From ISIS to Islamophobia: Who Really Benefits?
From ISIS to Islamophobia: Who Really Benefits?
Introduction
As a Muslim growing up in the social media era, I often ask myself: why does the word Islam always get dragged along every time ISIS appears in the news? Isn’t Islam itself a peaceful teaching, while ISIS is merely a radical political movement? This question led me to a deeper reflection: who actually benefits the most from the narrative that equates terrorism with Islam? (Esposito, Unholy War, 2002)
ISIS: A Product of Geopolitical Chaos
There’s no denying that ISIS didn’t appear out of nowhere. The fall of Iraq after the 2003 US invasion became fertile ground for the seeds of extremism. Saddam’s regime collapsed, power vacuums emerged, sectarian conflict escalated, and armed militia groups mushroomed. ISIS, or Daesh, exploited this to present itself as the “Sunni protector” though in practice, they killed mostly fellow Muslims. (Cockburn, The Rise of Islamic State, 2015)
Here lies the big irony. Many people assume ISIS represents Islam, while its main victims are mostly Muslims in Iraq and Syria. This fact is rarely highlighted in mainstream media. If we are fair, ISIS is an armed political entity not the embodiment of Islamic creed.
Media: The Biggest Spreader of Fear
In modern terrorism studies, the role of media is central. Terrorism without cameras is like a stage without an audience. ISIS mastered the art of spreading fear through brutal execution videos. Western media then amplified this narrative often with sensational headlines like “Islamic State” implying that Islam equals violence. (Horgan, The Psychology of Terrorism, 2014)
As a Muslim, I sometimes feel disappointed with this framing. Instead of educating the public about the difference between terrorism and Islamic teachings, some media outlets profit from public fear. The result: Islamophobia grows rampant, especially in the West.
Islamophobia: A New Political Commodity
Next question: who benefits? My answer: opportunistic politicians. In Europe and America, Islamophobia is often turned into political capital to win conservative votes. Collective fear of the “Islamic threat” is nurtured to boost popularity, win elections, or justify discriminatory policies like Muslim travel bans. (Cesari, Why the West Fears Islam, 2013)
In this sense, I see Islamophobia not just as personal prejudice, but an “asset” managed by political elites. Every terrorist attack becomes justification for mass surveillance, expanded state powers, and arms sales.
Security Industry: Billions from Fear
Who else profits? The security industry. After 9/11 and ISIS’s rise, Western military and intelligence budgets soared. Defense contractors profit, tech companies sell surveillance systems, airlines and airports spend billions on screening technology. (Johnson, The Sorrows of Empire, 2004)
I’m not saying the terror threat isn’t real. But we must be critical: is the threat really as big as the media narrative claims? Or is public fear inflated to keep military spending flowing?
Real Impact on Ordinary Muslims
The ironic reality is that the biggest victims of Islamophobia aren’t ISIS members but ordinary Muslims living in the West. After terrorist attacks, Islamophobic violence always spikes. Mosques are burned, hijab-wearing women harassed, Muslim immigrants labelled as threats. (Saeed, Islamophobia and Securitization, 2007)
To me, this is cruel. Everyday Muslims with no link to ISIS bear the burden of collective suspicion. Muslim children grow up under double pressure: proving they’re “civilised” enough in the Western public eye.
Alternative Narratives: Who Shapes Them?
Unfortunately, voices explaining Islam in full context often get drowned out. Moderate Islamic discourse is overshadowed by sensational headlines. Figures like Tariq Ramadan, Hamza Yusuf, or Jonathan A.C. Brown work to educate Western audiences about Islam as a mercy to mankind — but their reach is not as loud as the terror narrative. (Ramadan, Islam and the Arab Awakening, 2012)
I think this is where Muslim media must step up. We must actively claim the narrative space: write, create content, translate literature, and explain that Muslims are often the main victims of radicalism too.
Whose Interest?
In summary, the answer to “who benefits?” is: many parties except ordinary Muslims. From populist political elites to the security industry to sensationalist media all profit economically or electorally. Meanwhile, everyday Muslims are trapped on both ends: public hatred in the West and extremist violence at home. (Kundnani, The Muslims Are Coming!, 2014)
Conclusion: A Middle Path
As a modern Muslim, I believe we must loudly declare that ISIS is not Islam. At the same time, we must also bravely admit our own failure to tackle radicalism. Too often we get defensive but forget self-introspection. Radicalism doesn’t appear solely because of Western conspiracies but also because of poverty, injustice, and shallow religious education.
I hope in the future, Islamic discourse is no longer held hostage by two extremes: terrorism on one side, Islamophobia on the other. Islam should be presented as a middle path a mercy for all not just a political symbol to be exploited.
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