Beyond Hate: Confronting Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Racism in Social Work

Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism (AMR) remain pervasive in Canada, with the country ranking as the worst in terms of targeted killings of Muslims among the G7 nations. This violence is not only fueled by fear and hatred of Muslims but is deeply ingrained in institutional and structural systems. This paper challenges the conventional view of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism as merely an individual or moral issue, arguing instead that it is a form of racial and colonial violence that intersects with other forms of systemic oppression, such as sexism, anti-Black, anti-Brown, and anti-Arab racism. Social work, a profession grounded in social justice, must engage with AMR at all levels if it is to fulfill its commitment to equity and human rights. By applying critical race and anti-colonial theories, this paper illustrates how AMR is a multifaceted issue that impacts not only Muslim communities but also intersects with identities such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religious dress. It offers a framework for addressing AMR within social work, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach that includes direct practice, policy and community work, research, and education. The paper concludes with recommendations for social workers to adopt anti-Muslim racist strategies that confront AMR, while identifying key challenges and opportunities for transformative change in the profession.