Who Benefits Most from Islamophobia?

 

Who Benefits Most from Islamophobia?

Suit-wearing puppet master pulls strings on fearful news anchor and extremist, piles of cash and oil barrels below, scared crowd watches propaganda screens


Introduction: Fear That’s Carefully Kept Alive

As a neutral observer, I always wonder: why does the fear narrative about Islam or Islamophobia keep thriving? Shouldn’t the global era make people understand each other better? In reality, negative stigma grows stronger in much of Western media. (Edward Said, Orientalism, 1978)

In my view, Islamophobia does not appear out of nowhere. It is built, maintained, and spread systematically. So, who gains the most? Let’s break it down through history, economics, politics, and media industry.

History: A Never-Ending Legacy

Islamophobia has deep roots going back to the Crusades. The West remembers Islam as an “eternal rival” since medieval Europe. This narrative lives on in books, films, and academic discourse. (Karen Armstrong, Holy War, 1988)

After 9/11, this sentiment exploded again. Global media cropped events, spotlighting radical Islam without deeper context. Public opinion was shaped: Islam equals terror, the Middle East equals conflict. Thus, Islamophobia became not just social fear, but a political commodity. (Jack Shaheen, Reel Bad Arabs, 2001)

Politics: Creating Enemies for Legitimacy

Many analysts argue big states need a “common enemy” to justify aggressive foreign policy. After the Soviet Union collapsed, a new threat emerged: global Islamic terrorism. (Samuel Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations, 1996)

As a writer, I won’t rashly call this a conspiracy. But the facts are visible: war policies, military interventions, strict airport security all sold with the “war on terror” narrative. Here, Islamophobia acts as a legitimation tool. (Noam Chomsky, Media Control, 1991)

Economy: The Thriving Security Industry

Who else profits? Surely, the global security industry. After 9/11, Western defense budgets skyrocketed. Arms contractors, digital surveillance companies, and private security firms made billions. (Naomi Klein, The Shock Doctrine, 2007)

When the public believes Islamic threats always lurk, the demand for protection rises. Airports, cities, even the internet are guarded with expensive tech. Islamophobia is a lucrative market for the security business. Ironically, selling fear brings profit. (Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 2019)

Media: Fear-Driven Clicks and Ratings

I often see how global media maintains Islamophobia because it “sells well.” Stories of moderate Islam rarely make headlines. Instead, bombings, conflicts, and terror acts dominate screens repeatedly. Fear boosts ratings and clicks. (Zeynep Tufekci, Twitter and Tear Gas, 2017)

This sensational journalism traps the public in the perception that Islam equals violence. Yet data shows most Muslims live peacefully, contributing to science, education, and tech. But good stories rarely win the spotlight. (Tariq Ramadan, Islam and the Arab Awakening, 2012)

Populist Politicians: Cheap Campaign Fuel

In many Western countries, Islamophobia is used by populist politicians. They promise to “protect the nation from Muslim immigrants” for votes. Fear-based campaigns work well because they tap into raw emotion. (Douglas Murray, The Strange Death of Europe, 2017)

As a writer, I won’t generalize all politicians. But this pattern is clear: Islamophobia is campaign fuel. From debates to public speeches and strict immigration laws all ride the narrative “fear of Islam.” (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Danger of a Single Story, 2009)

Who Suffers Most?

On the other side, Muslims are double victims. First, they are often suspected in public spaces. Second, in conflict zones, civilians pay the price under the banner of the “war on terror.” Syrian, Palestinian, Afghan, Yemeni children — they bear the cost of war waged in religion’s name. (Malcolm X, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, 1965)

Islamophobia also divides internal solidarity. Young Muslim diaspora face identity crises: distrusted in the West, seen as “too Western” in their homelands. Their identity is squeezed. (Seyla Benhabib, The Claims of Culture, 2002)

How Should Muslims Respond?

In my view, Muslims shouldn’t just be defensive. Responding to stigma with hateful rhetoric only prolongs the radical Islam narrative. What’s needed are counter-narratives: creative works, media literacy, interfaith dialogue, and public participation. (Marc Lynch, Voices of the New Arab Public, 2006)

Some Muslim diaspora communities have begun to act: launching news platforms, YouTube channels, films, podcasts, and identity-themed stand-up comedy. This is how to break stereotypes using pop culture’s language. (Ziauddin Sardar, Postmodernism and the Other, 1998)

Critical Literacy: Read News with a Cool Head

Islamophobia thrives because the public rarely reads deeply. Sensational news spreads without fact-checking. In my opinion, this is Muslims’ homework: build critical literacy. Teach young people to ask: who benefits from every fear-based narrative? (Michel Foucault, Power/Knowledge, 1980)

When the public is info-literate, Islamophobia propaganda loses fuel. We learn to distinguish fringe terrorists from peaceful Muslim majorities. We realize stigma is just a control strategy. (Ali A. Mazrui, Islam Between Globalization and Counterterrorism, 2006)

Closing with Neutrality: Not West vs. Islam

Finally, let me stress: this is not about “evil West, pure Islam.” Many Westerners themselves fight Islamophobia in their own countries. Many journalists, academics, and human rights activists combat discrimination. The real enemy is not nations, but fear-based mindsets sold for power. (Karen Armstrong, Fields of Blood, 2014)

Muslims must prove this civilization has a peaceful, creative, open face. Not through empty claims, but real works. Only then will Islamophobia lose its market.

Lokasi: GWF8+M5 Blodgett Mills, NY, Amerika Serikat

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