The Bridge Initiative

A despicable bigot wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat hurled obscenities at a Brooklyn mosque in a sickening rant that Gov. Kathy Hochul has condemned as a “hateful, offensive display.” Video of the unidentified hater — posted online by the group Bangladeshi Americans for Political Progress — showed the man screaming horrific slurs through a megaphone Tuesday at the Masjid Nur-Al Islam mosque in Kensington, the group said.

Video captures hate-filled bigot in MAGA hat screaming obscenities at NYC mosque A despicable bigot wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat hurled obscenities at a Brooklyn mosque in a sickening rant that Gov. Kathy Hochul is condemning as a “hateful, offensi…

With ongoing global debates on immigration, integration, and rising Islamophobia, understanding the long-term social impacts of historical events is more important than ever. Shadi Farahzadi studies the effects of the 9/11 attacks on Muslim integration, finding that in the aftermath, the intermarriage rate among Muslims fell by eight percentage points relative to other minority groups.

The lasting impact of 9/11 on Muslim integration in America With ongoing global debates on immigration, integration, and rising Islamophobia, understanding the long-term social impacts of historical events is more important than ever. Shadi Farahzadi studie…

Today’s recommended read is by Victoria Bisset for The Washington Post who writes on the rise in popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is projected to take the second most majority in the legislature.

To read the full piece, check out our Today in Islamophobia Newsletter (Linktree in Bio).

Renaud Camus – who coined the term “the great replacement” – has top billing at an upcoming Homeland Party conference which will explore the idea of removing “illegal, unintegrated, and unwelcome migrants” from the UK.

White supremacy theorist has top billing at Scottish far-right event THE man behind a conspiracy theory cited by white supremacists and mass murderers has been booked as a conference speaker by a far-right political…

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has denounced Billionaire Elon Musk's post labelling US Muslim groups that receive USAID as "terrorist organisations", saying it fuels Islamophobia and endangers Muslim Americans.

CAIR slams Musk for labelling US Muslim groups as 'terrorist organisations' CAIR says the US Muslim groups are duly registered nonprofit organisations and have partnered with the previous Trump administration.

The National Gallery of Australia claims it covered Palestinian flags in a major exhibition after undertaking a security threat assessment, but critics say the decision was “rooted in political cowardice”.

National Gallery of Australia says it covered Palestinian flags on tapestry after security assessment Critics say NGA decision ‘is nothing less than a disgraceful act of censorship’ that is ‘rooted in political cowardice’

The AfD was founded in 2013 in opposition to German support for bailouts during the European debt crisis. The party grew rapidly, embracing a strong anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim focus.

Germany’s domestic intelligence service classified the AfD as a suspected extremist group in 2021 and has also labeled it as an extremist organization in three German states. In 2023, the head of the service blamed parts of the AfD for the spread of Russian propaganda.

What is the AfD, the far-right German party supported by Vance and Musk? Concern is growing over the far-right Alternative for Germany party’s rise ahead of the German election. Its U.S. supporters include Elon Musk and JD Vance.

Friedrich Merz is expected to be Germany's next chancellor following his party, the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), winning the election.

He has made anti-Muslim comments and represents the conservative right-wing camp within his party.

Factsheet: Friedrich Merz - Bridge Initiative IMPACT: Friedrich Merz is a German politician. In 2022, he became the leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and leader of the CDU parliamentary group in the German federal parliament, the Bundestag. He has made anti-Muslim comments and represents the conservative right-wing ca...

"Through my work, I strive to reflect the richness and resilience of Muslim communities, celebrating their individuality while challenging stereotypes," he said. "Each portrait and installation is a story, an invitation to connect, and a reminder of the beauty in our shared humanity."

Exhibition to reflect Birmingham's Muslim community The installations at the Ikon Gallery are by Birmingham-born artist Mahtab Hussain.

As National Rally chairman, Jordan Bardella continues to push anti-immigration and anti-Islam narratives in France.

Factsheet: Jordan Bardella - Bridge Initiative Jordan Bardella is the party chairman of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National) and also the leader of Patriots for Europe (PfE) for the legislative period of 2024 – 2029. In 2024, he ran for the office of the French Prime Minister. Bardella wants to “curb immigration” an...

The practice team at Queens Road Medical Centre in Walthamstow discovered ‘obscene and Islamophobic graffiti’ as well as damage to their locks, letterbox, intercom system, and outdoor lighting:

Police investigating 'hate crime' and 'obscene' racist graffiti at London GP practice A London GP practice has been the victim of a hate crime and 'aggravated criminal damage', including Islamophobic graffiti and vandalism.

Two Palestinian flags on a tapestry on display at the National Gallery of Australia have been concealed with white fabric, in what the artists have described as an act of censorship they only agreed to reluctantly.

‘This is censorship’: Palestinian flags covered up in major exhibition at National Gallery of Australia Exclusive: Pacific Indigenous art collective claims NGA cited ‘high level’ security risk in direction to remove Palestinian flag from tapestry

The recent attacks on two Muslim women wearing head coverings have generated concern about a rise in Islamophobia and led to demands from Australian political leaders to openly condemn the attacks.

Why did it take so long for Albanese to condemn the attacks on Muslim women? Anthony Albanese's media team are now on the front foot after repeated incidents of antisemitism. But a request for comment after the attacks on two Muslim women went unanswered for hours.

"The recent Islamophobic attacks in Melbourne, are not just isolated incidents; they are a reflection of a growing trend of anti-Muslim hostility in Australia, ignored by the mainstream media and downplayed by the political leadership."

Islamophobia in Australia: The Epping attacks and the deafening silence - AMUST Photo: Melbourne woman (centre) arrested for attacking two Muslim women, causing significant bruising. The recent Islamophobic attacks in Melbourne, are not just isolated incidents; they are a reflection of a growing trend of anti-Muslim hostility in Australia, ignored by the mainstream media and do...

A hate crimes unit in the Miami area is investigating last weekend's shooting by an American-Jewish man who wanted "to shoot Palestinians" but instead hit Israelis visiting the United States.

Hate crime unit probes Miami attack 'to shoot Palestinians' The suspect, Morechai Brafman, 27-years-old, is being accused of shooting two men 17 times with a semi-automatic handgun in Miami Beach on Saturday night.

History repeats itself: The same fear-mongering tactics used in the ‘War on Terror’ are now being weaponized against migrants.

Detained, Dehumanized, Forgotten: The Endless Cycle of Guantánamo - Bridge Initiative Twenty-three years have passed, yet the early weeks of Donald Trump’s second administration felt like a return to 2002. On January 29, 2025, the former reality star-turned-president signed an executive order to expand detention facilities...

Elon Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), Tesla, and SpaceX, has a history of amplifying anti-Muslim tropes and supporting Islamophobic individuals and organizations.

Learn more:

Factsheet: Elon Musk - Bridge Initiative Elon Musk is a billionaire entrepreneur and the CEO or top executive of multiple high-profile companies, including X (formerly Twitter), Tesla and SpaceX. He has a documented history of amplifying anti-Muslim tropes, supporting individuals and organizations that promote Islamophobia, and making stat...

A corporate conglomerate now running the US government’s immigration detention center at the Guantánamo Bay naval base on a lucrative contract has been the subject of critical audits and a civil rights complaint over conditions at three other migrant lockups it has run within the US

Revealed: US firm running Guantánamo migrant jail accused over rights abuses Corporate conglomerate Akima subject of critical audits and complaints over detainee treatment at facilities in US