As the nation approaches the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the specter of Islamophobia continues to loom large in American politics. Despite the passage of time, the anti-Muslim sentiment that surged post-9/11 has not only persisted but also evolved, becoming a feature of American politics during election seasons.
This week, the political landscape is witnessing a resurgence of Islamophobic rhetoric, particularly in the Michigan Senate race. Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who could become the first Muslim U.S. senator, has been subjected to a barrage of accusations, including being labeled a terrorist and a radical Islamist. Meanwhile, in New York City, local media has suggested that Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, should not attend the commemoration of the World Trade Center attacks.
The Institutionalization of Islamophobia
Journalist Rozina Ali, in a conversation with The Intercept Briefing, highlighted the alarming trend of Islamophobia becoming more rampant during election seasons. She noted that over the last three decades, Islamophobia has become institutionalized in American politics. This shift is evident in the rhetoric and policies targeting Muslim candidates and communities.
Ali expressed concern about the potential for local officials to attempt to outlaw Islam altogether, a stark shift from the Muslim ban proposed by former President Donald Trump a decade ago. She pointed out that the rhetoric has evolved to suggest that Islam is not a religion but a political ideology a talking point that is becoming increasingly institutionalized.
The Impact on Muslim Candidates
The impact of this rhetoric is evident in the experiences of Muslim candidates like Abdul El-Sayed and Zohran Mamdani. El-Sayed, a Michigan native, has faced accusations of having alliances with foreign groups, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood. This strategy, according to Ali, has been used repeatedly over the past 25 years to suggest the presence of sleeper cells in the U.S.
In contrast, Mamdani faced vitriol suggesting he was not American enough to be mayor of New York City due to his foreign birth. This anti-immigration rhetoric underscores the diverse tactics used to marginalize Muslim candidates. The media’s role in amplifying these narratives, often without deeper investigation, further exacerbates the problem.
The Broader Implications
The rise of Islamophobia has broader implications for civil liberties and political discourse. Ali discussed the first case in which the NSA admitted to spying on a U.S. citizen, Arab American attorney Abdeen Jabara. She also highlighted the story of Imam Yassin Aref, who served 15 years in federal prison due to the ambiguous material support for terrorism law passed in the ’90s.
This law has been used to convict not only Muslim individuals but also anti-ICE protesters at the Prairieland Detention Center this year. Ali warned that the power given to the executive branch over the last 25 years allows the government to decide who they consider enemies and what they consider support for terrorism. This power, she cautioned, could be used to target other groups, including leftists.
The conversation with Ali, available on The Intercept Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, delves deeper into these issues and her new book, Seasons of Fury: Four Families and the Rise of Islamophobia in America.
