Teach-in series lecture dissects network of Islamophobia

Organizations profit off of anti-Muslim media depictions, according to Wajahat Ali, the lead author of an investigative report produced by the Center for American Progress in 2011.

Ali spoke on Friday as part of the UNC Muslim Students Association teach-in series, Examining Islamophobia. The series was organized following the killing of three young Muslims — one of whom was a UNC dental student — by Craig Hicks last month. Police are still investigating whether the attack was religiously motivated. 

Ali said anti-Muslim bigotry fosters what he called an Islamophobic network. 

Ali's report, "Fear Inc.: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America," said the Islamophobic network is made up of people who profit from anti-Muslim sentiment, including some media networks, academics and political players. 

“For the first time, we dissected the network, exposed it, categorized it, named the names, connected the dots, traced the funding and showed the genesis of several fictitious anti-Muslim talking points,” Ali said.

The report uncovered seven groups that Ali said have now given about $57 million to this network. 

He said political propaganda often plays into media depictions. This political propaganda allows people to profit from fear and ignorance, Ali said, emphasizing the cost of it all.

“There is a human cost to profit that is generally borne by the most marginalized of society, and that currently includes many American Muslims,” Ali said.

Ali said in order to divert power from this network, its platform must be taken away.

“We expose those voices, we marginalize them and hopefully we move forward as communities and leave them in the dustbins of history,” he said. 

Ali told Muslims to be proactive in telling their stories.

“I call on Muslims to step up,” he said. “Have faith in yourselves. First and foremost, walk with humble swagger. We have skills. We have talents. It will take all of our talents to change the discourse.”

Saba Ijaz, a member of the MSA, attended both lectures in the Examining Islamophobia series and said she was surprised to hear about the funding behind the Islamophobic network.

“It’s not something you think about,” she said. “I thought it was really interesting how he was breaking down the money trail.”

Shamira Lukomwa, president of the MSA, said there has been a lot of support from campus organizations for the teach-in series.

“It’s shown MSA members and Muslims on campus that we’re not alone and that there are people who are willing to and wanting to support us,” Lukomwa said.

Ali echoed this sentiment in his lecture, noting that Islamophobia is not only a Muslim issue but also an American issue. He urged Muslims to have hope.

“We need to reach out — reach out our hands across the aisle — and in good faith have hope that there will be a friend’s hand that will grab it,” Ali said.

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