Key Facts
Key Information
About
Stop Islamization of Nations (SION) is an international counter-jihad and anti-Islam activist organization and network founded in 2012 as an umbrella group and international coalition of anti-Islam groups. It was co-founded by American activists Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, along with Danish activist Anders Gravers Pedersen, and emerged from the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) initiative. Based primarily in the United States with significant operations in Denmark, SION aims to unite activists globally against perceived Islamic threats and opposes what it describes as the global spread of Islam, Sharia law, and Muslim immigration. The organization seeks to coordinate global efforts and combat Islamic influences in culture, academia, and history education through protests, awareness campaigns, conferences (including the International Freedom of Speech Conference and the 2012 launch event in Stockholm, Sweden), and advocacy for Western democratic values, with the goal of preserving fundamental freedoms as outlined in Western constitutions, the U.S. Bill of Rights, and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. SION has chapters or affiliates in multiple countries, including the United States, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and beyond, and operates primarily through affiliated entities like the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), which handles U.S.-based activities including controversial advertising campaigns on public transit systems and legal battles over public advertising that have resulted in free speech victories. The organization has organized international summits and partnerships with European groups like Stop Islamisation of Europe (SIOE), and has collaborated with far-right figures such as Geert Wilders and Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff, sponsoring events and petitions against mosque constructions and immigration from Muslim-majority countries. SION has faced significant backlash, including bans on events and designations as a hate group by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which accuse it of promoting Islamophobic rhetoric and conspiracy theories about 'Islamization' and fostering anti-Muslim bigotry, and links it to a broader network of anti-Muslim advocacy funded by conservative donors. Despite legal challenges, SION and its leaders have pursued free speech defenses in courts, winning several cases related to ad displays. The group's influence is amplified through its leaders' media presence, with Geller and Spencer authoring books, maintaining blogs, and appearing on conservative outlets, and through online activism and publications. SION advocates for policies restricting Muslim immigration, opposing mosque constructions, and countering what it calls 'stealth jihad.' While claiming to target only radical Islam, critics argue its broad anti-Islam stance contributes to discrimination and has ties to far-right networks, and it has been accused of promoting conspiracy theories about Islam and influencing anti-immigration policies in Europe and the US. Despite controversies, including bans from platforms and legal scrutiny, SION remains active in promoting its counter-jihad narrative.