Islamophobia as a Tactic of Zionism and US Imperialism
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Historically, Islamophobia has been used as a tactic of Zionism and U.S. imperialism by which the latter seeks to justify its geopolitical interests in the Middle East. By framing resistance movements, particularly those rooted in Muslim-majority regions, as 'terrorist' or 'extremist,' U.S. imperialism and Zionist narratives divert attention away from the legitimate struggles for national liberation and self-determination. This portrayal demonizes Muslims, racializes their identity, and rallies Western public opinion in favor of military interventions, occupation, and the suppression of dissent. In doing so, Islamophobia becomes a powerful tool to sustain imperial dominance while undermining movements against oppression
Islamophobia can indeed be a form of racism, even though racism is often associated with skin color. Racism also involves the social construction of 'racialized' identities based on cultural, religious, or ethnic markers. For example, when Yasser Arafat's Arab nationalism began to rise, Israel used Islamism as a strategy to weaken nationalist movements. By the early 1980s and late 1980s, Islamist resistance groups emerged in Lebanon (1982) and Gaza (1987), fighting against Zionism and U.S. imperialism. However, these groups, which were primarily focused on national liberation, were framed in the West as spreading Islam rather than fighting for liberation.
A similar tactic emerged in the post-9/11 world, where U.S. imperialism played a role in the creation of ISIS, which further demonized Muslims in the West. As Rana describes, 'the Muslim' became a broad category encompassing many nationalities, social practices, and even religious affiliations (from Sunni and Shia Muslims to Christians, Sikhs, and Hindus), which, through the process of state and popular racialization, were generalized into a single identity. This aligns with Rana's argument that the 'terrorist militant' and 'labor migrant' are racialized as 'Muslim,' contrasted with the 'White European' or 'American Christian.' This racialization process is also linked to what Husain describes in his review as the motivations of the 'Arab Slayer,' where the vilification of Muslims becomes deeply rooted in Western narratives.
In this context, Islamophobia functions as a form of racism, not simply because of skin color but because of the racialization of Muslim identity into a singular, demonized 'other,' further fueling discrimination and violence.