Episode #142: Fear of a Muslim Planet, Global Islamophobia and the Top 10 Hip Hop MCs of All Time with Arsalan Iftikhar

Episode Summary

Arslan Iftikhar reflects on growing up in a Pakistani immigrant family in Chicago, experiencing racism, and being inspired to pursue a life of anti-racist advocacy work. He talks about his Punjabi cultural heritage, makes Bhangra music recommendations, and shares tips for traveling to Pakistan. He then talks about his experience in South Africa and the inspiration he drew from Nelson Mandela in his decision to become a civil rights lawyer and focus on Islamophobia in post 9-11 America. He then goes on to discuss his new book “Fear of a Muslim Planet” and explains various manifestations of Islamophobia around the world and their inter-connection to other forms of racism. He then unpacks “The Great Replacement” white-supremacist conspiracy theory, and gives examples of anti-Muslim case studies around the globe ranging from Hijab bans in France to Uyghur internment camps in China to right-wing Hindu nationalism in India to the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar. He then talks about his experience as a global media commentator and reflects on the time CNN’s Don Lemon asked him on prime time television if he supported ISIS. He also talks about the influence of Islam in hip hop culture and names his Top 10 hip hop MCs of all time. Finally, he discusses how we can all be better anti- racist allies. FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: www.TheMaverickShow.com

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Arsalan Iftikhar

Arsalan Iftikhar is an international human rights lawyer, global media commentator and author of the new book FEAR OF A MUSLIM PLANET: Global Islamophobia in the New World Order. Arsalan has been a faculty member at Georgetown University, a Senior Research Fellow for The Bridge Initiative, an adjunct professor of religious studies at DePaul University and he is a proud member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) and Reporters Without Borders. Born in Chicago to a Pakistani immigrant family, he became an international human rights lawyer nearly 20 years ago and has traveled the world extensively as a scholar, activist and journalist. He is a longtime on-air commentator for National Public Radio (NPR) and is regularly featured on CNN, BBC World News, Al-Jazeera English, MSNBC and many other outlets. His work has appeared in USA TODAY, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, TIME Magazine, The Economist and many other publications around the world.

What You'll Learn
  • How Islamophobia manifests around the globe
  • The interconnection between Islamophobia and other forms of racism
  • How to be a better anti-racist ally
Links From the Episode

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BUY ARSALAN’S NEW BOOK

#1 BOOK ARSALAN RECOMMENDS

OTHER BOOKS AND ALBUMS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

LOCATION WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE

ARSALAN’S TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

ARSALAN’S TOP 3 BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS

PLACES IN PAKISTAN ARSALAN RECOMMENDS TO VISIT

OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

THE BEST CHICAGO STYLE PIZZA

THE BEST DESI FOOD IN CHICAGO

BHANGRA MUSIC ARSALAN RECOMMENDS

PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

BASKETBALL TEAMS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

#1 PERSON WITH WHOM ARSALAN MOST WANTS TO HAVE DINNER

ARSALAN’S TOP 10 HIP-HOP EMCEES

CONNECT WITH ARSALAN

Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[2:55] Matt and Arsalan Reminisce About the Greatest Sporting Event They Ever Attended

[9:08] Growing up in a Pakistani Immigrant Family in Chicago

[18:29] Tips on Traveling to Pakistan

[21:21] Bhangra Music Recommendations

[22:38]Arsalan’s Reflections on His Time in South Africa

[26:35] Becoming a Human Rights Lawyer in the Post 9-11 Era

[30:52] Writing “Fear of a Muslim Planet: Global Islamophobia in the New World Order”

[36:19] Explaining “The Great Replacement” White Supremacist Conspiracy Theory

[40:35] Breaking Down the Global Muslim Demographics

[45:40] Hijab Bans in France and Islamophobia in Europe

[50:30] 1 Million Uyghur Muslims in Internment Camps in China Today

[52:30] Right-Wing Hindu Nationalism in India

[57:13] The Genocide of Rohingya Muslim in Myanmar

[58:15] The Night CNN’s Don Lemon Asked Arsalan if He Supports ISIS

[1:04:23] How to be a Better Anti-Racist Ally

[1:08:58] How and Why to Buy Arsalan’s New Book “Fear of a Muslim Planet”

[1:10:44]The Lightning Round

  • The Best Desi Food in Chicago
  • The Best Chicago Style Pizza
  • #1 Book Arsalan Recommends
  • #1 Person With Whom Arslan Most Wants to Have Dinner
  • #1 Piece of Advice Arsalan Would Give to His 18-Year-Old Self
  • Top 3 Favorite Travel Destinations
  • Top 3 Bucket List Destinations

[1:14:30] The Influence of Islam in Hip Hop Culture

[1:18:24] Arsalan’s Top 10 Hip Hop MCs of all Time

[1:22:47]Contact and Follow Arsalan and Buy His New Book