British Islamophobia

A historically-grounded form of anti-Muslim prejudice in Britain, argued to be tied to colonial power relations rather than inherent religious animosity. According to these claims, it was relatively weak before 1857 when Muslims were seen as a declining, non-threatening power, intensified as they appeared to present a challenge, and operates through race thinking plus willed amnesia about colonial history.

Claims that use this term

• Mughal religious tolerance tempered some British Islamophobia before 1857
• British Islamophobia intensified only when Muslims ceased to be a safely declining power
• British Islamophobia runs on willed amnesia about colonial history
• British Islamophobia was weak pre-1857 partly because Muslims posed no threat.
• British Islamophobia mobilizes race thinking that admits Muslims formally yet excludes them