Islamophobia and the Law is a foundational volume of critical scholarship on the emerging form of bigotry widely known as Islamophobia. This book brings together leading legal scholars to explore the emergence and rise of Islamophobia after the 9/11 terror attacks, particularly how the law brings about state-sponsored Islamophobia and acts as a dynamic catalyst of private Islamophobia and vigilante violence against Muslims. The first book of its kind, it is a critical read for scholars and practitioners, advocates and students interested in deepening their knowledge of the subject matter. This collection addresses Islamophobia in race, immigration and citizenship, criminal law and national security, in the use of courts to advance anti-Muslim projects and in law and society.
Q. Why this book, and why now?
This project was started in 2015 when it became clear that Donald Trump would use his platform to exacerbate the suspicions around Muslims. It’s been two decades since 9/11. During this time Muslims have weathered repeated upticks in Islamophobia and hate crimes. And in these two decades, scholars have generated a body of work that addresses the ways in which Islamophobia is dealt with in law. It seemed a good idea to launch a volume that brings together this work and new thinking to make it more accessible to scholars outside the law.
Q. Who should read this book?
The book is for a broad audience. While the chapters are primarily by lawyers and legal scholars, the topics are broad and can be understood by most graduate-level students as well as scholars and practitioners.
Q. What is the most important takeaway you hope your readers gain from this book?
In my opinion, the central takeaway is that law is both a sword and a shield when it comes to Islamophobia. The law is one means by which Islamophobia is advanced, particularly though the needs of national security. Law is also a means by which to redress the harms of Islamophobia through civil rights laws. This book tries to analyze both sides of the coin as well as the social consequences of these uses of law.
Q. How did you decide on the title and cover art?
The title is as simple as we could make it. It reflects the topic of the book. I came across the art of Ibtisam Abdulaziz in Washington, DC. Among her works, she had a piece called Islamophobia 2017, which I licensed for the cover because it was really perfect. Stark and eye-catching.
Cyra Akila Choudhury is Professor of Law at Florida International University College of Law. She is an internationally recognized expert in property, gender, minorities and transnational security, and comparative law. Her scholarship appears in leading inter-national law journals in the United States and a number of edited volumes.