The “IslamoCovid” Response: British Muslim Mobilization(s) at the Intersection of COVID-19 and Islamophobia

Abstract

ABSTRACT One of the negative developments of the COVID-19 pandemic is the manner by which ethnic, racial, and religious minorities have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. In Great Britain, British Muslims have been adversely affected by this label as they have been disproportionately affected by the virus and stigmatized as super-spreaders by mainstream political parties and right-wing organizations. In response, British Muslims are actively mobilizing in civil society to challenge the super-spreader narrative while emphasizing the centrality of their Islamic faith in protecting their community – and the British public – from COVID-19. In this paper, we elaborate on three frameworks that explicate the British Muslim community’s response to COVID-19 and its accompanying Islamophobic frames: The emphasis on the individual’s responsibility to God, family, and self; the commitment of the British Muslim community to the society and the State; and the reframing of COVID-19 best health practices as Islamic in orientation.