Flip the Script for Islamophobia Awareness Month

The theme for Islamophobia Awareness Month 2025 is Flip the Script.  Flip the Script calls on us to challenge narratives and inaccurate portrayals that misrepresent Muslims, to reframe conversations that are based on stereotypes or assumptions, and support narrative that represent reality. We need to promote allyship and inclusion for individuals and communities.

Fuelled by social media, inflammatory anti-migrant rhetoric and geopolitical concerns, incidents of Islamophobia are at a record high, having doubled since 2023. Expressions of Islamophobia include verbal abuse and harassment, threats and intimidation, physical assault and violence (including sexual violence), property damage, graffiti, offensive mail and literature, and offensive online and internet abuse. Islam and Muslims are subjected to anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim rhetoric on the basis of their visible Islamic identity; for example, Muslim men as embodiments of extremism and terrorism; and Muslim women as a sign of gender subjugation, resisting integration by wearing a headscarf or face veil. We need to move forward towards a place of understanding, greater trust and solidarity.

Islamophobia can be interpreted through the lens of cultural racism whereby Islamic religion, tradition and culture are seen as a ‘threat’ to ‘British values’ and ‘national identity’, whilst Muslims are viewed as ‘culturally dangerous’ and threatening the ‘British/Western way of life’. The notion of cultural racism is largely rooted in frames of inclusion and exclusion, specifying who may legitimately belong to a particular national, or other community. At the same time, there is a determination what community’s norms are and thereby justifying the exclusion of those whose religion or culture assign them elsewhere. From this premise, there is such a strong attachment to ‘our’ way of life that creates boundaries between ‘them’ and ‘us’ founded upon difference rather than inferiority. The rise of far-right populism spreads division, exploiting the discontent towards the incumbent elites as a pretext for dismantling welfare, thus serving the interests of the privileged. This promotes welfare chauvinism, which reserves social protection for the in-group and the so-called ‘deserving poor’, the exact opposite of treating social protection as a human right (De Schutter, UN Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, 11.07.2025). Social protection must be treated as a human right, based on principles of justice, trust and dignity,

Social workers have a key role in challenging cultural racism of Muslims. Examining our own beliefs and developing cultural competence is essential, especially in providing culturally sensitive services. This must challenge the hegemony of western grounded theories and knowledge through developing essential knowledge about Islam and the therapeutic implications of Islamic practice.  Muslims should be able to access and receive support and contribute in ways that respect and value the importance through an Islamic world view of knowing, being and doing. This must be informed and grounded in Islam, respecting the sanctity of Islamic principles, values, morals and ethics. Focusing on a strengths based and person centred approach empowers individuals to build reliance and identity to challenge the discrimination they may be experiencing. Islam places an emphasis on social services, social justice and caring for the community, to serve and benefit humanity. Community engagement, building allyship and trust is essential. We have the humility to recognise and acknowledge our  limitations when working with the Muslim community and the resolve to learn ways to support the Muslim community more effectively and increase the availability of appropriate resources. As social workers we need to continue to advocate for rights and social justice, to dismantle systematic Islamophobia.