Islamophobia

Did the public school system in Hamburg, Germany ban music lessons to avoid offending Muslims who view them to be forbidden or 'haram'? No, that's not true: The Hamburg public schools did no such thing. A German language news report has been misrepresented in social media posts. The report followed the signing of a joint statement by religious representatives and…

Was British activist Tommy Robinson arrested in Canada for expressing anti-Islam views? No, that's not true: In a video of his arrest, the plainclothes Canada Border Services Agency officers who handcuffed Robinson said he was arrested on an "outstanding immigration warrant." They also suggested the activist lied about his criminal history on his visa application to enter Canada. The claim…

Does a video show Muhammad Moin Al-Din, an 86-year-old man, caught in the act of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl in the tall grass of an agricultural field as a viral tweet claimed? No, that's not true: This false narrative has been attached to a short clip from a controversial 2004 Iranian TV series. The original series had a strong…

Does an image shared on social media document a 2023 attack on a French Jewish woman in her home during this year's escalation of Israeli-Palestinian tensions in the Middle East? No, that's not true: The photo predates the 2023 Hamas-Israel war. It was taken in 2017 in Michigan. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on X, formerly known…

Does a video that resurfaced on social media show Uyghur women consuming alcohol against their will on "the second day of Ramadan" in 2023? No, that's not true: The clip was initially published in 2018, but the exact date and circumstances of filming remain unknown. The clip reappeared in a post on Instagram on March 24, 2023. Its caption said:…

Did Canada legalize sex with animals? No, that's not true: Ever since a Canadian Supreme Court decision in 2016, articles have been shared claiming Canada had legalized bestiality. The case involved a man who was convicted of sexual offenses against his two stepdaughters, including one count of bestiality - a ruling later overturned because no penetration was involved. Still, sex…

Did Norway deport Muslims causing the country's crime rate to drop 31 percent? No, that's not true: Norway did increase deportation of immigrants who were sentenced to prison, but Muslims were not targeted and the largest number deported were from eastern European countries. The crime rate in Norway -- which was already low compared to the United States -- has…