WAMM Statement on Islamophobia

Woman Against Military Madness strongly condemns the rising phenomenon of Islamophobia exemplified by Congressman Peter King’s Homeland Security Hearings titled, “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and the Community’s Response.”  The title itself suggests that the community of millions of American Muslims is complicit in terrorism, stoking fear and misunderstanding, isolating and demonizing all persons of the Muslim faith.

Creating a perception of Muslims as “the other,” to be feared and mistrusted, enables the American public to tolerate both the inhumane treatment and incarceration of hundreds of Muslims in the U.S. and the destruction of life and property in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Muslim world.  Islamophobia and its accompanying fear-mongering and reactionary hatred allow U.S.-sponsored torture of Muslims in secret prisons and extraordinary renditions to continue around the world.

We call on our elected officials to build security by meeting human needs—education, health care, jobs, poverty—not by deepening divisions and perpetuating Islamophobia.

Written by the WAMM Middle East Committee

Approved by the WAMM Board March 15, 2011