9/11 and the Increase in Racism and Islamophobia: A Personal Reflection

This essay attempts to give a personal reaction to the increase in anti-Muslim racism in the post-9/11 world, especially in the United Kingdom. It suggests that recent debates about multiculturalism show evidence of a neo-Orientalist backlash. This construction needs to be challenged by the creation of a common dialogue, one which can be enhanced by recognizing the roots of Islam in principles of social justice.