How is Islamophobia Understood?

• An educator (female participant) shared: > “Islamophobia operates as a negative stereotype. In Myanmar, from a young age, when the word ‘Muslim’ is mentioned, it is often tied to the ‘K-word’ and framed with negative depictions like violent, extremist, and superstitious. This concept inherently carries discrimination, which leads to exclusion in schools and workplaces. Ideally, a person’s appearance cannot definitively dictate their ethnicity, but in this country, people often judge purely by physical appearance without caring about actual race or religion, labeling them as ‘different from us, the enemy’ and subjecting them to oppression.”
• Another participant noted: Islamophobia acts like a pre-written script that dictates “what Muslims usually do and why you should be wary of them.” Looking at these perceptions, it becomes clear that while any group has good and bad individuals, Islamophobia is an irrational logic that concludes a person is inherently bad simply because they are Muslim. Participants added that this leads directly to systemic discrimination and hardships.

The History and Timeline of Islamophobia

The portrayal of Muslims as dangerous is designed to justify oppression. This hostility can be traced back over 900 years:

• Historical Roots: It can be seen in the events of the Crusades and the forced conversions to Catholicism (or expulsion) in historical Spain.
• Colonial Era (1700s–1900s): White colonial powers suppressed Islamic organizations from the Gulf region to India, establishing narratives that the global community eventually adopted.
• The 1990s: This includes the Balkan conflicts, such as the Srebrenica genocide.
• Post-9/11 Era (2001–Present): The situation worsened on a global scale. The 2010s saw the Rohingya crisis, the internment of Uyghurs in China, and the Christchurch mosque shootings.
• Current Europe (2010s–2020s): Far-right movements and discriminatory policies, such as burqa bans, show that this oppression remains deeply entrenched.

Islamophobia in the US, Myanmar, and China

Modern anti-Muslim sentiment expanded significantly under the guise of the U.S.-led “War on Terror.”

• The Global Narrative: One participant explained that after the Vietnam War—where Communism was framed as the global threat—the “War on Terror” became the new grand narrative. The invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan and interventions in the Gulf were framed as the West “saving the world from Muslims.”
• The Situation in Myanmar: Long before the rise of the nationalist group Ma Ba Tha, military dictators in Myanmar were already spreading anti-Muslim propaganda. Despite having a different political system from the U.S., Myanmar’s military regime rode the wave of the “War on Terror.” Post-2000, the heavily censored military government allowed Western anti-Muslim propaganda and gossip to enter the country completely unfiltered. This sentiment was systematically reinforced by institutional measures like the 1982 Citizenship Law.
• The Situation in China: Even though China operates under a completely different political system, its systematic internment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang (East Turkestan) shows that diverse political systems can align when it comes to committing anti-Muslim persecution.

The Current State of Islamophobia

• A participant from Bago observed: > “Currently, Islamophobia is in a very severe state worldwide. Beyond Palestine and Gaza, restrictions and bans are being placed on Muslims across Europe.” They assessed that Islamophobia is gaining momentum alongside a broader far-right wave targeting minorities and migrants.
• Internal Misconceptions: The same participant shared a personal experience: “In Myanmar, the majority often think Muslims hold supremacist views or that the Quran commands violence. My friends frequently ask me if the Quran instructs Muslims to conquer the world, or if reading it alters a person’s character to make them violent.” This highlights how deeply toxic propaganda has permeated daily social interactions.
• A participant from Rakhine added: Conversations regarding Muslims are often filled with “half-truths” and a lack of genuine understanding. People in the U.S. and Europe look at the actions of the Taliban and conclude that Muslims shouldn’t be given a place because “they are too different from us.”
• A participant named Jingphaw noted: Oppression doesn’t just stop at an anti-Islam narrative; anti-Muslim sentiment eventually escalates into a broader push of “Islam is not wanted here,” demonstrating the depth of this hatred.

These forms of hatred are driven by centuries of political manipulation. In reality, this prejudice has justified invasions in the Gulf and targeted violence against Muslim minorities in countries like Myanmar. Hatred ultimately destroys and impoverishes an entire society; by hating Muslims and minorities, the country itself has suffered economically.

To build a prosperous and equal future, society must work together to dismantle this hatred and foster mutual understanding. Deconstructing an animosity established by dictators and states over centuries is a difficult path, but it is one that must be taken.

Note from the Author: This panel discussion took place in October 2025. It brought together 15 participants from various regions, including Yangon, Naypyidaw, Sagaing, Rakhine, Shan, Bago, Mon, Kachin, and Tanintharyi.

Published by the Progressive Muslim Youth Association (PMYA).