Groups highlight the problematic role of social media platforms in perpetuating Islamophobic hate across the world
(WASHINGTON D.C., 3/15/2025) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, today joined an international coalition of Muslim organizations and human rights civil society organizations in marking the UN’s 2025 International Day to Combat Islamophobia with a joint declaration asserting that the “massive profits social media platforms provide to corporations have generally rendered corporate leaders passive regarding the role of their platforms in operationalizing Islamophobia.”
Domestically, a new report issued by CAIR earlier this week reveals that Islamophobia continues to be at an all-time high across the country.
SEE ALSO: UN Resolution Adopting March 15th as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia
The joint declaration was signed by organizations from around the globe including, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In their joint statement released today, CAIR and the coalition of Muslim organizations and human rights civil society organizations said the following:
“Brenton Tarrant murdered 51 people and injured another 40 as he attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on March 15, 2019. He streamed this horror live on Facebook. In 2025, the undersigned Muslim organizations and human rights civil society organizations commemorate the UN’s International Day to Combat Islamophobia by highlighting the increasingly troubling role of social media platforms in perpetuating Islamophobic hate across the world.
“According to the United Nations, ‘Islamophobia is a fear, prejudice, and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility, and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world. Motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, it targets the symbols and markers of being a Muslim.’
“The massive profits social media platforms provide to corporations have generally rendered corporate leaders passive regarding the role of their platforms in operationalizing Islamophobia. We address our call to action to those leaders, employees, and influencers who see humanity as something greater than coin.”
The groups endorsing the 2025 statement are:
- Australian Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN) (Australia)
- The Bridge Initiative (United States)
- Canadians United Against Hate/Canadiens Unis Contre la Haine (Canada)
- Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe (CCIE) (Europe)
- Center for Education and Research “Nahla” (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Comité Justice & Libertés Pour Tous (France)
- Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) (United States)
- Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (Europe)
- International Islamophobia Studies Research Association (Worldwide)
- Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Islamic Council of Victoria (Australia)
- Islamophobia Studies Center (United States)
- Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand (New Zealand)
- The March 15th -Combating Islamophobia (United States)
- Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) (United Kingdom)
- Muslim Rights Watch Netherlands (Netherlands, Europa)
“The pandemic of profit from hate on social media platforms is not what users sign up for,” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor. “Corporations can and should build out protections to ensure that while speech remains free, hate speech is not rewarded with money, clicks, and fame.”
Earlier this year, CAIR-Texas applauded the introduction of a Texas House resolution that would recognize March 15 at the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. In 2023, CAIR welcomed a citation issued by Governor Wes Moore in recognition of today, March 15, as the first United Nations-recognized ‘International Day to Combat Islamophobia.’
BACKGROUND
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) first commemorated March 15th in 2021. OIC member states then encouraged the United Nations to adopt a similar resolution commemorating the day, which the international body did in 2022. The date coincides with the commemoration of the Christchurch, New Zealand massacre when 51 New Zealand Muslims were murdered by an agent of hate.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | TikTok | Website | YouTube
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
You are receiving this email due to your interest selection from commercial media databases. If you would like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
END
CONTACT: CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, csaylor@cair.com; CAIR Research and Advocacy Manager Farah Afify, fafify@cair.com@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com