In this report the theoretical perspectives of criminology will be explored in the context of Islamophobia. The issue of Islamophobia is controversial and is currently dominating the media as there has been an increase of recorded and reported incidents with Islamophobic motivations. Islamophobia is defined by Chakraborti and Garland as “prejudice towards, or hatred of, Islam or those of the Islamic faith” (Awan and Blakemore, 2011). Following on from this the Runneymede Trust’s definition has a variation wherein Islamophobia is being defined as “dread or hatred of Islam’ resulting therefore to the ‘fear or dislike of all or most Muslims” (Conway, 1997). A critical stance will be taken to illustrate the ways in which theories explain the racial
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A left realism approach will be considered in order to understand how Islamophobia is embedded in terms of marginalisation, as will a right realism approach in relation to the labelling theory. Alongside this, the cultural transmission theory will be used to explore how society is aiding the spread of Islamophobia.
Summary
The 9/11 terrorist attacks which took place in 2001 probed initiatives amongst the American presidency and the people of America as well as around the world. The hijacking and crashing of the aircrafts invoked fear in to civilians as the concept of terrorism filled every media platform. This was the first major attack in American from foreign bodies since the 1941 Pearl Harbour attacks by Japanese forces therein …show more content…
The separate suicide bombings which are known to be collaboratively agreed, were conducted on a smaller scale than 9/11, however the four suicide bombers who carried out the attacks had been named and their identities were revealed; however across all platforms with emphasis being put on to the perpetrators being ‘Muslims’. Away from their religious backgrounds the media did very little to show other aspects of the perpetrators lives, as there was a pre-existing fear of Islam thus allowing people to be easily persuaded that Islam is a violent religion making more space for Islamophobia. This misconception amongst society therefore formed opinions and reasoning for Islamophobia whereby “51 per cent felt that Islam as a religion was partly or completely to blame for the 7 July attacks” (Hussain and Bagguley, 2012). The police and officials alongside the general public were on high alert of suspicious behavior which could link to another bomb or attack, the extent of the fear is displayed in the shooting and killing of Jean Charles De Menezes on July 22nd. “Five specially trained officers were piled on top” (Perry, 2009) of Jean as he was preparing to travel on a train, mistaking him for a terrorist with a backpack due to their fear of another bomb being set
A left realism approach will be considered in order to understand how Islamophobia is embedded in terms of marginalisation, as will a right realism approach in relation to the labelling theory. Alongside this, the cultural transmission theory will be used to explore how society is aiding the spread of Islamophobia.
Summary
The 9/11 terrorist attacks which took place in 2001 probed initiatives amongst the American presidency and the people of America as well as around the world. The hijacking and crashing of the aircrafts invoked fear in to civilians as the concept of terrorism filled every media platform. This was the first major attack in American from foreign bodies since the 1941 Pearl Harbour attacks by Japanese forces therein …show more content…
The separate suicide bombings which are known to be collaboratively agreed, were conducted on a smaller scale than 9/11, however the four suicide bombers who carried out the attacks had been named and their identities were revealed; however across all platforms with emphasis being put on to the perpetrators being ‘Muslims’. Away from their religious backgrounds the media did very little to show other aspects of the perpetrators lives, as there was a pre-existing fear of Islam thus allowing people to be easily persuaded that Islam is a violent religion making more space for Islamophobia. This misconception amongst society therefore formed opinions and reasoning for Islamophobia whereby “51 per cent felt that Islam as a religion was partly or completely to blame for the 7 July attacks” (Hussain and Bagguley, 2012). The police and officials alongside the general public were on high alert of suspicious behavior which could link to another bomb or attack, the extent of the fear is displayed in the shooting and killing of Jean Charles De Menezes on July 22nd. “Five specially trained officers were piled on top” (Perry, 2009) of Jean as he was preparing to travel on a train, mistaking him for a terrorist with a backpack due to their fear of another bomb being set