How Media Can Fight Religious Persecution—Or Fuel It

The Role of Media in Exposing and Combating Religious Persecution

Religious persecution is not just a relic of history—it is a painful reality today for millions of people across the world. Among the most targeted communities are Muslims in countries like India, China, and Myanmar, where systematic oppression, legal discrimination, and violent suppression have stripped them of fundamental rights. Yet, even in Western democracies, Muslims face growing challenges, from bans on religious attire to cultural marginalization.

In an age where information is readily available, the media has the power to shape public awareness, mobilize advocacy, and influence policy. However, the media is often a double-edged sword—while it can expose injustice, it has also played a role in perpetuating Islamophobia. Sensationalist reporting, biased portrayals of Muslims as security threats, and the amplification of harmful stereotypes have fueled discrimination and justified oppressive policies. Responsible journalism must counter these narratives, ensuring that coverage is fair, accurate, and committed to truth rather than fear-mongering. Yet, reporting on religious persecution requires careful navigation to avoid sensationalism while ensuring the truth reaches global audiences.

Global Religious Persecution: The Crisis for Muslims

Across the world, Muslims face systematic oppression, discrimination, and violence. In India, growing anti-Muslim sentiment has led to mob lynchings, discriminatory citizenship laws, and the demolition of Muslim homes and businesses. In China, over a million Uyghur Muslims have been detained in concentration camps, and subjected to forced labor, sterilization, and religious suppression. Meanwhile, in Myanmar, the Rohingya have endured genocide at the hands of the military, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee to refugee camps in Bangladesh.

These actions have been widely condemned by international human rights organizations and have led to calls for accountability. A 2021 report by the Pew Research Center revealed that in 2019, Muslims faced government harassment in 135 countries—more than any other religious group. This harassment ranges from restrictions on worship to outright government violence against religious communities.

In June 2022, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission held a congressional hearing titled “Discrimination and Persecution Against Muslims Worldwide.“ The hearing highlighted severe violations against Muslims, including the ongoing crimes against humanity and genocide committed against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China, and against Rohingya in Myanmar. It also addressed hate speech and calls for mass violence against Muslims in India, the stigmatization of Muslims in Europe leading to legislation targeting Muslim dress and cultural practices, and the persecution of Muslims in Russia, where over half of the identified political prisoners were targeted due to their faith.

These findings underscore the pervasive nature of anti-Muslim discrimination and the urgent need for comprehensive international efforts to protect religious freedom and hold perpetrators accountable.

India: Rising Anti-Muslim Violence and Discrimination

In recent years, India has experienced a surge in anti-Muslim incidents, including mob lynchings, discriminatory legislation, and social exclusion. According to the 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom by the U.S. Department of State, there have been ongoing concerns about religious discrimination in India. Notable examples include:

• Mob Lynchings: There have been numerous cases where Muslim individuals were attacked by mobs on suspicion of consuming or transporting beef, as cows are considered sacred in Hinduism. For instance, in 2023, Sabir Malik, a Muslim, was beaten to death by a Hindu mob in Haryana due to suspicions of consuming beef, though tests later proved he hadn’t.
• Discriminatory Laws: The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 provides a pathway to citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from neighboring countries, which, when combined with the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), has raised concerns about rendering many Muslims stateless.
• Social Discrimination: Reports indicate that Muslims face challenges in accessing housing, employment, and education due to their religious identity.

China: Systematic Oppression of Uyghur Muslims

In China, the Uyghur Muslim population in the Xinjiang region has been subjected to extensive human rights abuses. Key examples include:

• Mass Detentions: Since 2017, over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained in “re-education” camps, where they are reportedly subjected to indoctrination, forced labor, and abuse.
• Cultural Suppression: The Chinese government has destroyed mosques, prohibited religious practices, and enforced measures to erode Uyghur cultural and religious identity.
• Surveillance: Advanced surveillance technologies are employed to monitor Uyghur Muslims’ daily activities, restricting their freedom of movement and religious expression.

Myanmar: The Rohingya Genocide

The Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar have faced severe persecution, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Notable instances include:

• Mass Displacement: Since August 2017, a brutal military crackdown forced over 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh, following widespread reports of massacres, sexual violence, and village burnings.
• Statelessness: The Rohingya have been denied citizenship in Myanmar, rendering them stateless and depriving them of basic rights and protections.
• Continued Persecution: Even in displacement, Rohingya refugees face challenges, including inadequate living conditions and limited access to education and healthcare.

