How has the Muslim community responded to Candice Owens' comments?
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Executive summary
Muslim reactions to Candace Owens’ comments have been mixed: several outlets report she has shifted from prior Islamophobic remarks toward some criticism of Israel and outreach to Muslim audiences, drawing both praise and skepticism [1] [2]. At the same time governments and courts have cited her past inflammatory comments about Muslims when justifying restrictions on her travel, most notably Australia’s October 2025 visa denial, which found a record of “extremist and inflammatory comments towards Muslim…communities” [3].
1. A complicated public conversion — praise from some Muslim outlets
Some Muslim-oriented publications portray Owens’ recent statements as a dramatic change and describe her as “awakening” to criticisms of Zionism and expressing empathy for Palestinians and Muslims; Arab American News frames her as attempting to build bridges by highlighting shared religious and moral priorities between Christians and Muslims [2]. Muslim Views published coverage of an interview in which Owens says she felt “disgusted” with herself for previously failing to challenge what she called a Zionist smear campaign against criticism of Israel, and that piece treats her turn as a serious admission that challenges earlier positions [1].
2. Deep skepticism rooted in past statements and influence
Reporting also underscores durable skepticism within parts of the Muslim community because Owens’ past statements and actions linked her to Islamophobia. Coverage notes that after the Christchurch mosque shootings a shooter cited her, prompting criticism and a response that many viewed as tokenistic; that history undercuts the credibility of any sudden change in stance [4]. Reuters’ reporting on Australia’s visa case explicitly records that Australian authorities reviewed Owens’ prior “extremist and inflammatory comments towards Muslim…communities” when they concluded she posed a risk of inciting discord [3].
3. Institutional reaction: courts and governments cite Muslim-community impact
Beyond media commentary, institutional responses reference impacts on Muslim communities. Australia’s High Court and lower authorities upheld a visa denial in 2025 on the grounds that Owens’ public record — including comments about Muslims — risked amplifying grievances and could “lead to increased hostility” if she were allowed to speak freely in Australia, signaling that official actors found potential harm to Muslim communities in her speech [3] [4].
4. Supporters say her critique advances Muslim concerns; critics call it opportunism
Pro-Owens pieces, particularly in outlets sympathetic to her new line of argument, portray her critique of Zionism as aligning with Muslim and Palestinian grievances and as a welcome challenge to dominant narratives [2]. Opponents see that positioning as opportunistic: critics point to earlier Islamophobic tweets and public statements as evidence that any pivot is tactical rather than genuine, and they caution Muslim audiences against treating Owens as an authentic ally without sustained change [4] [1].
5. Media fragmentation — different Muslim voices, different conclusions
The available reporting makes clear there is no single “Muslim community” response. Some Muslim outlets highlight her outreach and critique of Zionism as notable and potentially constructive [2] [1]. Other sources and the rationale used by courts emphasize past harms and remain wary of her influence on intercommunal tensions [3] [4]. The split reflects broader debates about whether to accept public figures’ conversions at face value or to demand accountability and evidence of long-term change.
6. What the reporting does not cover
Available sources do not mention systematic polling of Muslim communities measuring approval or disapproval of Owens, nor do they provide sustained, community-level interviews showing how mosque leaders or grassroots Muslim organizations have formally responded beyond media commentary (not found in current reporting). There is no sourced record here of any large-scale Muslim-led campaigns endorsing or condemning specific recent Owens events aside from journalistic and legal accounts (not found in current reporting).
Final assessment: mainstream Muslim-oriented outlets record a degree of welcome for Owens’ stated turn against certain Israeli policies and sympathy for Palestinians, while legal rulings and critical reporting emphasize a documented history of Islamophobic remarks that continues to limit her credibility and mobility — a split response grounded in both ideas and institutional concern [2] [1] [3] [4].