Bipartisan Islamophobia Threatens US Democracy, New Poll Suggests

Bipartisan Islamophobia Threatens US Democracy, New Poll Suggests
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A recent opinion piece, published by Al Jazeera, highlights concerns that the bipartisan normalization of Islamophobia in U.S. politics poses a significant threat not only to Muslim Americans but to American democracy itself.

The authors, from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), reference their American Muslim Poll 2025, which indicates a sharp rise in Islamophobia across most U.S. demographic groups between 2022 and 2025. The ISPU’s Islamophobia Index showed the general U.S. population score increasing from 25 to 33 (on a 1-100 scale), with notable jumps among White Evangelicals (30 to 45) and Catholics (28 to 40).

The authors contend that prominent political figures, such as those involved in attacks on New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, are weaponizing anti-Muslim rhetoric as a political tactic. Crucially, the piece links belief in these anti-Muslim tropes to a greater tolerance for anti-democratic policies, including limiting freedom of the press and suspending checks and balances. The authors conclude that actively challenging this hatred is essential for preserving both American democracy and human dignity.