2020sixTracking Islamophobia in government policy, political rhetoric, media framing and recorded incidents

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A record of 52 documented entries across 23 jurisdictions, 2004 to 2026, set beside the counts published by national monitoring bodies and the media and opinion research. Every figure names the source it came from.

Four categories at a glance

Incidents & hate crime

8,683

complaints of anti-Muslim discrimination logged by CAIR in the United States

Highest annual total since its records began. Year 2025.

Media framing

70%

of UK articles referencing Muslims or Islam associated them with negative aspects or behaviour

Across 40,913 articles from 30 outlets.

Government policy & law

39

countries under full or partial United States entry restrictions

In force from the start of 2026.

Political rhetoric & opinion

Just over half

of Americans say Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence

Up from 25% in 2002.

What the counts say

These bodies count different things in different ways, so the totals are not comparable with one another. Each panel is read on its own scale, against its own definition.

Annual totals published by national monitoring bodies

Civil-rights complaints, verified reports and police-recorded offences are four different measures. A rise can reflect more incidents, better reporting, or both.

United States hate crime incidents recorded by the FBI

Anti-Muslim incidents were 205 for 2025, down from 228 the year before, or 8.5% of all religiously motivated incidents. Anti-Arab incidents are recorded under ethnicity, not religion.

How the media frames it

Share of UK coverage associating Muslims or Islam with negative aspects or behaviour

The Centre for Media Monitoring treats negative association and bias as separate measures. On bias: Nearly half of all articles referencing Muslims or Islam contained some degree of bias, measured on five indicators. Outlets aimed at right-wing audiences were more likely to produce biased coverage.

Americans who say Muslims face at least some discrimination

Plotted on a true year axis, so the gap between the earliest reading and the recent pair is visible. Perception of discrimination has fallen among both Republicans and Democrats.

Figures published as ranges

Some sources report a band rather than a number. They are kept here in the publisher's own words rather than converted to a false precision. Where a chart needs a number, the conversion is marked.

Finding As reported Precision Basis Year Source
Say Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violenceJust over halfAs reportedUS adults2026Pew Research Center
Say Muslims are having a negative impact on the United StatesMore than 4 in 10As reportedUS adults2026Pew Research Center, via NPR
Republicans who say Islam is more likely to encourage violenceMore than three-quartersAs reportedUS Republicans2026Pew Research Center
Countries under full or partial US entry restrictions39 countriesExactUS immigration policy2026CNN on the December 2025 proclamation
UK articles referencing Muslims or Islam that contained some degree of biasNearly halfAs reported40,913 articles, 30 UK outlets2025Centre for Media Monitoring
Reported rise in anti-Muslim acts recorded by France's interior ministryUp 88%As reportedFrance, year on year2025French interior ministry figures, reported
Rise in anti-Muslim incidents documented in BerlinUp 51%, to 975 incidentsExactBerlin, year on year2025CLAIM, reported
Share of individual victims in Germany who were women64.5%ExactGermany, CLAIM case records2025CLAIM, reported
Rise in complaints to CAIR Minnesota, to 693Up 96%ExactMinnesota, year on year2025CAIR, reported
CAIR complaints involving government watchlists and travel restrictions488 complaintsExactUnited States2025CAIR, reported
CAIR complaints involving prisoners' religious rights505 complaintsExactUnited States2025CAIR, reported
Establishments closed under France's anti-separatism policy, mosques among them906 establishmentsAs cited by President MacronFrance, cumulative2025Religions, peer-reviewed analysis
Islamophobia Register Australia verified incidents, January 2023 to November 2024309 in person, 366 onlineExactAustralia, reports to the Register2024Islamophobia Register Australia, reported by SBS News
Share of reported Australian incidents targeting Muslim women and girls75%ExactAustralia, reports to the Register2024Islamophobia Register Australia, reported by SBS News
Religion-based hate incidents in India listed by the APCR tracker since 20143,576 incidentsExactIndia, reported cases2026Clarion India
Share of mosques in Ningxia estimated closed since 2020About one thirdAs reportedNingxia, China2023Research cited by Human Rights Watch
People prosecuted or detained in Crimea over alleged Hizb ut-Tahrir tiesAt least 98As reportedCrimea, as of February 20232023Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
People detained without charge in Nairobi during Operation Usalama WatchAbout 4,000As reportedEastleigh, Nairobi2014Human Rights Watch
Extra US news coverage drawn by attacks with a Muslim perpetrator, against comparable attacks357% more coverageExact136 US attacks, 2006 to 20152019Justice Quarterly study, reported by the University of Alabama

The record

Laws, court rulings, official statements, monitoring reports and major incidents, one dot each, coloured by category. Select a dot or a row to read the entry.

