Public Lecture on Islamophobia and the New Policy of the US towards the Muslim World

(IAIS Malaysia, 9 January 2018)

Abstract

The rise of President Donald Trump and his subsequent policies regarding Muslims have spurred grave concerns surrounding the institutionalisation of Islamophobia in the US. The xenophobic and anti-immigrant sentiments which fueled Trumps presidential campaign have since defined his administration’s policies. Controversial foreign policy decisions have included the Muslim travel ban (his first executive order) and the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, issued amidst international uproar. At the domestic level, since September 11, 194 anti-Shariah bills have been introduced across 39 states, and there are 15 federal programmes currently targeting and affecting Muslims.