Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, Muslim communities across Europe and North America have faced growing hostility. This increase in Islamophobia is not just an emotional reaction; it’s the result of calculated political messaging, media framing, and long-standing racial bias. The war has become more than a foreign conflict. It now affects the daily lives of millions of Muslims in the West.
How Media Shapes Public Perception
Media outlets play a critical role in shaping public narratives. However, instead of showing the human toll of the war on Palestinians, many Western outlets use vague language. Words like “clashes” or “conflict” suggest mutual aggression, even when civilian casualties clearly tell another story.
Al Jazeera pointed out that major publications frame pro-Palestinian protests as “hate marches.” That choice of words removes public empathy and paints Muslims as threats rather than grieving communities.
Scholar John Esposito warns,
“An unverified piece of news is repeated more than three times, and by the time it’s retracted, it’s already stuck in people’s heads.”
Repetition of biased language shapes perception long after facts are corrected.
State Crackdowns Disguised as Security
Governments across the West are seizing this moment to target Muslim expression. For example, France banned pro-Palestinian protests and doubled down on hijab restrictions. Human rights organizations argue that these moves have little to do with safety and everything to do with controlling Muslim visibility.
In the UK, officials linked Gaza protests to extremism. This narrative has silenced students, activists, and even journalists who speak out. Moreover, far-right leaders in Germany and the Netherlands use this moment to revive anti-Muslim policies under the guise of national unity.
Marion Lalisse, the EU’s anti-Muslim hatred coordinator, stated:
“We have, unfortunately, a normalization of anti‑Muslim narrative … those acts are very detrimental to Europe, and they don’t reflect our values.”
A Surge in Hate Crimes and Harassment
Street-level hate has followed the same pattern. According to Tell MAMA UK, anti-Muslim incidents increased by 330% after October 7. In France, several mosques were attacked. Muslim women wearing hijabs face growing abuse in public spaces and workplaces alike.
Unlike previous waves of Islamophobia, today’s rise comes with both political cover and media complicity. This makes the environment more dangerous than ever.
Islamophobia as a Political Weapon
Islamophobia has become a strategic tool for political gain. Far-right parties across Europe exploit the Gaza crisis to stoke fears about Muslim communities, rally support for exclusionary policies, and position themselves as defenders of national identity. This political maneuvering leads to increased surveillance of mosques, restrictions on Muslim charities, and the silencing of pro-Palestinian voices in academia and public discourse. By portraying Muslims as inherently anti-Western, political actors secure votes while marginalizing an entire community.
Colonial Legacies and Racial Double Standards
The dehumanization of Muslims in the context of the Gaza war reflects deeper colonial attitudes embedded in Western societies. Media and political narratives often portray Muslim lives as less valuable, a mindset rooted in the racial hierarchies of imperialism. As scholar Farid Hafez notes, current policies continue the legacy of colonial control by restricting Muslim visibility and framing Islamic identity as a threat to European “progress.” These double standards remain central to how Muslims are policed and politicized.
As Hafez further argues,
“States legitimize interference … reminding us again of the ‘white man’s burden.’”
This logic allows governments to police, suppress, and exclude Muslims while claiming to protect liberal values.
Moving Forward: Confronting the Normalization
The Gaza conflict has intensified an already dangerous trend of rising Islamophobia in the West. While statements of support are important, they are not enough. Governments must urgently address hate crimes, uphold the rights of free speech and assembly, and ensure that Muslim voices are represented in media and policymaking. Media institutions must also reflect critically on how they frame conflict, identity, and resistance.
As long as Islamophobia remains an acceptable political currency, Muslim communities will continue to face marginalization. The current moment demands a collective reckoning—not only with political policies, but with the deeper narratives that dehumanize Muslims in plain sight.