Islamophobia, in its various global manifestations, has predominantly been regarded as a right-wing phenomenon. Notable examples include Donald Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ and anti-migrant policies, as well as India’s increasingly anti-Muslim stance under the Hindu Nationalist leadership of Narendra Modi’s BJP. However, in recent years, it has become increasingly evident that Islamophobia is not confined to the right; the left also has its own Islamophobia problem. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in France, where figures from across the political spectrum have adopted views that openly reveal their anti-Muslim bias.
Islamophobia on the left is often more subtle and nuanced. This can be observed in the views of leftist intellectuals, such as Noam Chomsky, particularly on issues ranging from U.S. support for the YPG to the Syrian Revolution. These stances reflect a broader pattern of Islamophobia that exists even within progressive circles.
This session will explore the convergence of Islamophobic discourse across both the left and the right, delving into the roots of this tacit agreement and examining how such narratives have come to permeate diverse political ideologies.