The History and Present of Anti-Muslim Tension in the US

The History and Present of Anti-Muslim Tension in the US

Anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States has a long and complex history that began well before the terrorist al-Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001. It has intensified sharply since, however, and continues today. American Islamophobia in the US has been shaped by a number of factors, including political rhetoric, media representation, and political conflicts both within and outside of the country. 

Across these factors, a common thread emerges: the few corrupting the many. Real conflicts are in many cases initiated or escalated by a relatively small number of powerful, corrupt, or extremist individuals from Middle Eastern nations. These are then frequently misrepresented to the American public by select powerful US entities in self-serving ways. The result is that large numbers of un- or misinformed Americans discriminate—through everything from microaggressions to deadly violence—against entire innocent Arab and Muslim communities.  

Here are some important things to know about sources of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab tension in the US before and after September 11th, 2001.

Before 9/11 

Prior to 9/11, there were already many instances of anti-Muslim sentiment in the US. Some notable catalysts of hostility toward Muslims include the following historical events:

• 1973 Arab-Israeli war. The American government supported Israel during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, which led to a retaliatory oil embargo against the US by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Americans began discriminating against Muslim communities regardless of their lack of agency in or sympathy with the embargo. 

• 1979 Iran hostage crisis. In this conflict, Iranian fundamentalists seized the US Embassy in Iran’s capital, Tehran, and held more than 50 Americans hostage for well over a year. Americans at home exhibited distrust not only of all stateside Iranians, but all Muslims as well.

• 1990 Persian Gulf war. Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in an effort to gain more control over Middle East oil supplies. Fearing his control of a then-indispensable commodity in America, the US and other nations opposed the invasion with military force. The resulting wave of hate crimes against Arabs and Muslims in the US was so severe that the government began leading initiatives to address widespread hatred of these groups.

During this period and beyond it, politicians and media leaders stoked anti-Muslim sentiments by promoting stereotypes of people with Middle Eastern heritage as potential terrorists and by portraying Islam as a dangerous and alien religion. Ironically, this encouraged the rise of domestic terrorism as executed by American White supremacists and anti-Muslim extremists. 

After 9/11  

In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, there was a widespread resurgence of hostility and hate crimes against Muslims in the US, particularly those who were visibly Muslim, such as those who wore hijab or had Muslim-sounding names. This included verbal and physical harassment, vandalism of mosques, and violence. In subsequent years, anti-Muslim policies and measures were established, such as the Patriot Act and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, which disproportionately targeted Arabs and Muslims.

Microaggressions

One of the most insidious and prevalent ways in which anti-Muslim sentiment has manifested in the US in the years since 9/11 is through the rise of microaggressions. Microaggressions are subtle and thoughtless, if not calculated, actions or statements that express hostility or disrespect toward a marginalized group. For American Muslims, this can include things like the following:

• Being asked where they are “really” from

• Being associated with terrorism or terrorist sympathies

• Subjection to increased surveillance and suspicion

• Assumptions that women are forced to wear hijabs or are controlled by their husbands or religious leaders

Discrimination and Hate Crimes

According to the FBI, anti-Islamic hate crimes in the US rose significantly in the years following the 9/11 attacks, peaking in 2001 and remaining at relatively high levels in the years that followed. In addition, a number of civil rights organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), have reported a sharp increase in the number of incidents of discrimination, harassment, and violence against American Muslims in the years since 9/11.

To address this, many organizations have been formed to advocate for the rights and well-being of American Muslims, such as CAIR and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). There have also been a number of initiatives aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding, such as the Shoulder-to-Shoulder campaign, which brings together leaders from various religious communities to speak out against anti-Muslim prejudice and discrimination.

How You Can Help To Fight Anti-Muslim and Anti-Arab Bias 

Nonetheless, Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bias continue to thrive in the present day, particularly among right-wing Republicans like former US President Donald Trump and his supporters. 

Fortunately, all Americans can work to stamp out xenophobic paranoia and harmful stereotypes by educating themselves about the wide variety of Muslim cultures across the globe and about subtle and overt forms of racism. Perhaps most importantly, we can treat members of Arab and Muslim communities as complex individuals rather than faceless stereotypes. It’s also an excellent idea to support nonprofit organizations that support social justice.

One of the best ways to engage with issues related to racial and cultural bias is to watch high-quality performances about individuals who are subjected to anti-Muslim bias and how this shapes their experiences as Americans.

See BARS AND MEASURES at Mosaic Theater Company February 2-26, 2023

Mosaic Theater Company in Washington, DC produces bold, culturally diverse theater that illuminates critical issues, elevates fresh voices, and sparks connections among communities throughout our region and beyond amid the most important events of our times. 

Dedicated to making theater an inclusive model of diversity at every stratum, on stage and off, Mosaic invests in the new as it keeps abreast of changing and challenging times. Mosaic does this to ensure that theater is a responsive gathering space, while nurturing and producing art of the highest order.

From February 2 through 26, 2023, Mosaic will feature performances of Idris Goodwin’s Bars and Measures directed by Reginald L. Douglas. Inspired by true events, award-winning playwright and breakbeat poet Idris Goodwin’s acclaimed Bars and Measures is a moving play with music that reflects on faith, family, and politics with equal parts imagination and intensity.

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