Biden Administration Developing Anti-Islamophobia Strategy Amidst Skepticism from Muslim Americans

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The Biden Administration is in the confidential phase of formulating a national blueprint to address Islamophobia, sources who have been briefed on the issue reveal. The strategy’s unveiling has faced delays and skepticism from segments of the Muslim American community, who question the administration’s credibility on the issue due to its strong support for Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza.

Originally, the administration planned to announce this initiative last week during a meeting between President Biden and Muslim leaders. However, the announcement has been postponed. According to three anonymous sources, part of the delay can be attributed to concerns from Muslim Americans about the administration’s unyielding support for Israel’s military operations, which have resulted in significant civilian casualties in Gaza. These informants spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to disclose plans publicly.

This long-awaited move follows the May release of a national plan to counter antisemitism, which briefly touched upon the subject of hatred directed toward Muslims. The formulation of the new strategy is expected to involve numerous government agencies and take several months to finalize.

Since the unexpected Oct. 7 attack by Hamas against Israel, which led to more than 1,400 deaths and hundreds of hostages, as well as Israel’s military response in Gaza, hate crimes against both Jewish and Muslim individuals have surged globally and within the United States. One egregious attack occurred in Illinois, where 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume was killed and his mother injured in an incident prosecutors assert was motivated by Islamophobia.

President Biden condemned the Illinois attack, stating, “This abhorrent act conflicts fundamentally with American values of freedom from fear based on religious belief, ideology, and personal identity.”

Though there is a broad consensus among Muslim Americans about the necessity of a national plan to counter Islamophobia, the timing of such an announcement has been complicated by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. A source familiar with the matter, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated that the administration aims to separate the two issues. However, certain influential Muslim American groups see them as intrinsically linked.

During a recent meeting with faith leaders, Rami Nashashibi, founder of the Inner City Muslim Action Network in Chicago, stated that the proposed strategy would be “dead on arrival” unless the administration strongly criticizes members of the Israeli far-right government and addresses hate crimes against Muslims and Arab Americans more assertively. Nashashibi also calls for the administration to clarify its stance on the Palestinian death count, which President Biden had previously questioned.

John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, acknowledged the significant loss of civilian lives in Gaza but indicated skepticism toward figures released by the Hamas-run Ministry of Health.

Nashashibi warned that the administration’s strategy may fall flat unless it addresses the specific concerns raised by Muslim American leaders, particularly the perception that advocacy for Palestinian self-determination is being unfairly equated with antisemitism and support for extremism.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Anti-Islamophobia Strategy

More about Anti-Islamophobia Strategy

• National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism
• Brief Overview of Israel-Hamas Conflict
• Hate Crimes Statistics in the United States
• Inner City Muslim Action Network
• White House National Security Council Statements