Islamophobia and Demonization on Instagram: A Case Study of the #StopIslam Hashtag

What is this article about?

This article explains how the hashtag #StopIslam on Instagram contributes to the demonization of Muslim communities through hate speech, disinformation, and visual stigmatization. Civila, Romero-Rodríguez, and Civila analyze 474 posts to evaluate how social media amplifies Islamophobia, portraying Muslims as terrorists, rapists, or threats to national security.

Why is it important?

This study reveals that social media platforms, especially Instagram, play a central role in reinforcing Islamophobic narratives by allowing hate content to circulate unchecked. The research offers a typology of digital hate speech—“The Five Walls of Islamophobic Hate”—and provides empirical data on how symbolic violence and invisibility are constructed online.

Key Findings

1. Dominant narratives frame Muslims as violent and incompatible

• 62.92% of posts depict “a war between Muslims,” promoting fear of invasion or terrorism.

• 17.28% associate Muslims with terrorism.

• 12.44% promote deportation narratives.

• Only 1.2% link Muslim women to national security threats.

2. Hate is framed as opinion and normalized

• Instagram failed to remove hate-promoting accounts when reported.

• Political memes and hashtags manipulate user sentiment using false narratives and repetition.

3. Disinformation fuels misperceptions

• Posts frequently link Muslims with Black Lives Matter to trigger fear and confusion.

• Misuse of statistics and cultural generalizations exacerbate digital racism and exclusion.

4. Instagram’s algorithmic structure favors hate spread

• Accounts exploit hashtags and engagement algorithms to amplify hate messages.

• Hate content is embedded in memes, infographics, and pseudo-news to avoid detection.

Research Methodology

• Sample: 474 Instagram posts (Jan–Jul 2020) under #StopIslam.

• Tools: Atlas.ti (qualitative coding), SPSS (quantitative analysis).

• Framework: “Five Walls of Islamophobic Hate” adapted from Imran Awan.

FAQs

Q: What is the #StopIslam hashtag?
A: A digital space used to promote Islamophobic hate speech, misinformation, and fear-based narratives about Muslims.

Q: How is Islamophobia expressed on Instagram?
A: Through memes, fake news, exaggerated imagery, and polarizing slogans that associate Islam with terrorism or social danger.

Q: Is Instagram doing enough to moderate hate speech?
A: No. The study shows that reported accounts remained active, and hate messages continue to circulate freely.

Q: What are the consequences of this online hate?
A: Social exclusion, stigmatization, and the reinforcement of institutional Islamophobia across Europe.