A Return of Faith in Muslims: The Decline of Islamophobia in The United States

Abstract

Recently, there has been a decline in anti-Islam or Islamophobia among the global community, including the Muslim community in the United States. Concrete evidence of this development can be seen in the permissibility of Muslims performing religious rituals in public spaces and the increasing number of Muslim representatives in the legislative and executive branches of government. This research explores the factors that led to the reduction of Islamophobic sentiments in New York, United States, during the period 2017-2023. Hostility towards Islam, which reached its peak after 11 September, is now showing a significant downward trend, especially in the period 2017-2023. This study uses a qualitative research method through a literature review, gathering information from academic publications, electronic journals, and other reliable sources such as digital news media. The results of the study identify a variety of factors causing this decline, including socio-cultural aspects, changes in population composition, and political dynamics that favour better acceptance of Islam in America. Especially since Joe Biden took the helm of the country, the reduction of Islamophobic attitudes has become more evident, especially in the political sphere.