Combating Islamaphobia

On 11 May 2017, IDEA hosted a conversation circle aimed at exploring Islamaphobia as a global justice issue, and moving the discussion from purely an intercultural question to a space where Development Education actors can play a role in tackling social injustice related to this issue. The following outlines the key points raised during the discussion with a particular focus on the role of DE.

Muslims are not a homogenous group but they are treated as one. The idea of a single 'identity' of Muslims is not a reality but a social construct. As a result all Muslims have to deal with the perceptions of others about 'all Muslims'. It can be difficult for Muslims themselves to speak out, as individuals find themselves in the role of 'spokesperson' for Muslims everywhere. In addition, individuals can experience a huge backlash in public fora or on social media. As a result, many Muslims shy away from the public sphere meaning that the dominant views related to Islamaphobia may not be challenged publicly.

Islamaphobia has gained a lot of media coverage recently but Muslims (or people who 'look like Arabs’) have been dealing with this issue since long before the election of Donald Trump. It really escalated after 9/11. While Muslim activists may welcome allies to tackle Islamaphobia, the question is: why it is becoming more of an issue for civil society now, when it hasn't really been for the past 16 years?

Recent political developments are providing a front/platform for those who held racist views in the past but wouldn't have necessarily acted on them. As a result there seems to be a rise in expressing Islamaphobic comments and actions.

Current anti-terrorism measures in the EU are also alarming. In the UK the PREVENT system requires that professionals such as teachers and healthcare workers report 'suspicious behaviour'. In France we are seeing an increase in the militarisation of the police. We all should be concerned about totalitarian policies and resist monitoring of our private lives by private companies and government.  Even if you have 'nothing to hide' it's about defending everyone’s basic human rights.

In France, we are also seeing a reluctance of the extreme-left to tackle Islamaphobia as they are often aetheist and don’t want to be seen to 'defend’ any religion – including Islam or Muslim people.  However, tackling Islamaphobia it is not about being drawn into an argument about Islam as a faith. There are so many different interpretations of Islam and differences of opinions. Just as we do not need to be experts in Judaism to combat anti-Semitism, we do not need to be experts in Islam to tackle Islamaphobia.  It should be treated as racism and addressed as such. The current rhetoric of Islamaphobia is not just 'anti-immgrant'. It aims to dehumanise Muslims so that they become an enemy to destroy (before they “take over”).

The counter-narrative of exhibiting 'good Muslims' can also be damaging. This refers to occasions where well-meaning people and organisations go down the route of presenting examples of Muslims as “good people”. This can be patronising on the one hand. However it also suggests that while ‘good Muslims’ are deserving of respect and dignity, ‘bad Muslims’ are not.  However Muslims are human beings like everyone else – they may behave badly, end up in prison, harm others. Just like everyone else they deserve basic human rights and dignity because they are human beings. They do not have to be grateful for being treated as such. For generations, immigrants have been forced to be grateful and well-behaved ('yes sir, no sir') and younger generations will not accept this role any longer.

The current global system we have is a result of the effects of European empires and interference in other countries over generations. On top of that, many people both in Europe and globally have lost out as a result of an unfair economic system. The failure of capitalism through the most recent economic crash is also based on a system of 'divide and conquer' of the population. We live in an increasingly individualised society where people feel they need to protect what they have from others. Not to forget, one of the most profitable industries in the world is the Arms trade which feeds and benefits from conflict in the many countries that current refugees and migrants are fleeing from. Examining the role of our capitalist economic system in current social issues – Islamaphobia, migrant crisis and rising isolationism – can be a good place to start for Development Educators.

The analogy of a house is useful when thinking about the world we live in. If the world is a house, and the Europeans are in the sitting room and maybe Syria is the kitchen, when there is a fire in the kitchen the whole house can smell it. The people in the sitting room need to act to help the people in the kitchen or the whole house will burn down. And the people from the kitchen will have to be accommodated in the sitting room until the fire is out and the place cleaned up. Refugees and migrants shouldn't be forced into feeling guilty or grateful about being hosted in other places. It's their world too. We are all interconnected and interdependent and as such we are affected by things happening in other parts of the world and should care about them. Promoting empathy is a key strength of Development Education.

