Emelia@emeliarjt

“They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, even if the disbelievers hate it.”

The distortion of Islam’s image in the West is no longer the result of ignorance or cultural misunderstanding. In many cases, it has become an organized project, fueled by money, media platforms, and political alliances. What makes this especially painful is that some of these efforts do not come only from Islam’s traditional adversaries, but from Arab actors who should have been part of its moral defense most notably circles linked to United Arab Emirates.

These campaigns rely on a dangerous strategy: deliberately conflating Islam as a faith with extremism as a phenomenon, stripping Muslims of their right to represent themselves, and then marketing a so-called “alternative Islam” that is hollow, domesticated, and politically obedient. This version is presented to Western audiences as “reform” or “moderation,” while in reality it empties Islam of its ethical substance and turns it into a public-relations tool.

The real target is not extremism, but independent awareness. An Islam that rejects oppression, stands with the oppressed, and provides a moral compass for society is perceived as a threat. It is therefore replaced with a silent Islam one that does not question injustice, does not challenge power, and does not disturb geopolitical comfort zones.

To advance this narrative, think tanks, media outlets, conferences, and carefully selected “voices” are funded to promote the idea that Islam itself is the problem, while repression is the solution. The political goal is clear: to please Western power centers, justify authoritarian policies, and criminalize any free Islamic or ethical opposition by associating it with violence.

Meanwhile, Muslims in the West pay the price. Islamophobia intensifies, religious freedoms are curtailed, and Muslim identity is placed under constant suspicion all under the banner of “countering extremism.”

The most dangerous aspect of this project is that it seeks to undermine Islam from within, using fluent Arabic, cultural familiarity, and selective religious language to legitimize the attack. Yet no amount of funding or media influence can erase the truth of Islam: a faith rooted in justice, dignity, and moral accountability.

Islam does not need to be redesigned to satisfy power, nor reshaped to earn approval. It has endured for centuries without lobbying firms or image campaigns, spreading through values, not propaganda.

Qur’anic verse:

“They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, even if the disbelievers hate it.”

(Qur’an 61:8)

GROUPS INVOLVED IN Islamophobia spread

Several organizations and groups have been identified by civil rights and research entities as actively involved in promoting Islamophobia, which is generally defined as prejudice, fear, or hatred directed toward Muslims or Islam. These accusations often stem from activities like spreading misinformation about Sharia law, opposing Muslim immigration, challenging mosque constructions, or portraying Islam as inherently violent or incompatible with Western values. However, many of these groups describe their work as focused on countering radical extremism, terrorism, or threats to national security rather than targeting Muslims broadly. Below is a compilation based on reports from sources like the Center for American Progress and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which track such networks. Note that these designations are subjective and contested; the groups often reject the “Islamophobia” label, arguing they address specific ideological or security concerns.

Key Groups and Their Alleged Activities:

• ACT for America: Founded by Brigitte Gabriel, this grassroots organization claims over a million members and focuses on national security issues, including campaigns against Sharia law implementation in the U.S., designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group, and opposing certain refugee resettlements. It’s accused of mobilizing anti-Muslim legislation and rhetoric, such as urging deportations of pro-Hamas visa holders and defunding organizations linked to extremism. 41 The group maintains its efforts target threats to American values, not Muslims as a whole.
• Center for Security Policy: Led historically by Frank Gaffney, this think tank produces reports on perceived threats from “Islamism” and Sharia, including claims of infiltration in U.S. institutions. It’s criticized for conspiracy theories, like linking unrelated events (e.g., infrastructure failures) to Muslim sabotage, and for influencing anti-Muslim policies. 41 11 The organization positions itself as providing analysis on national security threats, emphasizing distinctions between moderate Muslims and radical ideologies.
• Jihad Watch: Directed by Robert Spencer, this blog and organization publishes content highlighting what it calls “Islamic jihad theology” in global conflicts. It’s accused of promoting bias through selective reporting on violence linked to Islam, including books and articles that critics say generalize the faith as conquest-oriented. 41 11 Spencer and the group argue their work exposes specific doctrinal issues, not hatred toward Muslims.
• David Horowitz Freedom Center: An umbrella for projects like FrontPage Magazine and Jihad Watch, it hosts events and publishes content blaming Islam for various global issues. Accused of mainstreaming anti-Muslim narratives through conferences featuring speakers like Geert Wilders. 41 The center frames its activities as defending freedom against totalitarian ideologies.
• American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI): Co-founded by Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, it opposes Muslim-related initiatives like mosque builds and runs provocative ad campaigns. Labeled for spreading prejudice. 41 11
• Middle East Forum: Focuses on Middle Eastern policy, funding anti-Islamist efforts. Accused of supporting misinformation networks. 11
• Investigative Project on Terrorism: Monitors terrorism-related activities, but criticized for conflating mainstream Muslim groups with extremists. 11
• Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD): A think tank involved in foreign policy, accused in some discussions (e.g., on X) of promoting Islamophobia through anti-Muslim war advocacy, with alleged ties to UAE and Israeli interests. 31

Other groups mentioned in reports include Stop Islamization of America, Citizens for National Security, Political Islam, and The United West, often linked to similar activities like anti-immigration campaigns or theological critiques. 41

Funding and Networks:

These groups are part of a broader network reportedly funded by donors providing tens of millions (e.g., $42.6 million from 2001-2009, per one analysis) to amplify anti-Muslim messaging through think tanks, blogs, and grassroots efforts. 11 Critics argue this funding “hijacks” mainstream discourse, leading to policies like travel bans and increased hate crimes (e.g., a 49% rise in anti-Muslim incidents in 2023). 41

Counterpoints and Context:

Many accused groups deny promoting hatred, instead claiming to combat “radical Islam” or “jihadism” while supporting moderate Muslims. For instance, they often cite terrorist acts by groups like ISIS or Hamas as justification. Skeptics of the “Islamophobia” concept argue it’s used to silence criticism of extremism, as seen in some X discussions where users dismiss it as a tool by regimes like Iran. 27 Internationally, entities like UAE-linked initiatives have been accused of funding similar efforts to counter groups like the Muslim Brotherhood. 31 Advocacy organizations like CAIR and SPLC track these as hate groups, but the labels remain debated.