ISLAMOPHOBIA AFTER THE QUR`AN BURNING IN SCANDINAVIA: THE ROLE OF INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
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Abstract
The burning of the Quran in Scandinavia since July 2023 has triggered a significant escalation of Islamophobia in Europe, creating social polarization and increasing discrimination against Muslim communities. This research aims to analyze the Islamophobic narratives that developed following the Quran burning in Scandinavia and explore the role of interfaith dialogue as a solution to address these tensions. The research method employed is a qualitative approach through library research, analyzing documents, international organization reports, journal articles, and mass media publications from July 2023 to early 2025 using content analysis techniques with Alwi Shihab's theoretical framework on misconceptions of Islam in the West. The findings reveal that the Quran burning incidents triggered a 63% increase in violence against Muslims in Scandinavia, with 71% of Swedish Muslims reporting experiencing discrimination. The emerging Islamophobic narratives are rooted in historical misconceptions including the legacy of the Crusades, Orientalist bias, and sensationalist media framing that portrays perpetrators as defenders of free speech while delegitimizing Muslim protests. However, more than 200 interfaith organizations conducted 50+ dialogue forums demonstrating the effectiveness of interfaith dialogue in building mutual understanding. This research concludes that interfaith dialogue based on equality, education, and multi-stakeholder cooperation is a vital strategy for addressing Islamophobia. A comprehensive approach integrating anti-discrimination policies, multicultural education, media literacy, and sustained dialogue is needed to achieve peaceful coexistence between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Europe.
Keyword: anti-discrimination policies; interfaith dialogue; Islamophobia; misconceptions of Islam; Quran burning; Scandinavia.
Pembakaran Al-Quran di Skandinavia sejak Juli 2023 telah memicu eskalasi Islamofobia yang signifikan di Eropa, menciptakan polarisasi sosial dan meningkatkan diskriminasi terhadap komunitas Muslim. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis narasi Islamofobia yang berkembang pasca-pembakaran Al-Quran di Skandinavia dan mengeksplorasi peran dialog antaragama sebagai solusi untuk mengatasi ketegangan tersebut. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah pendekatan kualitatif dengan library research, menganalisis dokumen, laporan organisasi internasional, artikel jurnal, dan publikasi media massa periode Juli 2023 hingga awal 2025 melalui teknik content analysis dengan kerangka teoritis Alwi Shihab tentang miskonsepsi Islam di Barat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa insiden pembakaran Al-Quran memicu peningkatan 63% kasus kekerasan terhadap Muslim di Skandinavia, dengan 71% Muslim Swedia melaporkan mengalami diskriminasi. Narasi Islamofobia yang berkembang berakar pada miskonsepsi historis meliputi warisan Perang Salib, bias orientalis, dan framing media yang sensasional yang menggambarkan pelaku sebagai pembela kebebasan berekspresi sementara delegitimasi protes Muslim. Namun, lebih dari 200 organisasi lintas agama menyelenggarakan 50+ forum dialog yang menunjukkan efektivitas dialog antaragama dalam membangun pemahaman mutual. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa dialog antaragama berbasis kesetaraan, pendidikan, dan kerjasama multi-stakeholder merupakan strategi vital untuk mengatasi Islamofobia. Diperlukan pendekatan komprehensif yang mengintegrasikan kebijakan anti-diskriminasi, pendidikan multikultural, literasi media, dan dialog berkelanjutan untuk mewujudkan koeksistensi damai antara komunitas Muslim dan non-Muslim di Eropa.
Kata kunci: dialog antaragama; Islamofobia; pembakaran Al-Quran; Skandinavia; miskonsepsi Islam
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