A Who’s Who of the Anti-Muslim/Anti-Arab/Islamophobia Industry

updated 7/24/12
by Sheila Musaji

The American Muslim (TAM) has collected information about these individuals in this easy to use format.  Just click on the links provided to go to in-depth articles and backgrounders on these individuals.  There are a number of other individuals who should be included here, and they will be added, and this will be updated as time permits.


Ayaan Hirsi Ali - see TAM Responses collection

Al-Mutarajjam aka Al-Mutarjim and Translating Jihad *

American Enterprise Institute **

Zachariah Anani *

David Barton *

Glenn Beck (media) - see TAM Responses collection

Eliana Benador *

Rev. Flip Benham and Operation Save America *

Bonni Benstock-Intall and Bare Naked Islam *

Baron Boddisey (aka Ned May, aka Edward May) of Gates of Vienna: Islamophobia Manifesto Clearly Lays Out Plot Against Muslims **

Ret. Gen. William Boykin **

Ergun Mehmet Caner *

Capitol Congressional Ministries **

David Caton and the Florida Family Association **

Aubrey & Joyce Chernick and the Fairbrook Foundation (financier)  *****

Phyllis Chesler *

The Clarion Fund ***

Ann Coulter (media) - see TAM Responses collection

Nonie Darwish (aka Nahid Hyde) and Former Muslims United *

Rev. Maury Davis and the Cornerstone Church *

Alan Dershowitz - see TAM Responses collection

ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES: See Islamophobia no longer questioned - even by our elected representatives for an extensive collection of quotes by various representatives, politicians, and government officials.  The following are those who have so consistently engaged in anti-Muslim rhetoric that they have their own backgrounder pages:
— Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) **
—Herman Cain, Presidential candidate **
—Newt Gingrich (R-GA)  **
—Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-TX) **
—Rep. Peter King **
—Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) **
—Rick Santorum Former R-PA Senator, Presidential Candidate **
—Rep. Allen West, (R-FL)  **

Steven Emerson and the Investigative Project **

Joseph Farah and World Net Daily *

Bryan Fischer and The American Family Association **

Hugh Fitzgerald (an alias) of Jihad Watch *

Fjordman (aka Peder Jensen)  **

Brigitte Gabriel (aka Hanan Qahwaji, Nour Semaan, Rachael Cohen) and ACT for America ***

Dave Gaubatz *

Frank Gaffney and the Center for Security Policy (anti-Sharia) ****

Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs and AFDI/SIOA ***

Caroline Glick and LATMA **

Rev. Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse **

Daniel Greenfield aka Sultan Knish and The Religion of Peace *

John Guandolo *

Tawfik Hamid *

Sean Hannity (media) - see TAM Responses collection

David Horowitz and the Freedom Center *****

Warner Todd Houston *

Raymond Ibrahim and the Middle East Forum (MEF) **

Victoria Jackson *

Charles Jacobs and Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America CAMERA and David Project **

Rev. Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Christian Center *

Joe Kaufman & Americans Against Hate -  *

Sam Kharoba (fake counter-terrorism trainer) *

Alan Keyes and the Oak Initiative *

Charles Krauthammer (media)  - see TAM Responses collection

Michelle Malkin (media) - see TAM Responses collection

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) ***

Andrew McCarthy (media) see TAM Responses collection

Dr. Robert Morey *

Chuck Norris *

Bill O’Reilly (media) - see TAM Responses collection

Marty Peretz (media) - see TAM Responses collection

Tony Perkins of Family Research Council and Values Voter Summit *

Walid Phares **

Daniel Pipes and the Middle East Forum (MEF)  ****

Dennis Prager (media) *

Rev. Pat Robertson **

Henry Rochejaquelein (an alias):  Robert Spencer Discovers Another Mystery “Expert” *

