Mediated Construction of Islamophobia: A Review of Global Media Narratives and Pakistan’s Role in Combating Islamophobia

Abstract

Islamophobia has become a thoroughly mediated construct, therefore assessing the media’s involvement and indulgence in construction of Islamophobia is pertinent. Considering this, the current paper examines what kind of discourse is being developed and how mediated construction of Islamophobia is affecting at institutional and structural level. The paper also seeks to determine how various forms of media, such as news outlets, social media platforms, films, television shows, and other forms of communication, represent and contribute to the formation of Islamophobic attitudes and narratives on a global scale. By reviewing the existing literature, the paper also discusses the role of Islamophobia in instigating anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim sentiments as well as the strategies adopted by Pakistan to combat and curb Islamophobia and hate speech effectively. To combat Islamophobia in media representations, the study also provides certain recommendations and effective strategies for media professionals, policymakers, stakeholders and civil society organizations and by executing the suggestions and counter-narratives of the study, we as a global society can lead towards making our society more unbiased, equitable and inclusive for everyone, without discrimination towards any sect of the society specifically the Muslims and Islam. Moreover, the paper also provides valuable insights to minimize the negative mediated construction of Islamophobia as well as ways to combat mediated representations of Islamophobia, promoting media literacy and promoting tolerant and inclusive societies.