If Islamaphobia, is a 'phobia' can it be treated by education and engagement? There is a strong role for non-violent communication and restorative practice in working with groups. Usually hatred comes from pain or anger about a person's own life.

Development Educators can do much to tackle Islamophobia. Critical thinking has a huge role to play in terms of education and action for social justice. This is something at the core of Development Education and a huge strength of the sector. The role of our capitalist system in the current context can be unpacked and examined in relation to Islamaphobia. Development Education – particularly within non-formal and community development settings – can also play a role in bringing people together in a safe space.

These are just a few examples of what Development Education can do in this context. If you have any ideas or resources relating to this topic please contact communications@ideaonline.ie

September 26, 2025
Date: Tuesday, 04 November, from 3.30–4.30pm Location: Online via Zoom IDEA is thrilled to invite members to the online launch of our new “Theory of Impact for Global Citizenship Education” on Tuesday, 04 November, from 3.30–4.30pm, Online via Zoom. During this session, we will present the model, share insights into the process behind its development, and explore how it will be used to strengthen impact across the sector. We will also introduce a new tool in progress, an interactive data visualisation map designed to showcase our collective impact as a network. For many years, IDEA and its members have been grappling with the concept of impact in Development Education/Global Citizenship Education (hereinafter ‘GCE’). As GCE practitioners, tracking impact helps us to identify how, where and with whom our work is creating positive change, as well as investigating areas in which our impact could be stronger. Furthermore, we can also benefit from examining the collective impact of GCE carried out by the wide-ranging work of IDEA members, and from exploring how these impacts contribute to the major social changes to which the GCE community aspires. Driven therefore by the need to understand how projects and programmes are collectively “making a difference” in IDEA we looked at models that could help us visualise and capture GCE “impact networks”. We formulated our vision of impact and then a theory of how we expect this desired impact to be achieved to allow us to map our activities and collect data to corroborate that theory. This Theory of Impact model is how we hope to illustrate this complex GCE impact network. Building on work done by IDEA over many years including building sectoral capacity in using Results Frameworks for GCE, our Quality & Impact working group, engagement with Irish Aid on their Performance Measurement Framework (PMF), and the successful roll-out of a Code of Good Practice for DE/GCE, this Theory of Impact represent the next stage of our effort to ‘develop a consistent approach to measuring impact among the sector’. We are therefore thrilled to invite you to the presentation of our ‘Theory of Impact for GCE’. At this online presentation, we will tell you about the process that led to the creation of this model, how it will be used and what we hope it could bring to the sector. We will also touch on a new tool being developed based on the model, which should allow the creation of an interactive data visualisation map of our collective impact as a network. Join us as we launch into this exciting new phase of our Impact Measurement work. Join us as we begin this exciting new phase of our Impact Measurement work. Register below!
September 26, 2025
Date: 11 November, 10.30am – 4.30pm. Location: IDEA offices, 6 Gardiner Row IDEA launched its new Advocacy Toolkit and GCE Policy Guide resource pack in early March. The advocacy toolkit and policy guide were developed for IDEA members to strengthen their capacity to effectively advocate with policymakers and to actively engage in policy processes on GCE in Ireland and the wider world. IDEA will facilitate a full-day in-person workshop on these resources in the IDEA offices on Tuesday, 11 November ,10.30am – 4.30pm. Places are limited to 20 participants and will be given on a first come, first served basis. Please note that this is a repeat of the workshop that took place in May and is aimed at members who did not have the opportunity to participate in May. A vegetarian lunch will be provided. Register below!
September 26, 2025
Date: 06 November a nd 18 November from 3.30–4.30pm Location: IDEA offices, 6 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1 Due to positive feedback following a workshop during our annual conference, we are thrilled to invite members to a full 2-part interactive workshop about “Racial Justice” on 06 November and 18 November. This event will take place in-person in Dublin. Our facilitators Bronwyn April and Mdahyelya Bassi will guide participants through a critical exploration of the interconnections between racial justice, philanthropy, migration, and decolonisation within global and Irish contexts. The workshop will delve into how historical and ongoing colonial legacies influence contemporary issues of racial equity and social justice in Ireland and beyond. The dates for this event are fast approaching, so if you have any specific accessibility requirements, please email events@ideaonline.ie as soon as possible. Places for this event are limited, and registration is mandatory. Deadline to register is Monday, 04 November. Register below!