The International Criminal Court has sought arrest warrants for Myanmar’s military leaders, accusing them of crimes against humanity related to the persecution of the Rohingya.

These actions have been widely condemned by international human rights organizations and have led to calls for accountability.

Religious Persecution in the West: A Different Form of Suppression

While Western nations uphold religious freedom in principle, Muslims face increasing restrictions and discrimination under the guise of secularism.  

Hijab Bans in Europe

In France, Belgium, and parts of Switzerland, Muslim women have been legally barred from wearing hijabs or niqabs in public spaces, schools, and workplaces. These policies claim to uphold secularism but disproportionately target Muslim women, forcing them to choose between their faith and participation in public life. Similarly, in India and Canada, hijab bans in educational institutions and workplaces create barriers for Muslim women, limiting their access to opportunities and reinforcing social exclusion.  

Surveillance and Profiling

Muslims in Western countries are often treated as security threats. In the U.S., programs like the NYPD’s surveillance of Muslim communities and the FBI’s counterterrorism initiatives have disproportionately targeted mosques and Islamic organizations. The rise of Islamophobic rhetoric in media and politics has led to increased hate crimes and social alienation.  

The Role of Media: Turning Awareness into Action

The responsibility of the media is not just to report but to advocate, educate, and drive meaningful change.  

1. Accurate and Nuanced Reporting

   Journalists must resist framing religious persecution as isolated incidents or internal conflicts. Instead, they should highlight the systemic nature of these oppressions, making the connections between government policies, social discrimination, and human rights abuses.  

2. Centering the Voices of the Persecuted

   Too often, stories about persecution are told through the lens of policymakers or analysts. Media must give voice to those directly impacted—Muslims who have suffered discrimination, lost homes, or been imprisoned for their faith.

3. Hiring Muslim Journalists to Cover Muslim Issues

   Media outlets should hire more Muslim journalists to cover stories about Muslim communities. The Global Faith & Media Study found that 53% of people feel the media actively ignores religion as an aspect of society and culture, while 61% believe that media perpetuates stereotypes rather than protecting against them. Without representation in newsrooms, coverage often lacks depth, context, and lived experience. Having Muslim journalists report on these issues ensures that narratives are shaped by those who truly understand the complexities of faith-based persecution, preventing bias and misinformation.

4. Driving Policy and Advocacy

   Investigative journalism and documentaries can push governments and international bodies to take action. For example, media coverage of the Rohingya crisis pressured the UN to recognize Myanmar’s military actions as genocide. Similar efforts should be made to document and expose the persecution of Muslims worldwide.  

5. Combating Islamophobia in Western Media

   In the West, media outlets have a responsibility to challenge Islamophobic narratives and highlight Muslim contributions to society. The Global Faith & Media Study revealed that 78% of individuals believe religious stereotypes should receive the same, or more, attention as race and gender stereotypes. Yet, the mainstream media continues to overlook this issue. Faith-based media can play a crucial role in countering misinformation and humanizing Muslim communities.

Beyond policy and advocacy, media representation also has a direct impact on the well-being of religious communities. The Faith & Wellness Study by Gallup highlights that religious individuals often experience better health outcomes, including lower rates of depression and substance abuse. When faith-based identities are misrepresented or vilified in the media, it contributes to the marginalization of religious communities, affecting their mental and emotional health. A shift toward fair and respectful portrayals of Muslims in media can help counter the effects of discrimination, fostering a more inclusive society while also supporting the well-being of these communities.

A Call to Action

Religious persecution is a global issue that demands a global response. The media—both mainstream and faith-based—has the power to shift public opinion, mobilize action, and demand justice for persecuted communities. By ensuring responsible, accurate, and impactful reporting, we can turn awareness into advocacy and silence into action.

It is time for journalists, activists, and faith leaders to work together to shine a light on oppression, hold perpetrators accountable, and stand in solidarity with all those whose right to worship freely is under attack. The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing emphasized the role of governments and international organizations in addressing anti-Muslim persecution. However, media coverage plays an equally crucial role in ensuring these injustices are exposed, understood, and acted upon.

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