Brooklyn For Peace Statement on Islamophobia

Brooklyn For Peace is committed to working against Islamophobia in all its forms. We are mindful that in the aftermath of 9/11, Muslim and Arab Americans, regardless of their religious background, experienced a surge in discriminatory actions and an uptick in hate crimes that continues to this day. We also are mindful that some politicians and media personalities use Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment to incite fear and gain support, often by falsely associating Muslims and Arab communities with terrorism and other negative stereotypes.

Of particular concern are the false narratives that arose regarding Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. These involve fabrications about Israeli victims, including the claims that Hamas beheaded Israeli babies during the attack and that Hamas engaged in a campaign of systematic rape of Israeli woman. The initial report of beheaded babies, as well as the reports of widespread systematic rape, repeated widely by journalists and Israel politicians, have been debunked. (Ref.1,2)

Another area of concern regarding the aftermath of Hamas’ October 7th attack involves CAIR’s Civil Rights Report “Unconstitutional Crackdowns,” which documents that Islamophobia has reached an “all-time high” nationally. The report identifies an increase in employment discrimination, particularly in cases when employees speak out against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The report also identifies a surge in law enforcement encounters, often used against student-led non-violent protests on college campuses. Muslim students and faculty not only have been disproportionately subject to arbitrary arrests but also to disciplinary actions, and the revocation of visas when they speak out on behalf of Palestinian rights and criticize the Israeli government.

Brooklyn For Peace maintains that Islamophobia, especially when it is used in the service of discrimination and repressive politics, is a threat to the freedom and safety of all Americans. We stand in solidarity with Muslim and Arab individuals and communities in their right to enjoy the same dignity and Constitutional liberties afforded to other American faith-based groups and ethnicities.

References:
1. How the UN Commission of Inquiry Report on October 7 launders Israeli propaganda (Mondoweiss)

2. Here’s what Pramila Patten’s UN report on Oct 7 sexual violence actually said (Mondoweiss) 

3. ACLU Statement on Anti-Muslim Discrimination

Brooklyn For Peace Board of Directors
May 4, 2026