Government policy & law 33Political rhetoric 6Media framing 3Incidents & hate crime 10

Political rhetoric · Public opinion3 September 2026 · United StatesStatus: Survey published

Pew finds views of Islam more negative and more partisan than after 9/11

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, just over half of Americans said Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence, up from 25% in 2002. Among Republicans the figure was more than three-quarters.

Source: Pew Research Center · From published reporting

Showing all 52 entries. Select a row to read it.

Entry Status Source
3 September 2026United StatesPolitical rhetoricPublic opinionPew finds views of Islam more negative and more partisan than after 9/11Survey publishedPew Research Center
August 2026United StatesIncidents & hate crimeOfficial statisticsFBI data records 205 anti-Muslim hate crime incidents for 2025Data publishedArab American Institute on the FBI release
March 2026United StatesPolitical rhetoricMonitoring reportCAIR attributes a record year of complaints to officials' rhetoricReport publishedAl Jazeera on the CAIR report
January 2026United KingdomGovernment policy & lawOfficial inquiryWorking group submits its advice; reporting says the definition has been shelvedNo definition adoptedUK Parliament written answer
2026United KingdomMedia framingContent analysisMedia monitoring finds 70% of UK coverage carries negative associationReport publishedCentre for Media Monitoring
April 2026IndiaIncidents & hate crimeMonitoring reportCivil liberties group opens a public hate crime databaseDatabase live, records being backfilledClarion India
March 2026FranceIncidents & hate crimeMonitoring reportOSCE country visit reports escalation from hate speech to violent attacksReport publishedOSCE country visit report, March 2026
July 2026FranceGovernment policy & lawExecutive actionPrefect orders the Attaqwa mosque in Aulnay-sous-Bois closed for six monthsClosure upheld; appeal to the Council of State announcedMontreuil administrative court, order no. 2617392 of 7 August 2026
2026GermanyPolitical rhetoricInstitutional warningCouncil of Europe warns Germany over rising anti-Muslim hatredRecommendations issuedCouncil of Europe ECRI, reported
June 2026GermanyIncidents & hate crimeMonitoring reportCLAIM documents 4,096 anti-Muslim incidents in Germany for 2025Report publishedCLAIM figures, reported
24 March 2026CanadaGovernment policy & lawCourt rulingSupreme Court of Canada hears the challenge to Bill 21Decision reservedCanadian Civil Liberties Association
4 June 2025United StatesGovernment policy & lawExecutive actionProclamation restricts entry from 19 countriesSuperseded by the December 2025 expansionCongressional Research Service
16 December 2025United StatesGovernment policy & lawExecutive actionTravel restrictions expanded to 39 countriesIn forceCNN
3 March 2025United KingdomGovernment policy & lawOfficial inquiryGovernment opens a working group to define anti-Muslim hatredAdvice submitted, no definition adoptedHansard, 3 March 2025
April 2025IndiaGovernment policy & lawLegislationWaqf (Amendment) Act changes the governance of Muslim endowmentsPartly stayed, challenge pendingSupreme Court Observer
15 September 2025IndiaGovernment policy & lawCourt rulingSupreme Court stays parts of the Waqf Act but leaves it in forceInterim orderSupreme Court Observer
May 2025FrancePolitical rhetoricParty proposalMinisters propose banning the veil for girls under 15ProposedPublic Sénat
May 2025FrancePolitical rhetoricGovernment reportGovernment report on Muslim Brotherhood influence prompts new proposalsUnder considerationHyphen explainer on the government report
24 July 2025Central African RepublicIncidents & hate crimeProsecutionInternational Criminal Court convicts two Anti-Balaka leaders over attacks on MuslimsConvicted and sentencedInternational Criminal Court, Office of the Prosecutor
July to August 2024United KingdomIncidents & hate crimeAttackMosques attacked during disorder after the Southport murdersProsecutions concludedTell MAMA annual report 2024
20 June 2024TajikistanGovernment policy & lawLegislationLaw bans clothing alien to national culture and limits children at EidIn forceLibrary of Congress, Global Legal Monitor
2024AustraliaIncidents & hate crimeMonitoring reportIslamophobia Register records a sharp rise across AustraliaReport publishedIslamophobia Register Australia, reported by SBS News
