US National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Its Contradictory Practices

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The US National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia, apparently to justify and explain policies to defend the rights of racial minorities, especially Muslims living in the United States, was unveiled by the White House on December 12, 2024, in a situation where world public opinion has been witnessing with astonishment for more than a year the unprecedented increase in the shipment of deadly weapons and the full-scale political, legal, international and media support of the United States for the genocide and the commission of heinous crimes by the occupying and child-killing Israeli regime in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and other parts of the occupied territories against Palestinians, mainly civilians, women, children, the elderly, journalists, hospitals and all vital centers and infrastructures of the residents of the occupied territories.

Seyed Hossein Rezvani – Human Rights Analyst

The strategy, which is aimed at combating Islamophobia, discrimination, violence, and hatred against Muslim and Arab-American communities, claims to help create an inclusive and safe environment in which violations of the human rights and inherent dignity of Muslims living in the United States are prevented, and efforts are made to protect and promote them. The designers of this strategy argue that combating Islamophobia is not only a duty in the direction of social justice but also a benchmark for measuring America’s commitment to the fundamental principles of human rights, equality, and freedom.

This report, while examining the background of the subject and the objectives of the development of the aforementioned strategy, briefly discusses the main elements, implementation framework, criticisms, operational challenges, recommendations, and solutions that the United States claims to implement within the framework of the strategy mentioned above to combat Islamophobia, and critically explains the extent to which the adoption of a tactical approach and the use of soft power by the United States in practice conflict with the country’s macro policies in containing or managing the crisis in West Asia and comprehensive support for the Zionist regime.

 

Background and necessity for developing the strategy

On December 12, 2024, the White House introduced the first national strategy to combat Islamophobia. The significant increase in hate crimes against Muslims and Arab Americans, including the painful murder of Wadia Al-Fayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American child, in October 2023, highlighted the need for serious action. The strategy claims to seek to eliminate stereotypes and discriminatory structures that reinforce Islamophobia in this country.

Main pillars of the US strategy

  1. Public awareness and education: Educational content in schools and media campaigns increase public knowledge about Muslims’ history, culture, and contributions and reduce negative stereotypes.
  2. Promoting the safety and security of Muslim communities: The national strategy includes measures to report hate crimes better, provide financial support to local organizations, and strengthen the security infrastructure of Muslim places of worship, including mosques.
  3. Respect for religious freedoms: The strategy aims to ensure the religious rights of Muslims, including the right to wear religious clothing, hold prayers in the workplace, and eliminate employment or administrative barriers based on religious beliefs by reforming policies and regulations.
  4. Strengthening solidarity between different communities: This strategy focuses on expanding interfaith dialogue, implementing joint community-based projects, and creating a space for interaction and cooperation between people of various ethnicities and religions.

Implementation framework and operational structure

Implementing this strategy requires interagency and multi-layered cooperation between the federal government, states, non-governmental organizations, and local community leaders.

  • Data collection and analysis: Improving the quality of data related to hate crimes and access to reliable information for smart policymaking.
  • Continuous engagement with local communities: Engaging closely with Muslim and Arab communities to ensure that their real needs are met.
  • Reviewing discriminatory policies: Eliminating or modifying policies such as no-fly lists and other practices that intentionally or unintentionally lead to discrimination.

Challenges and criticisms

Although this strategy is considered a positive step at first glance, some civil society organizations, such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), have raised criticisms. For example, the strategy does not yet address some discriminatory programs, such as security blacklists, and the level of transparency in its implementation is questionable.

Recommendations and actions claimed

The predictions made in the strategy include:

  • “Stronger oversight mechanisms: Establish federal working groups to monitor progress and provide public reports continuously.
  • Support local initiatives: Provide funding to local organizations and institutions active in countering hate speech.
  • Youth engagement programs: Expand intercultural education in schools and universities to train the next generation of leaders committed to tolerance.
  • International cooperation: Exchange experiences and successful practices with other countries in combating Islamophobia and hate speech.
  • Media and technology oversight: Strengthen regulations and impose greater oversight on media and cyberspace to prevent the spread of Islamophobic content.”

Contradictions in US policies

While the White House is trying to present a supportive image of Muslim minorities by publishing this strategy, the macro policies of the United States, especially in its unlimited support for the Zionist regime, create an apparent contradiction with these claims. Since the formation of the Zionist occupation regime in Palestine, the United States has always guaranteed the survival of this regime through military, political, legal, economic, and media support.

In the course of the developments after October 7, 2023, the US government’s support for the oppressive and violent actions of the Israeli regime against the Palestinian people has been increasing. According to the assessment of international institutions, this support has led to the commission of widespread crimes that, according to the decisions issued by international legal authorities and institutions such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), examples of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity have been identified in the occupied territories. According to statistics published by the British medical journal The Lancet, over the past 14 months, more than 183,000 Palestinians have lost their lives as a result of Israel’s relentless and violent attacks, with a significant number of victims being children and women. Such statistics are consistent with evidence that indicates gross violations of human rights and collective punishment against the defenseless Palestinian people.

