[RockingFreakshow]

from an article I read:

"London, United Kingdom - A new wave of anti-Muslim intolerance and antagonism is sweeping Europe. The far right political gains seen in some parts of the continent are alarming. Anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and extreme right parties seem to be cashing in on economic hardship and austerity measures. In a blinkered world of "us" and "them" they have found in Europe's Muslim citizens the "others".

In this fevered atmosphere of rising nationalism Islam, the religion of its most-impoverished people, is taking over the continent. Never mind the agonies such sentiments caused when acted upon by the Norway killer, Anders Breivik last year. "Racism is the lowest form of stupidity; Islamophobia is the height of common sense!" said one group in 2008.

To any person with a modicum of common sense such attitudes are absurd and bordering on a mythical view of reality. We must check their rise. In a powerful indictment, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, posted a blog about how European Muslims are stigmatised by populist rhetoric (October 2010).

"European countries appear to face another crisis beyond budget deficits - the disintegration of human value. One symptom is the increasing expression of intolerance towards Muslims. Opinion polls in several European countries reflect fear, suspicion and negative opinions of Muslims and Islamic culture," he wrote.

He was not alone in giving Europeans this warning; many people across British politics and media have shared similar sentiments for some time. Amnesty International has shared this concern. In its April 2012 report "Choice and prejudice: discrimination against Muslims in Europe", Amnesty exposes the impact of discrimination on Muslims. Marco Perolini, Amnesty's expert on discrimination, says: "Muslim women are being denied jobs and girls prevented from attending regular classes just because they wear traditional forms of dress, such as the headscarf. Men can be dismissed for wearing beards associated with Islam... Rather than countering these prejudices, political parties and public officials are all too often pandering to them in their quest for votes."

"It is disheartening that a continent... is allowing itself to be influenced by the forces of intolerance and hate."

Amnesty International has accused France, Belgium and the Netherlands of failing to implement proper laws banning discrimination in employment.

It is disheartening that a continent that had learnt many lessons in such a hard way, after the devastation of the two World Wars, and which prides itself in equality and human rights, is allowing itself to be influenced by the forces of intolerance and hate. It is now open season to malign Muslims because of their religious and cultural practices. Yet Muslim immigrants arriving after the war joined in the effort to rebuild the economies of war-torn Europe in the 1950s. In almost every field of life, Muslims have been an integral part of the European tapestry. Muslims are today at home in Europe, have been contributors to its past and are stakeholders in its future.

Yet the language and rhetoric used by the Far Right and the level of political expediency in mainstream European politics is mind boggling. The hate mongers are apparently succeeding in swapping a racist agenda for an Islamophobic one. The lacklustre response from European leaders has paved the way for anti-Muslim bigotry to move closer to the mainstream.

It took a cold-blooded massacre of 77 Norwegian youths by a far-right "Christian" extremist, Anders Behring Breivik last summer, to shake the conscience of Europe's political class. It was a horrendous wake-up call to home-grown far-right violence and ideology, inspired by the rhetoric of vote-chasing politicians, pseudo academics, media analysts and hate groups like the English Defence League (EDL) in Britain. Breivik, in his recent trial, has made vitriolic attack on European leaders for their "impotence" to stand up against Muslim "conquest" of Europe. In this, he is propounding the "Eurabia" fantasy that is central to the so-called "counter jihadist" movement propelled by ideologues in the USA.

Elsewhere, in France, the shockwave of the far-right National Front polling nearly one fifth of French voters in the first round of the presidential elections is still reverberating. Both the socialist candidate and the incumbent president are now wooing the supporters of Marine le Pen.

In Britain the recent news that the EDL has joined hands with the British Freedom Party (BFP) is going to have political implications. The BFP was formed in 2010 by disaffected members of the BNP and whatever its stated objectives, its main target is the Muslim community. It wants to ban the niqab, stop the building of new mosques and Islamic schools and outlaw Sharia (as if it runs Britain!) including Islamic finance. The news that EDL head Tommy Robinson is to be appointed Deputy Leader of the British Freedom Party has alarmed anti-racist groups like HOPE Not Hate, and others.