Guy Rodgers and ACT for America **

Nina Rosenwald & the Gatestone Institute **

Kamal Saleem (aka Khodor Shami) *

Michael Savage (media) - see TAM Responses collection

Debbie Schlussel **

Phyllis Schlafly and the Eagle Forum *

Roland Shirk of Jihad Watch *

Walid Shoebat **

Anis Shorrosh *

Ali Sina and Faith Freedom International *

Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch and AFDI/SIOA ***

Mark Steyn (media) - see TAM Responses collection

Wafa Sultan *

Tom Trento and the Florida Security Council/United West Organizations *

Elizabeth Varet and the Varet Family Fund **

Ibn Warraq - see TAM Responses collection

Geert Wilders **

Bat Ye’or aka Gisele Littman **

Sheikh Yer’Mami aka Werner Reimann *

David Yerushalmi and SANE ****

NOTES:  Those in bold are key figures.  This list did contain the names of some Muslims who might be considered to be empowering or playing into the hands of the Islamophobes.  However, it has been suggested that their inclusion in this category might be confusing to some.  Therefore those names have been removed from this collection of key Islamophobes.


CRITICAL REPORTS ON THE ISLAMOPHOBIA INDUSTRY

    The ACLU report BLOCKING FAITH, FREEZING CHARITY: CHILLING MUSLIM CHARITABLE GIVING IN THE “WAR ON TERRORISM FINANCING”

    ACLU report Nothing to Fear: Debunking the Mythical “Sharia Threat” to Our Judicial System 5/2011

    ADL report Anti-Muslim bigotry since 9/11

    Bureau of International Information Programs report MUSLIMS IN AMERICA: A STATISTICAL PORTRAIT

    CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) reports: WESTERN MUSLIM MINORITIES: INTEGRATION AND DISENFRANCHISEMENT; THE STATUS OF MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES 2009: Seeking Full Inclusion;  THE MOSQUE IN AMERICA: A NATIONAL PORTRAIT; and CAIR and the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Race and Gender (CRG) report Same Hate, New Target:  Islamophobia and its impact in the United States  6/23/11

    The Center for American Progress (CAP) report UNDERSTANDING SHARIAH LAW:  Conservatives’ Skewed Interpretation Needs Debunking, by Wajahat Ali and Matthew Duss.

    Center for American Progress report FEAR INC.: THE ROOTS OF THE ISLAMOPHOBIA NETWORK IN AMERICA.  The key researchers for this report were Wajahat Ali, Eli Clifton, Matthew Duss, Lee Fang, Scott Keyes, and Faiz Shakir.  The report itself is the result of a six month investigative project, and is 132 pages in length. Article about the report, with article collection here 8/26/11

    Communique Partners report Western Perception of Islam and Muslims 2005

    Hope Not Hate Campaign report Counter-Jihad’ Movement profiles over 100 individuals who are central to the international anti-Muslim network

    The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding published A Portion of the People: Islam in a ‘Christian’ America

    MAPOS The MUSLIM AMERICAN PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY by Matt A. Barreto, University of Washington and Karam Dana, Harvard University

    MPAC published COUNTERPRODUCTIVE COUNTERTERRORISM: HOW ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS IS UNDERMINING AMERICA’s HOMELAND SECURITY  Several myths abound regarding the role of American Muslims in counterterrorism policy, the most prominent and problematic of which paints the American Muslim community as a threat to America’s national security. In fact, the American Muslim community is an asset to law enforcement in their shared goal to root out terrorism and extremism. The source of suspicion of American Muslims stems from false accusations of American Muslim organizations.

    New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) White Paper Religious Freedom Under Attack:  The Rise of Anti-Mosque Activities in New York State charts rising anti-Muslim trends.  8/2011

    People for the American Way (PFAW) report The Right Wing Playbook on Anti-Muslim Extremism  7/2011

    Political Research Associates report MANUFACTURING THE MUSLIM MENACE: PRIVATE FIRMS, PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND THE THREAT TO RIGHTS AND SECURITY

    Political Research Associates report Toxic to Democracy: Conspiracy Theories, Demonization, & Scapegoating by Chip Berlet

    SPLC published Jihad Against Islam and The Anti-Muslim Inner Circle by Robert Steinback in their Summer 2011 Intelligence Report 6/11

