"Because of the avalanche of negative comments about Islam and Muslims that we see in our daily lives, any initiative that offers a positive and accurate portrayal of ordinary Muslims ... can have a positive impact,” said Ibrahim Hooper, national communications director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). His group launched website Islamophobia.org on October 15, 2014 which seeks to expose U.S.-based Islamophobic groups. “Unfortunately we are seeing a tremendous spike in anti-Muslim rhetoric,",” Hooper said. “I think that the recent phenomenon can almost exclusively be tied to the ISIS issue,” he added using an alternative acronym for the extremist Islamic State and the Levant.
There are sections on the website to submit tips, downloadable reports on Islamopobia. profiles of known Islamophobes, and resources such as anti-prejudice tools.
According to the Islamophobia.org, when CAIR identifies a group or individual as employing Islamophobia, CAIR researchers review the actions and rhetoric of the entity. Based on the results of this review the entity is entered into the American Islamophobe database and assigned to one of three categories:
Inner Core: Groups or individuals whose primary purpose is to promote prejudice against or hatred of Islam and Muslims and whose work regularly demonstrates Islamophobic themes.
Outer Core: Groups or individuals whose primary purpose does not appear to include promoting prejudice against or hatred of Islam and Muslims but whose work regularly demonstrates or supports Islamophobic themes.
Of Concern: Groups or individuals who have used Islamophobic themes
or supported Islamophobia in America, but whose work does not regularly demonstrate or support Islamophobic themes. CAIR monitors but generally does not further report on groups placed in this category.
Well known organizations such as ACT! for America and the Clarion Fund are listed alongside lesser known organizations such as The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and MEMRI.
As explained on the website, CAIR believes Islamophobia in the United States is a current manifestation of the issue of prejudice that has plagued the United States since its earliest days: “It is the same old hate, just with a relatively new target. Muslims, like Malcolm X, have been involved in historical U.S. movements combating prejudice, but only after the 9/11 terror attacks did they become a primary focus for purveyors
of hate. With this in mind, CAIR is dedicated to countering prejudice in general.”
While recognizing that Muslims are a primary focus of hate today, CAIR believes that this will one day pass to another group. “We continue to work to ensure social and legal protections for all Americans, inspired by the sacrifices and ongoing struggles of African American Muslims and Christians as well as other minorities who have been marginalized including Japanese Americans, Jews, Catholics and others.”
While this site calls attention to the groups and individuals promoting Islamophobia in the United States, CAIR hopes users will find the materials developed to counter prejudice in general, not just against Muslims.
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