The alliance of EDL and BFP would be more dangerous than the BNP: the current EDL head "Tommy Robinson" (real name: Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, a tanning salon manager from Luton) has a better media presence than the Holocaust-denying Nick Griffin. In focusing on Islam and the threat of "Islamist extremists" they can have a bigger appeal than the simple racist agenda of the BNP. With political trust at an all-time low, this far right alliance may take advantage of voter apathy in national and local politics to advance their cause.

Be that as it may, we must stand firm and not let our country and continent slip into the intolerant past. We must join hands to slay the dragon of Islamophobia and help build Europe again with everyone's help, Muslim and non-Muslim, alike. It is time we listen to the voices of sanity, not hate."

SO, what do you guys think??

[AverageExcellence]

I wouldn't entirely blame the far right for islamophobia. A notable amount sprouts from a grass roots level, not to mention the whole stigma of 9/11 and just cultural differences of people not being aware or used to islamic practices and slightly fear it as a threat to their ways of life.

I think that people shouldn't make a big issue about religion, just get to know the person. I think its wrong for people to think that muslims should have the red carpet treatment it only puts the spotlight on them more. Just get to know muslims on their own individual merits. Some you will like and others you won't. You shouldn't treat 1.3 Billion people world wide like they are the same person.

[RockingFreakshow]

But what would you say about the fact that if Muslims come in the news for example, it is pointed out very specifically e.g. "A MUSLIM man has been arrested..." as opposed to just "A man..." Nearly 85% of all articles in newspapers that involve Muslims or Islam are about 'bad' things (sorry, could have been phrased better :P)

[Azaro]

its not islamophobia when they really try to kill you

[FreeHat]

Why do you take any dislike and try to medicalise it by turning it into a "phobia".

Any fears people have of Islam probably have some basis in reality (unlike Islam itself). Most people aren't scared of it, they just dislike it and appreciate the fact that it has no place in modern day England.

[AdvanceAndVanquish]

Couldn't be asked to read that long cut and past job after the first couple paragraphs were so inane, but the problem with the whole 'Islamophobia' concept is that it portrays dislike of Islam and/or fear of Islamist plans for Europe as somehow irrational and not, as it is, backed up by solid evidence. The comparison with Jews is the height of perversity and ignorance. Antisemitism is wrong not because it says nasty things about people, but because it is based on lies and nonsense. If Hitler had really been correct that Jews were an inferior racial group that was polluting and undermining the pure Aryan race etc etc, then highlighting that would not have been wrong. If the church had been correct that Jews killed Christian children to use their blood for religious reasons, it would not have been wrong for them to point this out. The problem is that this was all a load of *******s. It comes down to the difference between truth and fiction. It may be nasty to call a murder a murderer, but that shouldn't stop people from doing it, or have them be labelled as murderophobes.

[AspiringGenius]

I think it is happening. I haven't fully read the Koran, nor have I been to mosque, so I can't make a judgement on the religion. However just from listening to how people talk about Islam indicates it is almost stigmatised.

It's a real shame to say this, but even though Islamaphobia exists, victims will never get the same sympathy as bictims of Race abuse (and in more modern times homophobia) as religion is a personal vhoice.

Makes me. Wonder what our world would be like if we could all just get along

[No Man]

It is happening, but it's just going to get worse due to the increasing tension between muslims and non-muslims.

[Esiuol]

(Original post by FreeHat)
Why do you take any dislike and try to medicalise it by turning it into a "phobia".

Any fears people have of Islam probably have some basis in reality (unlike Islam itself). Most people aren't scared of it, they just dislike it and appreciate the fact that it has no place in modern day England.

A lot of words ending in "-phobia" nowadays aren't intended to be taken as a medicalised anxiety disorder. They have "phobia" in them because they come from the same greek root - "Phobos", or "hate". Homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, xenophobia and islamophobia all refer to types of discrimination and bigotry (like racism, sexism and ableism), not actual phobias.

I've heard that many in the LGBT community are coming to prefer terms like heterosexism, monosexism and cissexism because they avoid this confusion, but they're not often used because they're not in widely understood by the general public. Maybe it's the same for words like Islamophobia. I wouldn't know.

I disagree that Islam doesn't have a place in the UK, but I doubt that either of us will be able to change the other's mind so we'll have to agree to disagree. What I will say though, is that I think that a lot of people forget that Islam, like any religion, has both traditional and liberal followers. I think it's wrong to stereotype liberal and moderate Muslims as old fashioned, sexist terrorism supporters along with the ultra-conservative Muslims.

