The surveillance of Islam
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Forbidden Passages by Cook provides insight into a unique historical account on the Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism experienced by Moriscos in New Spain. Cook explains how the Morisco community has always been one which was surveilled as other communities did not trust them due to their Muslim background. Cook says individuals associated "religious identity with qualities such as trustworthiness" and many did not trust those who were Muslim, leading to isolation and discrimination from others.
We often times view the alienation of Islam as a newer phenomena but this account highlights how even in 15th and 16th century Islamophobia was extremely prevalent with deep historical roots. Cook's writing pushes back against the notion that Islamophobia is a modern or contemporary issue, and emphasise how anti-Muslim racism has been persistent and pervasive throughout the centuries.