MUSLIM POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS’ TWEETS ON THE REALIZATION OF UN RESOLUTION AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

Abstract

This paper explores how Twitter has become instrumental in the fight against Islamophobia, using the tweets of Muslim political and religious personalities. Applying a qualitative research method and Fairclough’s 3D CDA model, the study selects nine tweets of the total 30 tweets for analysis based on the linguistic, discursive, and social aspects. These tweets are assessed in an attempt to determine how far the UN resolution on Islamophobia, which was passed on 15th March 2022, is helped from these tweets, and how far the negative stereotype is defeated. The paper depicts how the Muslim leaders employ Twitter to counter mainstream negative narratives, build cohesion, and promote understanding and equity. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the first muslim woman in the US Congress Ilhan Omar use tactics like rhetoric, focusing on what it means to be human, and solidarity with other religions to challenge international politics. The outcomes show the contribution that these tweets make to international public opinion, dialogue of the faiths, and solution of systemic prejudices, which prove the potential of social media in solving the present-day problems like Islamophobia. The present work enriches the field of discourse analysis, media studies, and political communication by demonstrating the potential of digital technologies in community mobilization and advocacy for social justice.

Keywords: Islamophobia, UN Resolution, Twitter, Muslim Political and Religious Leaders, Critical Discourse Analysis, Social Media Advocacy, Public Discourse.