Human Rights Groups Issue Urgent Warning on Rising Islamophobia in Argentina

Escalating Threats Against Muslim Community

Human rights organizations in Argentina have raised alarm over a significant increase in anti-Muslim hate speech and real-life threats targeting the country's Muslim community. These groups warn that the situation has escalated beyond online campaigns, now posing direct dangers to the safety of families within their homes.

The organizations emphasize that the targeting of women and children represents a serious violation of human rights, undermining Argentina's foundational values of coexistence and pluralism. They have called for the implementation of more robust laws to combat hate speech and incitement, cautioning that a failure to prosecute perpetrators could normalize digital violence and potentially lead to 'organized societal terrorism,' thereby jeopardizing public peace and social cohesion.

Case of Yanina Highlights Digital Terror

A prominent example illustrating this alarming trend is the case of an Argentine citizen identified as Yanina. She reportedly became the target of an organized 'digital terror' campaign, which included explicit death threats and the public harassment of her minor child on social media platforms. The harassment began with extremist accounts promoting anti-Muslim rhetoric, leading to the doxxing of Yanina's personal information and photos, including those of her child, alongside incendiary messages. Threats also extended to Instagram messages calling for her death or deportation, and suspicious disappearances of private WhatsApp conversations raised concerns about potential digital spying or hacking.

Fearing for her family's safety, Yanina restricted her online presence and limited her child's public visibility. She subsequently filed an official complaint under 'discrimination-related threats.' Human rights groups have concluded that Islamophobia in Argentina has transitioned from extremist online rhetoric to a daily threat for Muslim families, urging authorities to take immediate action to protect victims and hold instigators accountable.

Organizational Concerns and Political Context

The Centro Islámico de la República Argentina (CIRA), an NGO, has reported an escalation in discrimination and harassment against Muslims and Arabs in recent months. CIRA attributes this rise to a shift in public attitudes fueled by far-right talking points. According to CIRA, Muslim women are being verbally attacked in the street for wearing the hijab, and there is a noticeable increase in online hate speech and harassment. While widespread physical attacks have not been recorded, the organization expresses deep concern.

The cancellation of the weekly Islamic culture program 'El Cálamo' in November 2024, after 13 years on public television, was viewed by CIRA as an Islamophobic act, despite official statements denying censorship. The administration of President Javier Milei has faced criticism from human rights groups for alleged discrimination against Islam and individuals of Arab descent. Furthermore, Francisco Sánchez, the minister for religion, has been accused of Islamophobia for past social media posts. The phrase 'Islamic terrorism' is reportedly used repeatedly in President Milei's speeches and public statements, causing anger within the Islamic community.

The National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (INADI) had previously reported 80 incidents of Islamophobia over a 12-month period. However, this institution was shut down by the Milei administration in August, making it difficult to obtain more recent figures. Argentina is home to a significant Muslim population, estimated to be between 700,000 and 1 million people, making it one of the largest Muslim communities in South America.