February 2023RussiaGovernment policy & lawInternational body findingCouncil of Europe records mass terrorism prosecutions of Crimean Tatar MuslimsProsecutions continuingCouncil of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
December 2023DenmarkGovernment policy & lawLegislationParliament bans improper treatment of religious textsIn forceRetsinformation, Lov nr. 1554 of 12 December 2023
22 November 2023ChinaGovernment policy & lawExecutive actionMosque closures and alterations extend beyond XinjiangCampaign continuingHuman Rights Watch
15 March 2022United NationsPolitical rhetoricInstitutional warningGeneral Assembly proclaims an International Day to Combat IslamophobiaAdoptedUnited Nations press release
September 2022MyanmarMedia framingPlatform accountabilityAmnesty finds Facebook systems amplified incitement against the RohingyaReport published; reparations claim outstandingAmnesty International
31 August 2022ChinaGovernment policy & lawInternational body findingUN human rights office finds possible crimes against humanity in XinjiangAssessment publishedUN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
March 2021United NationsGovernment policy & lawInternational body findingSpecial Rapporteur reports anti-Muslim hatred at epidemic proportionsReport presentedUN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
August 2021FranceGovernment policy & lawLegislationAnti-separatism law expands state oversight of associations and places of worshipIn forceReligions, peer-reviewed analysis of the policy
15 July 2021European UnionGovernment policy & lawCourt rulingEU Court of Justice confirms neutrality policies may bar headscarves at workDecidedEUR-Lex, Case C-804/18 (IX v. WABE)
7 March 2021SwitzerlandGovernment policy & lawReferendumReferendum approves a face-covering banIn forceSwiss Federal Department of Justice and Police, official final results
April 2020Sri LankaGovernment policy & lawExecutive actionForced cremation of Covid-19 dead overrides Muslim burial ritesReversed in February 2021Al Jazeera
2019United StatesMedia framingContent analysisStudy finds attacks by Muslim perpetrators drew far more US coveragePeer-reviewed study publishedJustice Quarterly study, reported by the University of Alabama
16 June 2019CanadaGovernment policy & lawLegislationQuebec enacts Bill 21, barring religious symbols for many public employeesBefore the Supreme Court of CanadaCanadian Civil Liberties Association
15 March 2019New ZealandIncidents & hate crimeAttackChristchurch mosque attacks kill 51 worshippersConvictedRoyal Commission of Inquiry, Ko tō tātou kāinga tēnei
December 2019IndiaGovernment policy & lawLegislationCitizenship (Amendment) Act fast-tracks citizenship for non-Muslim migrantsIn force, under challengePRS Legislative Research, Act No. 47 of 2019
26 June 2018United StatesGovernment policy & lawCourt rulingSupreme Court upholds the third travel ban proclamationDecidedSupreme Court of the United States, docket 17-965
2018United NationsGovernment policy & lawInternational body findingUN Human Rights Committee finds France's face-veil ban unlawfulDecidedUN News on the Human Rights Committee views
August 2018DenmarkGovernment policy & lawLegislationFace-covering ban takes effectIn forceRetsinformation, Lov nr. 717 of 8 June 2018
27 January 2017United StatesGovernment policy & lawExecutive actionExecutive Order 13769 suspends entry from seven countriesSupersededFederal Register, Executive Order 13769
August 2017MyanmarIncidents & hate crimeAttackMilitary operations drive about 700,000 Rohingya into BangladeshMerits hearings closed January 2026; ICJ judgment pendingInternational Court of Justice, The Gambia v. Myanmar
14 March 2017European UnionGovernment policy & lawCourt rulingEU Court of Justice allows workplace bans on religious symbolsDecidedEUR-Lex, Case C-157/15 (Achbita)
29 January 2017CanadaIncidents & hate crimeAttackQuebec City mosque shooting kills six worshippersConvicted; sentence revised by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2022Supreme Court of Canada, R. v. Bissonnette
October 2017AustriaGovernment policy & lawLegislationFace veil ban takes effectIn forceAustrian legal information system, BGBl. I Nr. 68/2017
31 May 2016JapanGovernment policy & lawCourt rulingSupreme Court leaves blanket police surveillance of Muslims in placeAppeal dismissed; surveillance not ruled unlawfulGlobal Voices Advox
