Brazilian Muslims are increasingly encountering Islamophobia amid growing outrage over the Gaza war
Brazil's Muslim community is experiencing heightened Islamophobia, partly inflamed by the Gaza conflict. In São Paulo, Dr. Batull Sleiman, a Brazilian of Lebanese descent, reported increased hostility, including a patient accusing her of rudeness because she wore a hijab.
Anti-Muslim sentiment has intensified since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, with a survey from the University of São Paulo indicating widespread harassment of Muslim Brazilians. Approximately 70% of survey participants knew someone subjected to religious intolerance following the conflict, which has claimed over 21,000 lives in Gaza and raised international human rights concerns.
Professor Francirosy Barbosa, who led the study, found that Palestinian identity is often confused with Muslim faith in Brazil, resulting in discrimination. Muslim women, in particular, face derogatory labels linking them to Hamas. The online survey also revealed that around 60% of Muslim Brazilians have encountered offenses in their daily lives or on social media.
A public altercation gained attention when a video showed a São Paulo suburb resident attacking a Muslim woman and trying to remove her headscarf. The victim, Karen Gimenez Oubidi, a convert to Islam, described a neighbor's brother labeling her a terrorist during the incident.
Brazil's government acknowledges that religious intolerance affects various groups, including Muslims, with a historical Muslim presence dating back to the slave trade. While the official census counts about 35,000 Muslims, other estimates suggest numbers up to 1.5 million. Rising tensions correlate with the growth of evangelical Christianity, which supported far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, known for his divisive stances.
Mahmoud Ibrahim, a mosque leader, reported antagonism and verbal attacks from Bolsonaro supporters. Likewise, the National Association of Muslim Jurists (ANAJI) has seen a spike in Islamophobia reports since the Gaza war began.
Barbosa advocates for better media representation and encourages Muslims to share their experiences to prompt government action against religious intolerance, emphasizing the need for educational programs targeting discrimination.
Professor Francirosy Barbosa, who led the study, found that Palestinian identity is often confused with Muslim faith in Brazil, resulting in discrimination. Muslim women, in particular, face derogatory labels linking them to Hamas. The online survey also revealed that around 60% of Muslim Brazilians have encountered offenses in their daily lives or on social media.
A public altercation gained attention when a video showed a São Paulo suburb resident attacking a Muslim woman and trying to remove her headscarf. The victim, Karen Gimenez Oubidi, a convert to Islam, described a neighbor's brother labeling her a terrorist during the incident.
Brazil's government acknowledges that religious intolerance affects various groups, including Muslims, with a historical Muslim presence dating back to the slave trade. While the official census counts about 35,000 Muslims, other estimates suggest numbers up to 1.5 million. Rising tensions correlate with the growth of evangelical Christianity, which supported far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, known for his divisive stances.
Mahmoud Ibrahim, a mosque leader, reported antagonism and verbal attacks from Bolsonaro supporters. Likewise, the National Association of Muslim Jurists (ANAJI) has seen a spike in Islamophobia reports since the Gaza war began.
Barbosa advocates for better media representation and encourages Muslims to share their experiences to prompt government action against religious intolerance, emphasizing the need for educational programs targeting discrimination.
