Wave of Islamophobia Sparks Condemnation and Security Alerts Across the West

Wave of Islamophobia Sparks Condemnation and Security Alerts Across the West
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A series of Islamophobia-related incidents in France, the United States, and Ireland has drawn widespread condemnation from Muslim advocacy groups and prompted fresh concerns about anti-Muslim sentiment and hate-motivated violence.

In France, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned remarks by Yaël Braun-Pivet, Speaker of the French National Assembly, after she called for banning hijab-wearing women from entering the parliament. CAIR denounced the comments as “Islamophobic” and urged French leaders to uphold the country’s founding principles of liberty and equality rather than stigmatizing Muslims.

In the United States, controversy erupted after an Islamophobic post appeared on the Facebook page of Kathleen Wright, a newly elected city council member in Bellbrook, Ohio. The message, shared from a group calling itself “Conservative Women of America,” contained derogatory claims about Muslims. Wright later denied authoring the post, claiming her campaign account had been hacked and that the message was shared without her consent.

Meanwhile, in Ireland, police foiled a planned terrorist attack targeting a mosque in Galway and nearby migrant housing centers. Authorities discovered explosive materials during a joint counterterrorism operation near the Irish–Northern Irish border. Two suspects — Gareth Pollock and Karolis Pakauskas — were arrested and charged after investigators found a video of them claiming responsibility for the planned attack.

Collectively, these incidents highlight a growing pattern of anti-Muslim rhetoric and threats across Western countries, ranging from online hate speech and political discourse to violent extremist plots. Muslim rights organizations have urged governments to take stronger measures to counter hate crimes and ensure the protection of religious minorities.