The CAP Fear, Inc. report includes:  Funders - Donors Capital Fund; Richard Mellon Scaife Foundation;  Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation; Newton and Rochelle Becker Foundation and Newton and Rochelle Becker Charitable Trust;  Russell Berrie Foundation,  Anchorage Charitable Fund and William Rosenwald Family Fund; Fairbrook Foundation.  Misinformation Experts - • Frank Gaffney at the Center for Security Policy;  • David Yerushalmi at the Society of Americans for National Existence;  • Daniel Pipes at the Middle East Forum • Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch and Stop Islamization of America;  • Steven Emerson of the Investigative Project on Terrorism.

The Hope Not Hate reports lists 100 key players.  Their top 12 players include:  Europe - Anders Gravers, Lars Hedegaard, Peder Nostvold Jensen, Stephen Lennon, Ann Marchini, Geert Wilders.  U.S. - Christine Brim, Brigitte Gabriel, Pamela Geller, David Horowitz, Robert Spencer, David Yerushalmi.

The PFAW discusses eight strategies employed by anti-Muslim activists to cast doubt on the validity of Islam as a religion and the integrity of American Muslims in order to justify prejudice and illegal discrimination:  Framing American Muslims as dangerous to America; Twisting statistics and using fake research to “prove” the Muslim threat; Inventing the danger of “creeping Sharia”; Justifying taking away freedoms and liberties from Muslims in order to “defend liberty”; Denying the validity of Islam as a religion; Arguing that Muslims have no First Amendment rights under the Constitution; Linking anti-Muslim prejudice to anti-Obama rhetoric; Slandering progressives and non-Christians as unholy and anti-American

The Political Research Associates report includes:  Trainers, Instructors, and Speakers - Mark A. Gabriel, David Gaubatz, Walid Phares, Clare M. Lopez, Tawfik Hamid, Stephen Coughlin, Nonie Darwish, Det. Ebrahim Ashabi, Walid Shoebat.  The Industry - International Counter Terrorism Officers Assoc. (ICTOA), Security Solutions International (SSI), Centre for Counterintelligence and Security Studies (CI Centre).

The SPLC list of active anti-Muslim groups by state.  This list includes:  9/11 Christian Center at Ground Zero, Aggressive Christianity, The American Defense League, American Freedom Defense Initiative, Atlas Shrugs, Bare Naked Islam, Casa D’Ice Signs, Christian Action Network, Christian Guardians, Christian Phalange, Citizen Warrior, Concerned American Citizens, Concerned Citizens for the First Amendment, Escaping Islam, Faith Freedom, Insight USA, Islam: the Religion of Peace , and a big stack of dead bodies), Jihad Watch, Political Islam, Radio Jihad, Sharia Awareness Action Network, Silver Bullet Gun Oil, Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA), Sultan Knish a blog by Daniel Greenfield, Tennessee Freedom Coalition, The United West, U.S. Justice Foundation.

The SPLC Anti-Muslim Inner Circle report includes:  Bill French, Center for the Study of Political Islam - Brigitte Gabriel, ACT! for America and American Council for Truth - David Gaubatz, Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE) - Pamela Geller, Stop Islamization of America (SIOA), the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), Stop the Islamization of Nations (SION) - David Horowitz, Front Page Magazine, David Horowitz Freedom Center - John Joseph Jay, Stop Islamization of America (SIOA), the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) - Terry Jones, Dove World Outreach Center - Debbie Schlussel - Robert Spencer, Jihad Watch, Stop Islamization of America (SIOA), the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), Stop the Islamization of Nations (SION) - David Yerushalmi, Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE), Stop the Madrassa

