Islamophobic trope

Islamophobic tropes, also known as anti-Muslim tropes, are sensational reports misrepresentations, or fabrications, regarding Muslims as a group or Islam as a religion.^[1]

Since the 20th century, malicious allegations about Muslims have increasingly occurred a recurred as a motif in Islamophobic tropes, often taking the form of libels, stereotypes, or conspiracy theories. These tropes typically portray Muslims as violent, oppressive, or inherently extremist, with some also featuring the denial or trivialization of historical injustices against Muslim communities. These stereotypes have contributed to discrimination, hate crimes, and systemic marginalization of Muslims throughout history.^[2]

Islamophobic tropes developed primarily in societies where Islam was perceived as a rival, particularly in the context of the Crusades and the Reconquista; these methods, used alongside antisemitic tropes, led to the expulsion of both Jewish and Muslim communities from the Iberian peninsula. Early depictions framed Muslims as “barbaric” invaders, often conflating Islam with paganism or heresy. In medieval Europe, widespread myths such as “the bloody Turk” or “the Saracen menace” were used to justify military campaigns against Muslim-majority regions.^[3]

During the colonial era, European powers advanced the stereotype of Muslims as inherently despotic and backward to legitimize imperial rule over Muslim-majority lands. These tropes often depicted Islam as incompatible with modernity and democracy, reinforcing policies of cultural suppression and economic exploitation.^[4]

In the 20th and 21st centuries, Islamophobic narratives evolved into modern conspiracy theories, particularly the notion that Muslims are attempting to “Islamize” the Western world or that they constitute a secret fifth column plotting against non-Muslim societies. The rise of Islamist extremist groups in recent decades has been used to justify broad generalizations about Muslims as inherently violent or sympathetic to terrorism. These tropes have fueled policies such as surveillance of Muslim communities, restrictions on religious practices (including hijab bans), and outright bans on Muslim immigration in some countries.^[5]

Contemporary Islamophobic tropes involve either the exaggeration of violence committed by Muslims or the denial or trivialization of violence against Muslims.^[6] Common examples include the claim that Muslims “play the victim” to manipulate public perception (see Pallywood conspiracy), or that Islam is uniquely responsible for terrorism while ignoring or downplaying violence committed by non-Muslims. In recent years, the denial or justification of human rights abuses against Muslims, such as the persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar, the Gaza genocide or the internment of Uyghurs in China, has been a key component of Islamophobic discourse.