Responses of U.S. Based Muslim Organizations to Being Stereotyped as Terrorist

• In Event: 061 - Regular Session. Sociology of Middle East and Muslim Societies

Abstract

The present paper looks at various responses provided by American Muslim organizations to the terrorism stereotype. The focus is on two American Muslim organizations, namely, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD). The former represents the American Muslim mainstream majority, whereas the latter represents “moderate” Muslims. Both groups have been consistently and severely denouncing terrorism in all its forms. Condemnation of terrorism is probably the only element that creates a homogenous response of these two diverse Muslim groups toward the terrorism stereotype. This homogenous response voiced in the denouncement of terrorism is explained through a unified attitude that these two groups hold toward the negative trait. Yet, further analysis reveals that beyond this surface condemnation of terrorism, there are profound differences between these organizations in their views, positions, and tactics toward combating the terrorism stereotype. Consequently, I argue that the American Muslim community experiences greater heterogeneity, once its identity becomes more salient. The paper calls for future research to focus on other stereotypical traits associated with Muslims in the United States, in order to identify the existence of complex internal dynamics among various Muslim groups countering negative stereotypes.

Author

• Hakim Zainiddinov, State University of New Jersey-Rutgers