April 2014KenyaGovernment policy & lawExecutive actionOperation Usalama Watch sweeps a Somali district of NairobiOperation concluded; no officers disciplinedHuman Rights Watch
1 July 2014Council of EuropeGovernment policy & lawCourt rulingEuropean Court of Human Rights upholds the French face-veil banDecidedEuropean Court of Human Rights, S.A.S. v. France (HUDOC)
2011BelgiumGovernment policy & lawLegislationFace-covering ban enactedIn forceBelgian Constitutional Court, judgment 179/2011
October 2010FranceGovernment policy & lawLegislationNationwide ban on concealing the face in publicIn force since April 2011Légifrance, Law 2010-1192
29 November 2009SwitzerlandGovernment policy & lawReferendumReferendum adds a minaret construction ban to the constitutionIn forceSwiss Federal Department of Justice and Police
March 2004FranceGovernment policy & lawLegislationLaw bans conspicuous religious symbols in state schoolsIn forceLégifrance, Law 2004-228
How to read this, and what it leaves out
The counts are not one number
CAIR counts civil-rights complaints brought to its own offices. Tell MAMA counts reports to a monitoring project that it then verifies. CLAIM aggregates case records from counselling centres together with media monitoring. A national interior ministry counts only offences that meet a criminal threshold. Comparing the totals across bodies measures their methods as much as the conduct.
Under-reporting runs through all of it
Every body listed here says its figures capture a fraction of actual incidents. A rising count can mean rising incidence, rising willingness to report, wider outreach by the recording body, or a change in definition.
Official and civil-society figures disagree
In Germany the civil-society count and the police count moved in opposite directions in the same year, because they apply different definitions. In the United States advocacy groups publish a continually updated count that runs above the FBI's annual snapshot, and cite a different baseline for the preceding year. Both are shown rather than reconciled.
Characterisation is contested
Several entries record measures that their governments defend on security, secularism or integration grounds and that petitioners, courts or monitoring bodies describe as discriminatory. The record states what was enacted or found and who contests it. Inclusion is not a finding that a measure is unlawful.
Some entries record a disputed reading
Where sources disagree about what happened, the entry says so rather than picking a side. The Japanese Supreme Court entry is one: accounts differ on whether the Court ruled on the lawfulness of police profiling or declined to reach the question.
Courts have split on the same question
The European Court of Human Rights upheld a national face-veil ban that the UN Human Rights Committee later found to breach the Covenant. Both rulings are in the record.
Coverage is uneven
The record now reaches East and Central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania as well as Europe, North America and South Asia. It still leans towards jurisdictions with active monitoring bodies, published litigation and English-language reporting, and Latin America and most of the Middle East and North Africa are absent. Government policy is the fullest category because laws and rulings are published; media framing is the thinnest because systematic content analysis exists for few countries. Entry counts by category describe this record's coverage, not the distribution of conduct in the world.
Corrections
Checking the sources moved one entry by a year: the closure of the Attaqwa mosque in Aulnay-sous-Bois was ordered in July 2026, not July 2025. Three other entries were brought up to date, on the sentence in the Quebec City case, the stage reached in the genocide case against Myanmar, and which Belgian ruling judgment 179/2011 actually is.
Dates and sources
Each entry carries the date at the precision its source gives, which is sometimes only a month or a year. Every entry links to a source, and each one says how that link was checked. Most were opened and matched against the document they claim to be. A few point at official legal registers that block automated checking, so the citation was taken from the register's own index rather than by loading the page; those are labelled. The rest point to published reporting. The underlying rows for every chart and table are published as JSON beside this page and linked at the foot.