Facilitate individuals and groups to engage with the study of hate and hate crime.

 

There exist a huge number of institutions related to Islamophobia so that observing all of them is less feasible. There is however, a possibility to observe the most active institutions, particularly those who have most pertinence with the OIC’s measures and undertakings in this area; and since Islamophobia issue is mostly alarming in Europe and the US, it seems to be beneficial to focus only on institutions operating in these two hot spots. However, in this report the Observatory will only present monitoring results on institutions operating in the US; since Europe comprises more than 50 countries hence it is less practical to mention names and elaborate institutions operating in this continent. Scrutinizing those institutions, the Observatory made a classification based on their vision, mission, programs, activities, gestures, or simply on the constant attitudes and positions taken by their key figures; hoping that such a classification could help the OIC in establishing the right position vis-à-vis the institutions which are grouped into 3 categories: 

1) Potential Partner; 

2) Potential Threats; 

3) Potential Counterpart among Threats, and; 

4) Potential Ally. 

Potential Partners: Some organizations have been interested in the subject of Islamophobia for some time, and they have first-hand experiences with the evils of Islamophobia, or even having been victims to its prejudice. Furthermore, they have also engaged in numerous academic, political, and social activities introducing Islam and its many virtues along which they proved themselves to be part the solutions upon the issue; or having tried to put the issue of Islamophobia into the more-balanced perspectives. Such institutions could become the partners of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation or the Muslim World for combating Islamophobia. 

Potential Threats: The spread of Islamophobia operates at institutional as well as at individual levels, targeting Islam, Muslims and Islamic attires through physical attacks and also through discourses and negative campaigns against the latter. Therefore, some of the monitored institutions have in fact been working to forge Islamophobia itself, implanting ‘fear’ against Islam throughout the nation and society, and eventually they have contributed to the creation of prejudice and intolerance within the society. For instance in the US they oppose Muslim integration into American society hence spreading ideas that Islam and Muslims are threatening their democratic values and civilizations. Particular in the US, these institutions operate based on structure generally termed as: 

 Inner Core of Islamophobia: Groups whose primary purpose is to promote prejudice against or hatred of Islam and Muslims and who work regularly to demonstrate Islamophobic themes. This level represents the most active Islamophobic figures in the US, and those who run the most aggressive Islamophobic institutions. The top active name in these level are: Daniel Pipes, David Horowitz, David Yerushalmi, Frank Gaffney, Robert Spencer, Steven Emerson, and Pamella Geller; each of them usually stands behind an active Islamophobic Institution, and in ensemble they form the core of the Islamophobic network in the US. 

 Outer Core of Islamophobia: Groups whose primary purpose does not appear to include promoting prejudice against or hatred of Islam and Muslims but whose works regularly demonstrates or supports Islamophobic themes. Most for them support the activities of the Inner Core Islamophobes. The information on the institutions was gathered from multiple sources that cannot be mentioned one by one. 

Potential Counterparts among Potential ‘Threats’: Despite the clear hostility of these institutions to Islam and Muslims in America, there is room to possibly work with some of them regarding the extent of the relationship between Islam and the host society. This would present a platform on which to clarify the true image of Islam and remove unfounded fears that Islam threatens Western valued. The institutions under this category have potential to be considered for such a purpose.

 Potential Allies: There is a number of academic and human rights institutions who are working to provide rational understanding among people towards a more-balanced perspective about Islam. These institutions facilitate individuals and groups to engage with the study of hate and hate crime in a manner which is providing thoroughly information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends while informing the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the society. They conduct public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and social science research, as well as surveys and studies about Islam and Muslim in the US. Some of them focused on protecting the rights of refugees, supporting human rights defenders, and pressing for the government’s full participation in the international human rights system. They also have program and advocacy agenda which call on governments to adopt enhanced hate crimes laws. Few of them have tried to incorporate the importance of the liberal arts and humanities into a Islamic education curriculum, and trying to present a clear picture of Islam to the people. In the Observatory’s assessment, these institutions could be a potential ally with whom the Muslim World might collaborate; and in the longer term, such collaboration might lead towards possible partnership.