Understanding Islamophobia & Anti-Muslim Racism
A short course exploring how Islamophobia is created, justified, and normalised through empire, media, and everyday bias, and practical tools to recognise and challenge it.
Choose Your Contribution
This course is offered on a tiered contribution model to keep it accessible while supporting our wider justice-based work. Choose the option that feels right for your circumstances.
£15 — Base Rate
Covers essential costs. A good option if you're on a tight budget.
£25 — Supporter Rate
Helps sustain our free resources and ongoing education work.
£40 — Solidarity Rate
Supports PHJ’s wider anti-oppression and and subsidises access for others.
All contribution levels provide full access to the course. Please choose the option that aligns with your circumstances. Paying more helps us keep resources accessible, especially for racialised and marginalised communities.
Who This Course Is For
This course is for anyone who wants to understand how Islamophobia is created, justified, and normalised in our societies, and what we can do to challenge it.
It’s especially suited for:
Non-Muslims who want to deepen their awareness and become more confident allies
Muslims who want language and tools to name their experiences
Educators, healthcare workers, social workers, therapists, and others working with diverse communities
Activists, organisers, and students seeking a decolonial, justice-based framework
Anyone who wants to unlearn harmful narratives and support safer, more equitable spaces.
No prior knowledge is needed, just curiosity, openness, and a willingness to reflect.
Introduction: Why Understanding Islamophobia Matters
Locating Islamophobia within lived experience and grounding the course in a decolonial lens.
What’s inside in the course
Definitions: Islamophobia, Anti-Muslim Racism & Anti-Islam
Understanding Islamophobia, anti-Muslim racism, and the political systems that produce them.
How Empire Created Islamophobia
How colonial powers constructed Muslims as “the Other” to justify domination.
Media Mirror: Representation and Stereotypes
How films, comedy, news coverage and repetition normalise fear and bias.
How Bias Works
Psychological processes like priming and repetition-induced belief that affect perception.
How Racialisation Happens
Why “Muslim” functions as a racial category, shaping how bodies are read and treated.
Muslim Women
How empire weaponises women’s rights to justify violence and strategic interests.
What You Can Do
Simple, actionable ways to interrupt bias, support others, and challenge harmful narratives.
Closing Reflection
Reflecting on what you’ve learned and considering how to apply it in your daily life and communities.