Islamophobia in Southeast Asia: current challenges among Muslim Malays

• Main Author: Mohd. Zain, Nor Razinah
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: BPL Islamic education; K Law (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/96327/1/D2-07-05%20Dr.%20Nor%20Razinah%20Mohd%20Zain%20%281%29.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/96327/21/96327_Islamophobia%20in%20Southeast%20Asia%20current%20challenges.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/96327/22/ISLAMOPHOBIA%20IN%20SOUTHEAST%20ASIA.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/96327/

Studies on Islamophobia are extensive in the Western context especially aftermath 9/11 incident. There is still a scare study done relating to Islamophobia in the Southeast Asia. Despite bordering to the worst genocide of the Rohingya community in Myanmar, understanding and awareness in Islamophobia is still less among the society in the Southeast Asia. Looking closely to Muslim Malays, this research attempts to bring a highlight on the existence of Islamophobia among Muslim Malays towards their own religion and its values. With the existence of liberalism and modernism movement in the Southeast Asia, Muslim Malays tend to be apologetic and weak in defending their religion and undermine values, morality, and social instruments that their religion cherishes. Even though, such values, morality, and social instruments are intertwined closely with their Malay culture, there is an apparent departure currently happening from those elements. By adopting qualitative research methods, this research depends on the collection of secondary data and efforts which are made by certain selected Muslim-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in directly or indirectly tackles those deminishing Islamic values, morality, and social instruments from the society. As a part of the findings, it is found that there is existence of Islamophobia among Malay Muslims themselves. Driven by liberalism and modernism movement, there are certain numbers of Malay Muslims that are willing to embrace other values than what are preached in Islam. The departure from Islamic values, morality, and social instruments from the society gives rise to many social issues in the society.