaign when then-candidate Donald Trump proposed a ban on immigrants from countries with Muslim majorities. Studies also reveal that, among all religious groups, Muslims continue to face the most unfavorable perceptions among the American public.

Surprisingly, more than half of Americans admit to not having any personal acquaintances who are Muslim. However, those who do personally know a Muslim are less likely to hold the belief that Islam promotes violence more than other religions.