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• Europe is witnessing the unleashing of a sustained and entrenched wave of Islamophobia, far beyond the familiar episodic spikes, say academics
• ‘The average middle ground has shifted decisively towards a narrative that is anti-immigration … (and) to a large extent, anti-Muslim,’ says Aristotle Kallis of the UK’s Keele University
• In Denmark, the media ‘seems to be regurgitating and reproducing Islamophobic ideas … evident in their coverage of Gaza and Palestine,’ says Amani Hassani, a scholar specializing in social inequalities- France’s laws ‘are increasingly Islamophobic and repressive for French Muslims,’ says academic Kawtar Najib

LONDON 

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Europe’s political and social landscape has witnessed what experts call a seismic and deeply unsettling transformation, significantly impacting its Muslim communities.

In countries such as the UK, Denmark and France, the aftermath of Hamas’ attack and Israel’s ongoing genocidal war on Gaza has unleashed a sustained and entrenched wave of Islamophobia, far beyond the familiar episodic spikes.

“It’s a complete shift in the everyday life of Muslim communities in Britain, but also across the world,” says Aristotle Kallis, a professor of modern and contemporary history at the UK’s Keele University.

“What happened after Oct. 7 is a complete shift of the political narrative.”

Kallis, who specializes in far-right ideologies and political discourse, stresses that the current surge in anti-Muslim sentiment is not merely reactive but rather an acceleration of long-existing trends.

“It has remained at very, very high levels ever since,” he explains, referring to anti-Muslim hatred. “It was not a spike, so it didn’t go up and then come down.”

According to Kallis, social media has become a primary battleground, emboldening far-right actors.

“They’re now using far more sophisticated techniques in social media to stir up hatred within the communities … There’s no major political party of the far right, but you have all these grassroots organizations with links to social media that are stirring up hatred,” he said.

He cites the outbreaks of violence and unrest in British cities such as Leicester in 2022 and Southport a year later as clear examples of an increasingly fractured society.

“The average middle ground has shifted decisively towards a narrative that is anti-immigration … (and) to a large extent, anti-Muslim.”

In this volatile cultural climate, even raising awareness about Islamophobia has become fraught, Kallis notes.

“Muslims are not allowed to do this because if we talk about Islamophobia, we’re going against freedom of speech. The media in this country, print media in particular, has played a really, really terrible role in this.”

Increasing danger in Denmark

Across the North Sea, Denmark faces a similar situation. Amani Hassani, a scholar specializing in social inequalities, reports not only a rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes but also suppression of pro-Palestinian solidarity.

“There’s an increase in hate crimes, but also an increase in repression of pro-Palestinian solidarity,” Hassani said.

Muslims in Denmark face hostility in workplaces and educational settings, she said, confronting both anti-Palestinian racism and intensified Islamophobia.

“People in employment experience it, children experience anti-Palestinian racism, but especially if you are seen as Muslim, this makes you more vulnerable to the Islamophobia that arose after Oct. 7,” she added.

Hassani stressed the need for immediate and comprehensive action.

“Islamophobia needs to be tackled on many levels,” she said. “First and foremost, the political establishment must become much more aware and recognize Islamophobia as a real issue.”

However, Hassani remains skeptical, pointing to Danish media’s role in echoing and reinforcing official narratives.

“Media seems to be regurgitating and reproducing Islamophobic ideas. This is evident in their coverage of Gaza and Palestine … suggesting that Palestinians have a less right to life.”

This erosion of empathy, Hassani argues, dehumanizes Palestinians abroad and Muslims domestically. “In effect, Muslims and Palestinians who live in Denmark have experienced that dehumanization and the denial that their political opinions matter.”

Institutionalized Islamophobia in France

In France, the situation is even grimmer, according to academic Kawtar Najib, who argues that Islamophobia is institutionally embedded in the country.

“It’s year after year, more alarming … It’s a real political machine coming from the state,” said Najib, a UK-based academic and expert on Islamophobia.

Najib explains how France’s secular principle of “laicite” complicates the political landscape for Muslims by refusing to acknowledge religious and racial identities.

“In France, race and religion do not exist. Therefore, the Muslim community does not exist and cannot be recognized as such,” she said.

This legal and social erasure, Najib argues, effectively renders Muslims politically voiceless. “If you are not recognized, then, of course, you cannot develop a political voice to tackle Islamophobia.”

France’s legal environment is changing so rapidly against Muslims that even experts find it challenging to track developments. “It’s very hard to follow the new laws, even for people who are very knowledgeable … These laws are increasingly Islamophobic and repressive for French Muslims,” said Najib.

Together, all three scholars paint a consistent and troubling picture: Islamophobia in Europe is no longer confined to fringe groups or anonymous online forums – it is now deeply rooted in political structures, mainstream media narratives, and the lived experiences of millions.