Message from Center for Study of Hate

 

Dear CSOH Community, On May 18, two shooters attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego, leaving three people dead, whose bravery saved hundreds inside, including children. The attackers had been radicalized online and left behind manifestos filled with neo-Nazi and white supremacist ideology and hatred toward many communities, including Muslims. This tragedy is no anomaly. It is what organized hate looks like when it goes unaddressed. The roots of this violence run deep, and they are no secret: years of unchecked anti-Muslim bigotry, rampant online conspiracies, the role of elected officials, and a political climate that has too often looked the other way have brought us to this moment. For more than a year, we have documented a troubling rise in online dehumanization and incitement targeting Muslims, including a coordinated 13-month campaign of anti-Muslim bigotry by more than 85 Republican elected officials. Our recent report found a staggering 1,450% surge in anti-Muslim social media posts by Republican officials, promoting conspiracy theories between February 2025 and March 2026. Watch: Niala Mohammad, our Program Lead for North America, breaks down how this campaign was built and amplified. In the days after the attack, our Executive Director Raqib Naik and Director of Research Eviane Leidig spoke with KQED, NPR, the Los Angeles Times,  Time Magazine, Prism, DW News, The New Arab and others about what drives this kind of violence. A Conversation on Anti-South Asian Hate at Stanford On June 2, we're co-organizing an in-person event at Stanford University with Stop AAPI Hate and Stanford's Center for South Asia. The event features presentations on the latest data and a panel discussion exploring the scope and nature of anti-South Asian hate and actionable strategies for communities, institutions, and policymakers to push back. REGISTER Transatlantic Far-Right Playbook British far-right leader Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” rally in London on May 16 isn't a one-off protest. It's the product of a coordinated transatlantic far-right network, backed by foreign funders, fueled by disinformation, and amplified by elected officials on both sides of the Atlantic. Continue Reading → Identity Manipulation in the UK Identity manipulation techniques built by hostile states are no longer confined to foreign operations. They've migrated into mainstream UK electoral politics and the safeguards meant to protect democratic competition were never designed to catch them. Continue Reading → CSOH Testimony at USCIRF Hearing Our Executive Director Raqib Naik testified at the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hearing on India's deteriorating religious freedom, addressing the persecution of religious minorities, corporate complicity in demolishing Muslim homes, social media's role in amplifying hate, and the transnational repression of diaspora critics. Democracy in Indian Diaspora On May 20, CSOH and Santa Clara University co-hosted an in-person panel bringing together academics, journalists, and industry leaders to examine democracy in the global Indian diaspora, where we also launched The Umeed Project, an initiative to strengthen diaspora democracy, along with a counterspeech manual to push back against harmful narratives. Misinformation Crisis in South Asia On May 7, we brought together civil society organizations and experts from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to examine the structural and political drivers of disinformation, the role of platforms in enabling it, and its cross-border consequences. CSOH in Media LA Times: It was a beacon of hope and faith in San Diego. Attack leaves a community seeking answers TIME: San Diego Mosque Attack Comes Amid Rising Islamophobia NPR: The San Diego mosque shooting victims remembered as heroes for protecting children PRISM: ‘Hatred often manifests in violence’: After San Diego mosque shooting, Muslim and anti-hate groups condemn rampant Islamophobia The Conversation: San Diego mosque shooting reflects how online rhetoric, media depictions and political discourse contribute to increased Islamophobia KQED: How San Diego is Responding After Mosque Shooting FOX 5: Deadly mosque shooting raises question of heightened security at religious centers American Community Media: Muslim Community Mourns Horrific Shooting at San Diego Mosque Baptist News Global: Greg Abbott is on a campaign against religious liberty DW News: US Muslim organizations warn of rising hate after mosque attack Houston Chronicle: Some Democrats said Republican messaging on Islam is fueling violence. Extremism experts agree. Reuters: Muslim American groups say Republicans are weaponizing congressional hearings Aljazeera: San Diego mosque shooting: What we know about the victims and the attackers PBS News: Bengali Muslims in India face persecution and displacement amid citizenship disputes TRT World: India's RSS lobbies in US and beyond amid damning USCIRF report and Magnitsky sanctions call The I Paper: Why Elon Musk has cooled on his bromance with Tommy Robinson DW News: Afghanistan: Shiite and other minorities living in fear The Dallas Morning News: Grand Prairie cancels Muslim event at water park after Abbott threatens funding