Jahangir Mohammed explains the propaganda strategy of communicative inversion, which is employed against Muslims by Israel and far-right movements.

Like all far-right supremacist and fascist movements, Israel’s supporters (Jewish and non-Jewish) use “communicative inversion” as a method of racial dehumanisation and propaganda against Arab and Muslim communities.  Communicative Inversion is a political propaganda tool for inverting reality. We can see this strategy being played out in mainstream media/social media commentary more generally against Muslims and specifically in Zionist narratives against Palestinians and Muslims.

In the words of the late Malcolm X, the effect of this strategy is to portray the victim as the oppressor and the oppressor as the victim ( the black campaigners for racial equality were portrayed as a threat to the white population and not vice versa). This strategy also portrays the majority population, which holds power in society, as the victim and under threat(s) from the minority, whilst the majority threatens and encourages violence and laws against the minority group. This strategy is exemplified by Hindutva propaganda and politics against Muslims ( as explained to Ayaan by Professor Mohan Dutta from New Zealand, who uses this term). It is also detected in Israel’s portrayal of a subjugated and powerless Palestinian population as an existential threat.

Israel’s strategy involves using tropes, stereotypes, political discourse and narratives to smear and present those they oppose (or who oppose them) as hateful and inherently violent terrorists/extremists whilst claiming victimhood and existential threat against themselves.  This is expressed as Israelis/Jews being in mortal danger from terrorism and a holocaust in Israel, whilst in other parts of the world, they claim they face unprecedented threats from Arabs and Muslims in the form of anti-Semitic hate and extremism or violence, even if the comments are against Israeli policies or protests in support of the Palestinians. Israel, which is in the top 15 countries for global military firepower and a nuclear power, backed by nuclear superpower and most Western states, claims it is under threat from a helpless people with no army, only small militias or from those engaging in individual acts of violence.  They even compare such a small force to Nazi Germany, which had the military means to take over Europe. In the West, Israel’s propaganda warriors are organised and have access to the higher levers of power in various countries. Yet, they claim a threat and victimisation from powerless and non-influential Muslim communities.

However, the reverse is true; political Zionism and Jewish supremacy have always been a military creed invested in using grotesque violence against Arabs and Muslims in their homelands and the region. Whilst in the West, they are prepared to threaten, intimidate and use political influence, including legislation against those that criticise or oppose Zionism and the state of Israel. This strategy of violence/terror and use of organised armed militias to kill and displace the indigenous people and steal their lands was present in the early period of the Zionist movement and their political thinking. It ended up being part of the Israeli state ideology of Jewish racial supremacy.

Today, three types of far-right movements utilise communicative inversion strategies against Muslims, Arabs and also migrant communities.  White Supremacy (in the US and Europe ), Hindu supremacy (Hindutva) and Jewish Supremacy ( Zionism).  The Zionist movement, which once allied itself with the Left and Socialist politics, today is allied with the right and far-right politics.  Muslim communities and all those involved in campaigns for racial justice and against “far-right” movements must understand these strategies and those behind them before we can create a counter to them. Tackling this propaganda will challenge us all in Britain and Europe over the coming decade. Anyone engaging with government or inter-community activities/dialogue must not shy away from discussing this propaganda and challenges head-on for simply having a seat at the dinner table. If we do that, we will end up becoming the meal.

Jahangir Mohammed is the Director of the Ayaan Institute.