Al-Qalam 
In many countries around the world, there are a growing number of organizations hosting Islamophobia Hate Crimes Registers – we wish to do the same.
There is an urgent need for South African Muslims to inculcate a culture of reporting incidents of Islamophobia.
The South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) has advocated and tried over a number of years to establish such a system and is looking to strengthen its initiative to encourage the recording and reporting of verbal or physical hate attacks.
SAMNET is calling for interested persons and organizations to engage us in discussing and organizing to counter and eliminate Islamophobia in South Africa.
While traditionally it was driven by those of other religions, it is now often part of a greater “anti-religion” movement.
While we must caution against seeing Islamophobia in everything, we must equally not ignore its existence and proliferation. We must be proactive and not wait until it manifests violently – and then start to do something.
Islamophobic attacks of a violent nature are the ones that get reported and make the news, while the “lesser” non-violent ones such as verbal abuse, intimidation, and systemic exclusion, are often as damaging to the psyche as a knife or bullet.
If we as Muslims fail to measure the ongoing insidious hate against them, we won’t be able to create an effective plan of action to counter the prejudice – and this will only allow the problem to grow. If Islamophobia continues to go unchecked, it will only embolden those who spew and spread hate.
The issue of hate, especially our youth and women must be prioritised.
Whether it is a jibe, comment, regulation or workplace/school uniform policy against a headscarf or a beard, or someone with a position of authority excluding a Muslim from a job, place of entertainment, sport, or award, we need to record it, measure and respond.
Unless there is a violent/physical act, the intent of a prejudiced person is difficult to prove. In a classroom or workplace, it is often masked, explained away, or countered aggressively as “imagined”, or “humour”, or “misinterpreted” or the victim is accused of “challenging authority”.
Until there is a legal record of a pattern of behavior it is unfortunately near impossible for conclusive outcomes. Unfortunately, our legal, work and social structures have a “suck it up” and “being over-sensitive” culture to shoot down non-violent prejudice.
Like an abused spouse the victim is often manipulated and gas-lighted to think they are imagining or overplaying the issue. They are often bullied by enablers who don’t understand the issue.
Without taking the time to understand and develop empathy, those who don’t experience racism, abuse or a form of prejudice rarely try to understand what it feels like.
We need to both educate, legislate, and prosecute to make sure victims don’t feel they have to suffer in silence. They must also know there are people who will protect them.
Until we record and report Islamophobia as a hate crime it will grow like an out-of-sight cancer, invisible until it results in a major crisis that could cost lives.
SAMNET is calling on interested persons and organizations to engage us in discussing ways to counter and eliminate Islamophobia in South Africa.
Contact SAMNET on info@samnet.co.za
It would be appreciated if you could assist with ideas, financially contribute or even offer words of encouragement and support towards this investment in the Ummah.
Let’s try to ensure our children’s future is free of Islamophobia.
Dr Faisal Suleman
Chairperson
SAMNET
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