Anti-muslim sentiment on social media in China and Chinese Muslims’ reactions to hatred and misunderstanding

Abstract

This study documents the extensive online anti-Muslim sentiment in China as well as the use of social media by Chinese Muslims from various backgrounds to engage with the online public sphere and respond to this hostile discourse. We analyzed more than 10,000 social media posts on Weibo relating to Muslims and Islam and conducted in-depth interviews with 34 Chinese Muslims who were active users of social media. Our findings reveal an anti-Muslim online frame, and we detail the ways in which Chinese Muslims have sought to influence public policy in order to protect their rights. The participants in this study responded to hateful posts and worked to increase the understanding of their religion and culture by providing glimpses of their daily lives and by discussing Islam. Nevertheless, owing to government censorship and to the prevailing Han-centric discourse, Chinese Muslims continue to face numerous risks and challenges, particularly in coping with the ideological conflict between their religion and the atheistic ruling party.

Keywords:

• Chinese Muslims
• social media
• public sphere
• Islamophobia
• censorship
• Han-centrism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Luwei Rose Luqiu

Luwei Rose Luqiu is an assistant professor at the School of Communication at Hong Kong Baptist University. She researches censorship, propaganda and social movements in authoritarian regimes. She has been a journalist for 20 years and was a 2007 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.

Fan Yang

Fan Yang is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at the University at Albany-SUNY. Her research focuses on data analysis of new media and strategic communications, and the effects of new communication technologies on decision making.