The Muslim American community once again was targeted in a horrific hate crime May 18, as two young men stormed the Islamic Center in San Diego and killed three men.
The three victims have been identified as Amin Abdullah, age 51, a security guard at the mosque, Mansour Kaziha, 78, and Nadir Awad, 57.
Social media foments hate
Raqib Naik, executive director of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, told ACoM that social media has fomented much of the anti-Islamic bias in the US. In the first 7 days after the US began its attack on Iran, the Center documented more than 279,000 Islamophobic posts.
Much of the rhetoric was spurred on by Republican lawmakers, said Naik. In a reportreleased April 21, CSOH analyzed 1,111 social media posts by 46 Republican elected officials published between February 2025 and March 2026. It also looked at 8 pieces of Sharia-related legislation introduced across both chambers of Congress and the rapid growth of the “Sharia Free America Caucus,” which now has 62 members.
In total, 89 Republican elected officials participated in at least one track of the campaign. Lawmakers used dehumanizing language, calling Muslims a “cancer,” a “plague,” “invaders,” and other hate rhetoric.
”What we saw yesterday is a culmination of that hate,” said Naik. “Young people have been radicalized by extremist ideas which help them justify their despicable acts.”
Online portals such as 4Chan, 8Chan, and others allow users to express extremist ideologies without moderation, said Naik. Popular podcasters and influencers also contribute to the radicalization of young minds.
Parents can be mindful of their teenagers’ early indicators of radicalization. Behavioral indicators include anti-immigrant discussions, and a sense that “something must be done,” said Naik. Withdrawal from friends and family, and fixations on action, violence, and revenge can serve as alarm bells for parents, he said.