International Journal of Academic Multidisciplinary Research (IJAMR) ISSN: 2643-9670 Vol. 4 Issue 10, October - 2020, Pages: 198-205 www.ijeais.org/ijamr 198 Islamophobia: The Issues And Challenges Faced By Muslims Dr Ramatu Ussif 1 and Dr Kasim Salifu 2 1 Anadolu University , Graduate School of Social Sciences, Department of Business Administration (Finance), Eskişehir, Turkey ramatussif@gmail.com / ramatuussif@anadolu.edu.tr 2 Istanbul University , Graduate School of Social Sciences , Department of International Relations and Political Science, Istanbul, Turkey kasimsalifuf@gmail.com Abstract: This article was discussed taking into consideration racism, discrimination, maltreatment, hatred for Muslims and killing of innocent Muslim especially among the west. The article also investigates the purpose and meaning of Islamophobia, the causes and effects of Islamophobia, why are Muslims and Islamic religion been attacked worldwide and drivers of hatred and prejudices against the Muslims. The article briefly reviews the introduction, concepts, terminologies, challenges, causes, and effects of Islamophobia and prejudices across the world with particular attention to the developed countries. The study found the purposes of Islamophobia to include: Hate for the Islamic religion, seeing Muslims as a terrorist, hate women in hijab/niqab and seeing Muslims not united. While the causes of Islamophobia include: increase in the population of Muslims, Islam becoming the dominant religion soon, the preaching/teachings of Islam, Call to “salat”/“adzan”, the rate at which people convert to Islam and the influx of Immigration. Furthermore, the increase in the Muslim population, hatred for the "deen" are the reasons why Muslims are been attacked to minimize Islamic believers population. The researcher recommends that to move from Islamophobia to Islamophillia, Muslims should educate the world especially the western what Islam entails and the need to be peaceful and loving to all humanity without discrimination as the Noble Quran taught. They must understand that a brother is a fellow brother to the other notwithstanding colour, race, religion, etc. this I believe can change the negative perceptions and think of the non-believers. Keywords— Islam, Islamophobia, Muslims & non-Muslims, challenges, hatred, Racism. 1.0 Introduction Muslims across the world face challenges and maltreatment in both Muslim country, non-Muslim countries and secular states. The case of Islamophobia has been on the increase since September 11, 2001, and this brought about lots of discrimination to the Muslim group, racism, hatred, physical and non-physical attacks, hate speeches, anti-Muslim campaigns, killings, and molestation of the Muslim ummah. Islamophobia started since time immemorial thus 1980s /1990s which has to do with the hate of Islam and Muslim and having a conception that Islam is enemy (Lopez, 2011). It is emerging fast through hatred and misunderstanding for the religion and its followers. These act of Islamophobia in the world comes differently and at different places to the followers of Islam. The attacks happen in mosque, schools, workplaces and the public. Islamophobia in the mosque is attacks that happen in the mosque whilst the Muslims are praying example is the recent case of New Zealand. Muslims have no freedom of worship neither do they have their human rights and liberties. Also, Muslim women in hijab are seen as slaves and no recognition for them. They were only recognized as housewives. During the time of the Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W/PBHU) in the year 800 C.D Muslim women enjoy their right (Shirvani, 2006). Stadibaur, (2012) indicated that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) use to help his wives in the kitchen and cleaning of their house as part of love and parts but not slaves. In some of the cases, the Muslims are denied access to their assets, goods, and services including monies. Muslim in Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine, Somalia, Yemen, and Iraq all faced similar situations. Islamophobia in schools and workplaces is where Muslims face outright rejection, suspicions, attacks, stigmatization, and mockery by their colleagues and employers. The fact that you believe in Islam, you have no say in classrooms and your workplace because Muslims are always the minority in most of the places. Women in hijab are not regarded and they are been disrespected because of their choice of religion. Due to the abuse and attacks against Muslim women, some of the women now are fighting for their right example the right to vote, right to be involved in decision making, their right to property, reproductive right and so on. One of the Islamic countries that women are seriously fighting for their rights is Afghanistan rights (Mohibullah & Kramer, 2016). According to Oja &Yamin, (2016) some of the rights that the women are fighting for include: their inheritance right and reproductive rights. Finally, Islamophobia in the public comes in a form of indirect discrimination, indirect denial of public goods and services, hate speeches about Islam. Aligning Muslims to be terrorists is like accusing other religions such as Christianity, Buddhist, and Hindus for colonialism, world wars and the like. No religions are free nor clean of terrorism. Even the current attack at the New Zealand mosque was caused by non-Muslim but the media continues reports and complain about Islam terrorist and nothing else. Islamophobia must come to an end and the end to Islamophobia is now. 2.0 Research Problem The increase in racism, stereotyping, attacks and killing of the Muslims worldwide motivated this study to find out why Islamophobia, what are the causes/effects of this anti-Islamic acts. Also, the hatred and prejudices of the Muslims among the westerners are on the rise especially in the United States, France, United Kingdom, and Germany. Muslims are suffering in