Burka ban discussions on breakfast TV. Escalating verbal abuse and physical attacks on our streets. Media headlines pointing the finger at Islam in our schools. Intellectuals and politicians arguing over a clash of cultures and the ‘enemy within’.
No doubt about it. Islamophobia has become the new normal for Muslims living in the UK today.
And in the run up to the General Election in June it is only likely to get worse.
Countering this ever-growing hate is critical for the future of our society.
But to do this, we need better research on who is behind the anti-Muslim groups and networks.
Unravelling the web of anti-Muslim hate
Who are the politicians, activists, media pundits, writers, policy advisers, lawyers and think tankers constructing this web of anti-Muslim hate? And whose money pays for them to spew forth their daily hate-filled narrative?
Already we have investigated the transatlantic counterjihad movement, neoconservative think tanks, pro-Israel lobby groups and counter extremism organisations such as the Quilliam Foundation.
Now we intend to build upon this work by investigating and analysing the institutions and networks that enable people like Katie Hopkins and Breitbart editor Raheem Kassam, and the seemingly more ‘respectable’ think tankers appearing on our screens and airwaves as part of a well-heeled Islamophobia industry. In particular, we will examine certain liberal and left (secularist) currents encouraging Islamophobia, and also the media and journalism.
This new research will be published in a series of in-depth reports over the coming year. We will also set up a new Islamophobia Portal on our Powerbase wiki website, which receives over 6.5 million page views a year.
Help us expose the networks behind the ugly face of Islamophobia.
•To stop hate, we need to confront it.
•To confront it, we need information.
•To gather this information, we need money!
Our spring crowdfunding target is £12,000 for the first 3 months of research.
Any donation, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated.
You can give via paypal on our donations page, or even better, donate directly into our bank account so we don't get charged extra fees. Please note our donation transparency policy below.
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The Spinwatch team
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