Experiences of Swedish Muslims after the Terror Attacks in the USA on 11 September 2001

The New Geopolitics of Fear

“…Bodily markers that are perceived to denote Muslimness, such as men’s beards or women’s veils, speech and markers in the visual landscape such as mosques determine targets and places for attacks and abuse (Hopkins 2004; Poynting and Noble 2004; Sander 2006). This emphasis on visual cues means that it is not just Muslims who suffer ‘anti‐Muslim’ racist acts (see Puar 2007).…”

“…2004). Anti‐Islamic media coverage in Europe and USA after terrorist attacks has been partly to blame for increased hate crimes (Sander 2006). As Poynting et al.…”

“…Some care is needed here, as much of this work examines experiences of violence, abuse, harassment and discrimination without exploring fear itself; while some also focuses explicitly on fear. Many studies document increased violence against Muslims and Arabs in the west in the aftermath of terrorist attacks (Dunn et al 2007;Hopkins 2004Hopkins , 2006Human Rights First 2008;Kwan 2008;Sander 2006;Sirin and Fine 2007). For example, Ahmad (2002, p. 101) charts 'unrelenting, multivalent assault on the bodies, psyches, and rights of Arab, Muslim and South Asian immigrants' across the USA immediately after the 2001 New York attacks.…”

“…Recognising diversity among Muslims is crucial in these analyses. There is much evidence that women suffer most abuse on the streets , partly because those who wear a veil become more visibly 'Islamic' (Ang 2002;Hopkins 2004;Kwan 2008;Sander 2006). Although there may be 'a stunning lack of curiosity about masculinities' in academic narratives about terrorism in the west (Enloe 2006; and see Hunt and Rygiel 2006 on the absence of gendered analysis more generally in the war on ⁄ of terror), important recent work such as Dwyer et al (2008), Hopkins (2006), Mohammad (2005) and Noble (2007) has explored the texture of Muslim masculinities and femininities in a changing geopolitical climate.…”

“…Anti-terrorism and anti-Muslim feelings in the west have collided with growing unease about the consequences of international migration from poorer countries and especially the demonisation of asylum seekers and refugees (Ang 2002;Haldrup et al 2008;Noble 2005;). Anti-Islamic media coverage in Europe and USA after terrorist attacks has been partly to blame for increased hate crimes (Sander 2006). As put it, the Arab Other has become a contemporary folk devil, and the media racialise particular neighbourhoods, construct them as Muslim and places of violence ⁄ crime (Dunn et al 2007).…”