Hate Crimes and Islamophobia Myth Making

Sheila Musaji of The American Muslim (TAM) writes an important piece on hate crimes and Islamophobia.

Some Islamophobes are saying that Islamophobia doesn't exist because there aren't (that) many hate crimes against Muslims in America.

However, Musaji destroys this argument:

For example, Robert Spencer asked a Muslim “What do you have to say about the fact that FBI statistics show that there is no “Islamophobia”?” 

Actually, FBI statistics do not show that there is no “Islamophobia”. What the most recent “hate crime statistics” do show is that there have been fewer hate crimes committed against Muslims in the U.S. than there were against Jews. Whether this might also reflect a reticence to report such crimes on the part of members of some refugee communities particularly has been discussed. And, the same report documents the fact that the actual hate crimes against Muslims, while still lower than those against Jews, have increased by 50% over the last year. 

Hate crimes statistics are only one of many possible indicators of prejudice and bigotry.
Following Spencer’s logic, we could make the following statement — There have been more hate crimes against Jews than against Muslims, therefore that proves that “there is no ‘Islamophobia.’” There have been more hate crimes against African-Americans than against Jews, therefore that proves that “there is no ‘anti-Semitism.’” Spencer’s argument is totally fallacious. 

Other possible indicators of Islamophobia including EEOC complaints about work related discrimination, and a trend towards an increase of anti-Muslim and anti-Islam rhetoric from public figures, Christian and Jewish clergy, and even elected representatives would appear to show that this is a word describing a real phenomenon. 

The very real problems that have been uncovered about anti-Muslim training of law enforcement and government personnel also point in the same direction.