The edl's former leader, tommy robinson, left the group in 2013 saying it had become too extreme and that street protests were ineffective. Was funded to 33 groups whose primary purpose was "To promote prejudice against, or hatred of, islam and muslims" in the united states between 2008 and 2013, with a total of 74 groups contributing to islamophobia in the united states during that period. Throughout the twentieth century, muslim characters were portrayed in hollywood often negatively and with orientalist stereotypes visualising them as being "Uncivilised". Since the post-9/11 era, in addition to these tropes, a securitization of muslims; portraying them as a threat to the western world, have drastically increased in movie depictions. He argues that while both islam and america can be subject to legitimate criticisms without detesting a people as a whole, bigotry against both are on the rise. Hindu nationalist politician arun pathak organised a celebration in varanasi to commemorate the 1992 demolition of the babri masjid mosque.

We define it as an exaggerated fear, hatred, and hostility toward islam and muslims that is perpetuated by negative stereotypes resulting in bias, discrimination, and the marginalization and exclusion of muslims from america’s social, political, and civic life. Misinformation experts such as gaffney consult and work with such right-wing grassroots organizations as act! For america and the eagle forum, as well as religious right groups such as the faith and freedom coalition and american family association, to spread their message. Speaking at their conferences, writing on their websites, and appearing on their radio shows, these experts rail against islam and cast suspicion on american muslims. Much of their propaganda gets churned into fundraising appeals by grassroots and religious right groups.

In some societies, islamophobia has materialized due to the portrayal of islam and muslims as the national "Other", where exclusion and discrimination occurs on the basis of their religion and civilization which differs with national tradition and identity. This sentiment, according to malcolm brown and robert miles, significantly interacts with racism, although Islamophobia itself is not racism. Author doug saunders has drawn parallels between islamophobia in the united states and its older discrimination and hate against roman catholics, saying that catholicism was seen as backwards and imperial, while catholic immigrants had poorer education and some were responsible for crime and terrorism. Within key western societies, there are genuine negative perceptions, prejudices, and discriminations targeted against muslims. Seeing muslims as not loyal, voicing prejudice against muslims, and avoiding muslims as neighbors are all symptoms of islamophobia that exist in the west. They are generally shared by a subset of the general population, though they exist in substantial enough numbers to draw both attention and concern.

Roland imhoff and julia recker, in an article that puts forward the term "Islamoprejudice" as a better alternative, write that "... Few concepts have been debated as heatedly over the last ten years as the term islamophobia." various translations of the qur'an have been banned by the russian government for promoting extremism and muslim supremacy. In greece, islamophobia accompanies anti-immigrant sentiment, as immigrants are now 15% of the country's population and 90% of the eu's illegal entries are through greece.

Muslim leaders and scholars often speak out against terrorism and seek to counter misinterpreted or twisted teachings based on a theology of violence and death that fringe groups use to justify their violent actions. Most muslims feel as threatened as anyone else by these violent extremists who say they act in the name of islam. Muslims have been the target of terrorist attacks too, and are in no way protected because of their religion. To date, worldwide, muslims suffer the highest death toll due to jihadist terror groups. Islamophobia is a specific form of racism that refers to acts of violence and discrimination, as well as racist speech, fuelled by historical abuses and negative stereotyping and leading to exclusion and dehumanisation of muslims, and all those perceived as such.

The writer and scholar on religion reza aslan has said that "Islamophobia has become so mainstream in this country that americans have been trained to expect violence against muslims – not excuse it, but expect it". According to abduljalil sajid, one of the members of the runnymede trust's commission on british muslims and islamophobia, "Islamophobias" have existed in varying strains throughout history, with each version possessing its own distinct features as well as similarities or adaptations from others. The extent of negative attitudes towards muslims varies across different parts of europe. Polls in germany and the czech republic have suggested that most respondents do not welcome muslim refugees in those countries. According to gabrielle maranci, the increasing islamophobia in the west is related to a rising repudiation of multiculturalism. Maranci concludes that "Islamophobia is a 'phobia' of multiculturalism and the transruptive effect that islam can have in europe and the west through transcultural processes." other main cause of islamophobia in the west is mainly due to the sheer lack of knowledge that the west has about 'islam' as a religion.