Islamophobia refers to prejudice, hostility, or discrimination against Islam and its followers, often fueled by stereotypes and misinformation. It manifests in various forms, including hate speech, violence, political rhetoric, and policies targeting Muslims. Globally, incidents of Islamophobia have increased, frequently resulting from misinformation spread through social media, news outlets, and political discourse. Such narratives often focus on portraying Muslims as violent, intolerant, or extremist, leading to communal tensions and social alienation.

The rise of digital platforms has exacerbated the spread of Islamophobia, as false narratives often go viral quickly, inciting fear and mistrust among communities. These narratives have a profound impact, not only reinforcing existing biases but also shaping public policy, legal actions, and social interactions in many countries. To combat this, awareness campaigns, community dialogues, and educational efforts have been launched worldwide, aiming to foster mutual understanding and debunk myths about Islam and its followers.

In March 2021, BOOM fact-checked a 2018 video from Detroit that showed a man spitting on pizza, which was revived with a communal spin, falsely claiming that the man was a Muslim refugee.

BOOM’s investigation found that this claim was entirely false, clarifying that the video had no connection to Islam or refugees.