With the start of 2026, the International Nonviolence Organization (Free Muslim), affiliated with the Global Foundation of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Husseini Shirazi, raised alarm over the continuation and escalation of concerning trends in anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim discourse and actions in the United States and other parts of the world.

According to the organization’s reports, Islamophobia in the United States has reached unprecedented levels, with Muslim communities facing increased harassment, workplace discrimination, and threats against mosques and social institutions. Universities and higher education centers have also become hotspots of tension, where Muslim students report intimidation, restrictions on performing religious rituals, and hostile environments contrary to principles of inclusivity and academic freedom.

Similar patterns are observed outside the U.S. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, there has been a rise in vandalism, hate crimes, and public intimidation targeting Muslims, often following political statements or national security events, unfairly linking Muslim communities to violence. In parts of Europe, incidents such as desecration of the Quran and attacks on Islamic centers have intensified social tensions and raised serious questions about the boundary between freedom of expression and the need to protect religious communities from hate.

In South Asia, concerns persist regarding the treatment of Muslim minorities, with reports of legal restrictions, social exclusion, and targeted violence drawing the attention of international human rights organizations. At the same time, digital platforms have become a space for organized campaigns of hate against Muslims, targeting religious leaders, activists, and public figures.

The International Nonviolence Organization (Free Muslim) stated that international human rights bodies are increasing efforts to document these trends in order to strengthen legal protections and develop preventive policies that ensure coexistence, human dignity, and equal rights for all.