A new study by the Washington-based think tank, Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) has documented a sharp rise in anti-Muslim hate speech on social media in recent weeks. The US-Israel War on Iran and a recent mass shooting in Texas have contributed significantly to this surge, the CSOH report says.
According to the study, harmful content targeting Muslims has been increasing steadily on social media since early 2026, continuing an online environment that grew increasingly hostile following the start of the Israeli war in Gaza in October 2023. The outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran on February 28 accelerated this trend dramatically, with Muslim Americans becoming a particular focus of online attacks.
The report also noted that political rhetoric has worsened the situation. Some senior officials from the Trump administration and members of Congress have framed the war in explicitly religious terms, invoking Christian nationalist narratives. Critics warn that such language could inflame anti-Muslim sentiment.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described Iran as driven by “prophetic Islamic delusions.” Meanwhile, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), a U.S.-based watchdog group, reported complaints that military commanders told service members the war with Iran was “all part of God’s divine plan” and suggested it would “cause Armageddon.”
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, referring to Iran, stated that “we’re the Great Satan in their analogy and their misguided religion.”
According to the report, Muslim civil rights organizations have strongly condemned this type of rhetoric. They warn that framing military action in religious terms fosters an environment in which Muslims—or those perceived to be Muslim—can become targets of suspicion, hostility, and violence.
The online discourse intensified further following the March 1, mass shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, in which a gunman killed three people and injured 15 others. Authorities said the attacker had a history of mental health issues and was wearing clothing displaying symbols associated with Iran and Islam.
The CSOH report notes that the U.S.-Israel war on Iran and the Austin shooting together have triggered a sharp surge in anti-Muslim content on social media, raising concerns that online hate can translate into real-world harm.
You can read the full research report by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate here:
The US-Israel War on Iran and the Rise in Hate Against Muslim Americans
