(177): Elon Musk and the Dangerous Spread of Islamophobia

Elon Musk and the Dangerous Spread of Islamophobia

By Muhsin Ibrahim

One might expect that brilliant people possess a greater capacity to understand nuanced issues. However, this is often not the case. Prejudice and bias can obscure even the sharpest minds, leading to mischaracterisation of basic truths.

Elon Musk needs no introduction. Yet, despite the tech billionaire’s extraordinary intellect and achievements, his views and social media posts on anything remotely related to Islam and Muslims reveal a gross misunderstanding and evident bias.

Musk’s commentary on the Middle East, since the October 7 attack, and immigration-related issues is riddled with inaccuracies and distortions. I once saw one of such posts. Initially, I thought it was by a parody account. After realising it was indeed Musk’s verified account, I recommended that he read Rashid Khalidi’s seminal book, The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine, to cure his ignorance.

Now, following the terror attack on the Christmas market in Germany, Musk and like-minded folks propagated the false claim that the attacker, Taleb Abdulmohsen, was Muslim. They further alleged that he had only concealed his Islamic identity since 2006 – 18 years! Nothing can be further away from the truth.

Taleb Abdulmohsen was not a Muslim. While it is true that terrorism is not exclusive to any one religion or ideology, branding an individual as Muslim, despite all available evidence saying the contrary, is both irresponsible and dangerous. The 50-year-old Saudi-born medical doctor has not only been an infamous ex-Muslim but also an anti-Muslim activist and atheist who opposes everything that is Islam.

In a 2019 FAZ interview, Taleb Abdulmohsen described himself as “the most aggressive critic of Islam in history.” He also established a website and social media handles to help citizens of mainly Gulf countries apply for asylum in Germany. He later claimed that Germany was giving asylum to “Syrian jihadists.”

Pontificating that Abdulmohsen’s anti-Islamic activism was a form of “Taqiyya” (a Shiite concept) is a lie. Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of Islam and an ounce of objectivity can recognise the fallacy in these accusations.

What makes this narrative particularly alarming is Musk’s unparalleled influence. His words shape opinions, fuel narratives, and profoundly impact policy and politics, especially in the West. By perpetuating anti-Islamic rhetoric, Musk contributes to a climate of fear and hostility toward Muslims, such as myself, exacerbating divisions in an already polarised world.

It is crucial for those with significant platforms and influence to exercise responsibility in their discourse. While Musk is almost untouchable, informed voices must rise to challenge his misconceptions and counter the spread of falsehoods. Silence in the face of such misinformation only enables its proliferation.

We must strive for a world where truth and understanding prevail over prejudice and propaganda. May we all be guided, amin.