ONLINE: EQ301 Understanding Islamophobia: Root causes, Impact and Action

Please Note: This is a two-part workshop (Part 1 on September 29, and Part 2 on October 6). By registering you are registering for both sessions

Audience: Students, Faculty and Staff
Facilitators: Fauzia Mazhar, Dr. Sarah Shafiq, Mifrah Abid
Level: Introductory - Intermediate

The training is for those looking for an introductory-Intermediate overview of Muslim practices, understanding implicit biases associated with Islam and Muslims, and developing a foundational understanding of Islamophobia and developing a nuanced framework to counter it.

Workshop Description

This training/ presentation will be an interactive way to learn about Islamophobia- its origins, manifestations, dissemination, its impact on individuals and communities (particularly women and youth), and its deep links to racism and xenophobia. The training will include an overview of common religious practices in Muslim communities, as may be relevant within an academic institution. Participants will be introduced to common misconceptions and harmful stereotypes about Islam and Muslims. The training will discuss real life case scenarios on how to deal with hate incidents. Finally, it will help participants develop a framework to challenge Islamophobia at individual and institutional/ systemic level.

Learning Outcomes

· Develop a historical context on the origins of Islamophobia to understand how it has persisted and continues to persist in our current climate
· Create awareness on how Islamophobia is deeply linked to racism, xenophobia and hate incidents
. Develop knowledge and awareness to identify different manifestations of Islamophobia (systemic & individual level), particularly gendered Islamophobia
· Familiarize participants on the impacts of Islamophobia, including internalized Islamophobia
· Dispel common misconceptions about Islam and Muslims by challenging implicit biases
· Develop the tools and framework to promote equity and human rights
· Develop an action plan to counter Islamophobia and hate at different levels

Participant Expectations

This training is designed to be interactive and participant engagement is encouraged. There will be break out rooms for participants to apply concepts learnt during the training to real life scenarios. There will include lecture style delivery and active group discussions.