Liberal elites condemn overt Islamophobia while endorsing identical institutionalized targeting

Evidence

According to Professor Deepa Kumar, author of Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, one of the critical distinctions between right-wing Islamophobia and liberal Islamophobia is “the way liberal Islamophobia works […] it roundly criticizes Islam-bashing, thereby preempting charges of racism, but then it goes on to champion programs that target and vilify Muslims.” Using her framework, Professor Kumar noted that a liberal might obviously condemn hate crimes against Muslims, but on the flip side support illiberal policies like the New York City Police Department’s longtime spying program on US Muslims, Arabs, and South Asian communities after 9/11. — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 712 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Adhering to the precepts of liberal Islamophobia, the report goes on to state that “we must counter al-Qa’ida’s propaganda that the United States is somehow at war with Islam” and instead affirm that “Islam is part of America, a country that cherishes the active participation of all its citizens, regardless of background and belief. We live what al-Qa’ida violently rejects—religious freedom and pluralism.” Obama added that “our rich diversity of backgrounds and faiths makes us stronger.” This is the modus operandi of liberal Islamophobia: to roundly reject Islam-bashing—and then proceed to institute proposals that target Muslims. When representative Peter King held his McCarthy-style hearings in March 2011 to determine the extent of Muslim radicalization in the United States, he was rightly criticized by liberals. However, that August, when Obama institutionalized this process through his “counter-radicalization” strategy, there was nary a peep of protest. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 583 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Liberal Islamophobia condemns Islam-bashing while championing programs that target Muslims — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 712; Liberal Islamophobia rejects Islam-bashing while enacting policies that target Muslims — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 583; Liberal Islamophobia rejects blatant rhetoric while instituting the same Muslim racialization policies (+16 more)

Broader Connections

• Liberal Islamophobia condemns Islam-bashing while championing programs that target Muslims #corroborates (1.00) — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 712
• Liberal Islamophobia rejects Islam-bashing while enacting policies that target Muslims #corroborates (1.00) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 583
• Liberal Islamophobia rejects blatant rhetoric while instituting the same Muslim racialization policies #corroborates (0.98)
• Liberal rejection of open Islamophobia masks the same racializing policies #corroborates (0.97) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 622
• Liberal opposition to Islamophobia masks complicity in state targeting of Muslims. #corroborates (0.95)
• Elite-driven Islamophobia faces countervailing mass movements that can redirect public opinion. #complicates (0.73)
• Accommodation versus confrontation of Islamists produce distinct liberal and conservative Islamophobias. #complicates (0.72) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 380