 

The rulings of the International Court of Justice in July 2024 and the International Criminal Court in November 2024 against the Israeli regime and its officials indicate the confirmation by international judicial institutions of serious violations of human rights and international law by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories. The contradiction between the claims and declared positions of the United States in defense of the rights of Muslim minorities in this country, on the one hand, and the practical and continuous support for the inhumane actions of the Zionist apartheid regime in Palestine, on the other, clearly demonstrates the duality of Washington’s policies in the field of human rights.

 

Conclusion

Although the White House National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia is declared to be a step towards protecting the rights of American Muslims, the contradiction between the claims of defending the rights of Muslim minorities within the United States and the relentless support of an occupying and oppressive regime outside the country’s borders not only undermines the credibility of the US government’s claims but also confirms Washington’s instrumental use of public diplomacy and media capabilities to distort facts and shape public opinion in the direction of its biased political goals.

Countering Islamophobia within the borders of the United States without reviewing the country’s macro-regional and international policies, especially with regard to supporting the Zionist regime and condoning its crimes, is a gross violation of purpose and will not lead to tangible results. The true test of America’s commitment to the principles of equality and freedom will manifest not in official statements and strategic documents but in the alignment and compatibility of this country’s policies and practical actions with its claims in the domestic and international arenas.

0 Comments

LATEST CONTENT

Trump’s Approach & Prospects for Peace in Ukraine

Strategic Council Online—Interview: An international affairs expert said, “Trump’s most important challenge in this period of his presidency for interacting with Russia is the war in Ukraine. It seems that other than Trump, the other parties do not have the necessary preparation, will, and trust to end this war.”

The Future of the Government in Gaza!

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on regional issues said: No person or group can come to power in Gaza without an agreement with Hamas, and anyone other than Hamas who comes to power in Gaza must work in coordination with Hamas.

Impossibility of Relocating the People of Gaza

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Clearing Gaza of the Palestinian population is one of the long-standing aspirations of the Zionist regime. This plan has been the focus of the “Israeli far-right” and “Christian Zionism in America” since the passage of the “Israel as the Jewish Nation-State” law in 2018.

Europe’s Challenge in Dealing with Trump

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on European and American issues said Trump is making a tactical and temporary retreat in his new presidential term to strengthen the United States from within so that he can carry out more serious attacks and structural disruptions similar to the issue of Canada’s annexation to the United States in the near future. Therefore, Europe feels extremely threatened.

Dimensions and Scope of the Conflict between Ankara and Syrian Kurds

Strategic Council Online – Guest Opinion: The increase in civilian casualties and ordinary citizens in the northern and eastern regions of Syria, following the continuation and intensification of air and artillery attacks by the Turkish army and its affiliated militias, namely the Syrian National Army (SNA), has led to growing concerns about the future course of developments in Syria.

Goals of Turkey’s Military Actions in Northern Syria

Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert on Turkish affairs said: Recently, Turkish forces entered the northwest of the country to establish a military base in the Syrian province of Latakia and installed the Turkish flag in various areas. It is said that Turkish troops entered some villages in northern Latakia with engineering and surveying equipment. After surveying the Al-Kamiliya Heights, they installed the Turkish flag in various areas of villages and schools in northwestern Syria. Rami Abdul Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, warned about this move to annex these areas to Turkish territory. Without a doubt, this process will have serious consequences for Turkey.

Loading

Últimas publicaciones

Trump’s Approach & Prospects for Peace in Ukraine

Strategic Council Online—Interview: An international affairs expert said, “Trump’s most important challenge in this period of his presidency for interacting with Russia is the war in Ukraine. It seems that other than Trump, the other parties do not have the necessary preparation, will, and trust to end this war.”

The Future of the Government in Gaza!

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on regional issues said: No person or group can come to power in Gaza without an agreement with Hamas, and anyone other than Hamas who comes to power in Gaza must work in coordination with Hamas.

Impossibility of Relocating the People of Gaza

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Clearing Gaza of the Palestinian population is one of the long-standing aspirations of the Zionist regime. This plan has been the focus of the “Israeli far-right” and “Christian Zionism in America” since the passage of the “Israel as the Jewish Nation-State” law in 2018.

Europe’s Challenge in Dealing with Trump

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on European and American issues said Trump is making a tactical and temporary retreat in his new presidential term to strengthen the United States from within so that he can carry out more serious attacks and structural disruptions similar to the issue of Canada’s annexation to the United States in the near future. Therefore, Europe feels extremely threatened.

Dimensions and Scope of the Conflict between Ankara and Syrian Kurds

Strategic Council Online – Guest Opinion: The increase in civilian casualties and ordinary citizens in the northern and eastern regions of Syria, following the continuation and intensification of air and artillery attacks by the Turkish army and its affiliated militias, namely the Syrian National Army (SNA), has led to growing concerns about the future course of developments in Syria.

Goals of Turkey’s Military Actions in Northern Syria

Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert on Turkish affairs said: Recently, Turkish forces entered the northwest of the country to establish a military base in the Syrian province of Latakia and installed the Turkish flag in various areas. It is said that Turkish troops entered some villages in northern Latakia with engineering and surveying equipment. After surveying the Al-Kamiliya Heights, they installed the Turkish flag in various areas of villages and schools in northwestern Syria. Rami Abdul Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, warned about this move to annex these areas to Turkish territory. Without a doubt, this process will have serious consequences for Turkey.

Loading
Samir Design Group گروه طراحی سمیر