There is a reason that many, even outside of the Muslim community see such demonization of Muslims as Islamophobic.  There is a reason that the ADL has stated that Brigitte Gabriel’s Act for America, Pamela Geller & Robert Spencer’s Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA), David Yerushalmi’s Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE)  are “groups that promote an extreme anti-Muslim agenda”.  There is a reason that The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated SIOA as a hate group, and that they are featured in the SPLC reports Jihad Against Islam and The Anti-Muslim Inner Circle.  There is a reason that Geller and Spencer are featured prominently in the Center for American Progress “Fear Inc.” report on the Islamophobia network in America.  There is a reason that Geller is featured in the People for the American Way Right Wing Playbook on Anti-Muslim Extremism.  There is a reason that Geller is featured in the NYCLU report Religious Freedom Under Attack:  The Rise of Anti-Mosque Activities in New York State.  There is a reason that Geller is featured in the Political Research Associates report Manufacturing the Muslim menace: Private firms, public servants, and the threat to rights and security.  There is a reason that the SIOA’s trademark patent was denied by the U.S. government due to its anti-Muslim nature.  There is a reason that they are featured (with extensive backgrounder articles) in our TAM Who’s Who of the Anti-Muslim/Anti-Arab/Islamophobia Industry.  There is a reason that these individuals are featured in just about every legitimate report on Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred.

These people consistently promote the what everyone “knows” lies about Islam and Muslims.   They generalize specific incidents to reflect on all Muslims or all of Islam.   When they are caught in the act of making up or distorting claims they engage in devious methods to attempt to conceal the evidence.

The claim that “truth tellers” are being accused of Islamophobia for no reason other than their legitimate concerns about real issues and that in fact there is not even such a thing as Islamophobia is nonsense.  The further claim that the fact that there are fewer hate crimes against Muslims than against Jews also proves that Islamophobia doesn’t exist is more nonsense.

The reason that this is so obvious to so many is that rational people can tell the difference between legitimate concerns and bigoted stereotypes.   The Islamophobia of these folks is very real, and it is also strikingly similar to a previous generations’ anti-Semitism.  SEE ALSO: —  Islamophobia no longer questioned - even by our elected representatives for a lengthy list of anti-Muslim, Islamobophic quotes by elected representatives and government representatives.  —  Christian brotherly love is difficult for some to obtain for anti-Muslim quotes by Christians including Christian clergypeople.  Members of this group include: Rev. Jerry Falwell, Bryan Fisher (American Family Association), Rev. Franklin Graham, Rev. John Hagee, Rev. Rod Parsley,  Rev. Pat Robertson (Christian Coalition, 700 Club), etc. —  Jewish “Ahavah shel achvah” Brotherly Love is Difficult for Some to Attain for anti-Muslim quotes by Jews including Rabbis. — Islamophobia:  Real or Imagined - TAM article collection There would appear to be an Islamophobia industry engaged in what Max Blumenthal calls a Great Islamophobic Crusade.  In regard to the production of “Relentless”,  “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War on the West” and “The Third Jihad” TAM has published this article and Richard Silverstein has discussed the anti-Muslim propaganda during the last election cycle here, and the money trail between these groups here  and here DEFINITION OF ISLAMOPHOBIA The Islamophobia Research and Documentation Project at the Center for Race and Gender has the best working definition I have seen:

    The term “Islamophobia” was first introduced as a concept in a 1991 Runnymede Trust Report and defined as “unfounded hostility towards Muslims, and therefore fear or dislike of all or most Muslims.” The term was coined in the context of Muslims in the UK in particular and Europe in general, and formulated based on the more common “xenophobia” framework. The report pointed to prevailing attitudes that incorporate the following beliefs: •Islam is monolithic and cannot adapt to new realities •Islam does not share common values with other major faiths •Islam as a religion is inferior to the West.  It is archaic, barbaric, and irrational. •Islam is a religion of violence and supports terrorism. •Islam is a violent political ideology. For the purposes of anchoring the current research and documentation project, we provide the following working definition: Islamophobia is a contrived fear or prejudice fomented by the existing Eurocentric and Orientalist global power structure.  It is directed at a perceived or real Muslim threat through the maintenance and extension of existing disparities in economic, political, social and cultural relations, while rationalizing the necessity to deploy violence as a tool to achieve “civilizational rehab” of the target communities (Muslim or otherwise).  Islamophobia reintroduces and reaffirms a global racial structure through which resource distribution disparities are maintained and extended.