Two Years After Israel-Gaza Conflict: Arab Americans in Dearborn Confront Rising Islamophobia
October 9, 2025
A Violent Turning Point
On a seemingly normal October afternoon in 2024, Yemeni American mother Amirah Sharhan was preparing dinner in her Dearborn, Michigan home, while her mother took Amirah’s seven-year-old daughter, Saida, to a nearby playground. But just after 3 p.m., the routine turned into a nightmare: Saida burst inside, pressing a napkin to her neck. When Amirah removed it, she saw a deep, bleeding gash. The girl had been attacked at the playground—her head grabbed, and her throat slashed by a stranger.
The attacker, 73-year-old Gary Lansky, was arrested soon after. In January 2025, he was found competent for trial on charges of assault with intent to murder. The case, however, infuriated the local Arab and Muslim communities because prosecutors declined to pursue hate crime charges. Saida, who required 20 stitches, now struggles with recurring nightmares. “I don’t feel safe anymore,” her mother says quietly. “Like I used to.”
A Broader Surge in Islamophobia
Since October 7, 2023—the day Hamas launched its attack on Israel—discrimination and violence against Muslims and Arab Americans have sharply increased across the United States. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported a record 8,658 incidents in 2024, the highest number in its three-decade history. Experts link the surge directly to tensions over the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives in Gaza and polarized American politics.
Jewish communities have simultaneously experienced a rise in antisemitism, with over half of American Jews reporting harassment or threats in the past year. Synagogues and mosques alike have raised security spending amid a climate of religious hostility.
Dearborn: A Flashpoint of Fear and Defiance
Dearborn—the first majority Arab-American city in the U.S.—has become both a symbol of resilience and a target of vitriol. In early 2024, a Wall Street Journal op-ed branded the city “America’s jihad capital,” prompting outrage and heightened police presence. Since then, mosques in Dearborn and nearby cities have received violent threats, and right-wing media outlets have amplified hostility by portraying local disputes through an Islamophobic lens.
In September 2025, a Virginia man was charged with terrorism for threatening online to attack a Dearborn mosque. Meanwhile, another suspect from Texas called a local Islamic center vowing to “burn down the city.” Such incidents have left residents anxious but determined not to be silenced.
Politics, Disappointment and Reassessment
During the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump secured 42.5% of the vote in Dearborn—his strongest showing ever among Arab Americans—helping him win the swing state of Michigan. Many voters believed Trump would deliver peace and balance U.S. policy in the Middle East, but a growing number now express regret.
Faye Nemer, founder of the MENA American Chamber of Commerce, says: “There’s a clear disconnect between what was promised during the campaign and what we’re seeing on the ground. I think the Republican Party is in for a rude awakening come the midterms.”
At the same time, activism is intensifying. Dozens have marched in Dearborn demanding an end to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and the release of detained humanitarian flotilla members. At a recent convention, Michigan’s lieutenant governor, Garlin Gilchrist, called the war a genocide—becoming one of the few U.S. officials to do so publicly.
Human Costs and Long Shadows
Saida now attends a different school, far from the park where she was attacked. That playground—once a place of laughter—is now a forbidden zone. “Two nights ago, she woke up screaming,” her mother recalls. “She dreams of blood everywhere and someone saying, ‘I’m coming back for you.’”
Across the nation, Muslim youth are exhibiting similar signs of trauma and anxiety. The federal government has since proposed the Combating International Islamophobia Act to establish an office dedicated to tracking and countering anti-Muslim hate.
Looking Ahead
- Reform needed: Advocates urge stronger legal responses to hate crimes targeting Muslim and Arab communities.
- Media accountability: Experts highlight how biased coverage reinforces prejudice.
- Political awakening: Arab-American voters are increasingly focused on foreign policy and human rights.
- Community resilience: In Dearborn and beyond, defiance and unity remain stronger than fear.
Two years after the Israel-Gaza conflict reignited global tensions, Arab Americans in Dearborn stand at the crossroads of fear, politics, and hope—determined to reclaim safety and dignity in the face of rising hate.