A devastating shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego has left three worshippers dead, deepening fears among Muslim Americans about rising anti-Muslim hatred. Investigators discovered hate speech and anti-Islamic writings in the vehicle of the suspected shooters, who took their own lives shortly after the attack.
Taha Hassane, the director of the Islamic Center, condemned the violence while urging a response rooted in tolerance and love. 'All of us are responsible for spreading the culture of tolerance, the culture of love,' he said, lamenting the conditions that led to such bloodshed.
The attack occurred just one week before Eid al-Adha, a major Islamic festival commemorating Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, and the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. It also follows heightened tensions in the Middle East and escalating political rhetoric in the United States.
During the week of May 13, 2026, Republicans in Congress held hearings titled 'Sharia-Free America,' reflecting a long-standing anti-Muslim trope that portrays Muslims as invaders seeking to impose Islamic religious law on all Americans. Many Muslim Americans are alarmed by the rise of anti-Muslim bigotry among politicians, which has largely been met with silence.
Muslim Americans have repeatedly warned that increased rhetoric targeting Islam endangers their community. Anisah Bagasra, an associate professor of psychology at Kennesaw State University who studies Islamophobia, notes that the war with Iran intensified anti-Muslim sentiment online. According to a study by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, the average number of Islamophobic posts on X jumped from 2,000 to 6,000 daily in the first six days of the conflict.
Research consistently shows that negative portrayals of Muslims shape public attitudes, leading to increased discrimination, psychological harm, and hate crimes such as the San Diego shooting.
Increase in Islamophobia
Islamophobia in the United States tends to surge during global conflicts, political campaigns, and terrorist attacks. Human Rights First documented spikes in 2015 following the Syrian refugee crisis, the Paris attacks, and the San Bernardino shooting. A surge in crimes against Muslims followed.
Islamophobic rhetoric intensified during Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and continued into his presidency. Bagasra and digital media scholar Burton Speakman found growing acceptance of such rhetoric among the political right in social media posts from 2016 to 2019.
Social media posts increasingly used dehumanizing language toward Muslims. A 2020 study by Bagasra found that most of 830 Muslim Americans encountered Islamophobic content on Facebook, followed by Twitter and Instagram. Right-wing media often portrayed Muslims as invaders seeking to impose sharia and as a drain on social welfare.
Mainstream media can also amplify negative depictions by frequently discussing Islam in the context of terrorism and portraying Muslims more negatively than other minority groups.
Hate crimes tend to rise alongside Islamophobic rhetoric. In 2016, a period of high Islamophobic rhetoric, 307 incidents were reported—the highest since 9/11. Numbers dropped in 2017 but rose again in 2024 with the start of the Israel-Hamas war, when 288 anti-Muslim hate crimes were reported.
A 2025 poll found that 63% of American Muslims reported experiencing religious discrimination, with many facing at least one incident annually since 2016.
Mental Health of Muslim Americans
The cumulative effects of Islamophobia impact Muslim Americans' mental health and access to care. Numerous studies since 9/11 link high discrimination rates to higher depression rates. Experiences of discrimination also lead some Muslim Americans to feel they are not viewed as American.
In Bagasra's 2020 study, 31% of participants described social media's impact on their mental health. Many avoided displaying their Muslim identity online, supporting Muslim political candidates, or sharing religious content. Some withdrew entirely—27% deactivated or deleted their accounts.
Many Muslims reported feeling discouraged from seeking physical or psychological treatment from non-Muslim providers, leading to significant underutilization of services. A 2015 study found that nearly one-third of Muslim Americans faced discrimination in healthcare settings, including rude treatment, insensitivity to modesty requirements, or having their pain disregarded. One participant said: 'Going into a surgery, health care providers didn't recognize the importance of me keeping my hijab on and wanting most of my body covered.'
In a 2023 study, participants described mental health professionals who seemed unable to see them beyond their religious affiliation. One participant said a provider was 'quick to attribute problems' to religion or culture. 'I worry about them stereotyping and end up feeling as if I'm on the defense.'
A 2024 study by Bagasra, currently under review, surveyed 325 Muslim Americans who used psychological services: 56% were worried about being stereotyped, and 57% feared being misunderstood. Following Trump's 2017 travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries, a Yale School of Public Health study found that many Muslim Americans skipped primary care appointments while emergency room visits increased.
Addressing the Challenges
In response, initiatives have emerged at local and national levels. One approach involves increasing mental health literacy within Muslim communities and creating networks of mental health professionals working with Muslim clients. Training programs like Mental Health First Aid help community members recognize symptoms of mental health disorders. Online directories of Muslim mental health providers have also been created.
Another approach trains mental health professionals. Stanford University developed a six-part training module providing therapists with knowledge of religious norms and opportunities to reflect on their biases.
Muslim researchers and providers are developing therapies that integrate Islamic beliefs and spiritual practices, such as Quran-inspired psychotherapy, teachings of the prophet, and practices like self-reflection, prayer, and mindfulness.
A Vulnerable Community
The war with Iran has fueled an increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric that has spilled into political discourse. In February 2026, U.S. Rep. Randy Fine of Florida posted on X that 'the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one,' and 'We need more Islamophobia, not less.' Similarly, U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas called for stopping 'Muslims immigrating to America.'
The shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego has deepened fear among an already vulnerable community. Muslim Americans often feel powerless in the face of such hostility. Greater public awareness, stronger advocacy, and efforts to address the mental health impacts of anti-Muslim hatred are critical for a community that already feels vulnerable.
Anisah Bagasra is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Kennesaw State University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