[Politricks]

I don't like the word 'Islamophobia', even though it's intended to mean something along the lines of being prejudiced against Muslims, I don't like the fact that it has the word 'Islam' in it, it almost suggests that criticising Islam is on par with being prejudiced against Muslims, and yes, I have seen people being called 'Islamophobic' for criticising Islam.

If you really want a word with 'phobia' attached to the end of it, as if it's a medical condition, then why don't you choose a word like 'Muslimophobia', which is more accurate than the word 'Islamophobia'?

[FreeHat]

(Original post by Esiuol)
A lot of words ending in "-phobia" nowadays aren't intended to be taken as a medicalised anxiety disorder. They have "phobia" in them because they come from the same greek root - "Phobos", or "hate". Homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, xenophobia and islamophobia all refer to types of discrimination and bigotry (like racism, sexism and ableism), not actual phobias.

I've heard that many in the LGBT community are coming to prefer terms like heterosexism, monosexism and cissexism because they avoid this confusion, but they're not often used because they're not in widely understood by the general public. Maybe it's the same for words like Islamophobia. I wouldn't know.

I disagree that Islam doesn't have a place in the UK, but I doubt that either of us will be able to change the other's mind so we'll have to agree to disagree. What I will say though, is that I think that a lot of people forget that Islam, like any religion, has both traditional and liberal followers. I think it's wrong to stereotype liberal and moderate Muslims as old fashioned, sexist terrorism supporters along with the ultra-conservative Muslims.

The definition of "phobia" has evolved since the Ancient Greeks and come in our time to mean something akin to "an irrational fear or hate of". So it may mean hate, but there is an emphasis of the irrationality.

I just wonder what the UK has to learn from Islam? Comparatively speaking we've only just got rid of one bloody dogma and we don't need or want another.

[Darkphilosopher]

Should be a "Don't think it exists." Option.
There is a reason why Islam is feared. (Hence it not being irrational)

[Magenta96]

It's such a shame that people are disliking Islam now seeing as I am a liberal Muslim myself. I wish I could change the public's outlook on Islam but I can't say I blame the public for judging the whole religion based on terrorist attacks as so far only a negative outlook has been portrayed on it. I think it's important not to forget though that although there are around 5% of Muslims who like to blow up buildings there are probably 95% of Muslims that wouldn't dream of hurting anybody in such a way, they're just normal people like you who unfortunately because of some foolish, heartless people now have the world turning against them. I think it's important to think about all followers of Islam rather than judging the entire religion based on a few as the majority aren't dangerous.

[Darth Stewie]

(Original post by Darkphilosopher)
Should be a "Don't think it exists." Option.
There is a reason why Islam is feared. (Hence it not being irrational)

This

Islamophobia implies an irrational fear of Islam, according to some people Islam condones all kinds of nasty acts hence a fear of Islam is perfectly rational.

It's like calling someone who doesn't want a great white shark released into a pool full of children galeophobic.

[AdvanceAndVanquish]

(Original post by Magenta96)
It's such a shame that people are disliking Islam now seeing as I am a liberal Muslim myself. I wish I could change the public's outlook on Islam but I can't say I blame the public for judging the whole religion based on terrorist attacks as so far only a negative outlook has been portrayed on it. I think it's important not to forget though that although there are around 5% of Muslims who like to blow up buildings there are probably 95% of Muslims that wouldn't dream of hurting anybody in such a way, they're just normal people like you who unfortunately because of some foolish, heartless people now have the world turning against them. I think it's important to think about all followers of Islam rather than judging the entire religion based on a few as the majority aren't dangerous.

The problem is not in the first instance with non-Muslims' perception of Islam, it is with Muslims' perception of Islam. Non-Muslims are just reacting rationally to the ideology advanced by the most prominent and numerous Muslims. You're seriously in denial if you think that it's not you who are in the minority. The essence of the problem is that there are hundreds of millions of normal Muslims who go to work every day, want the best for their families, have hopes and dreams just like everyone else, and happen to believe that anyone who insults Islam should be killed.

Edit: I should add that I am genuinely sympathetic to liberal Muslims who are working to bring their religion out of the dark ages, but it is precisely through my contact with many of them that I have realised just how marginalised and hated they are within British, not to mention global, Islam.

[DaveSmith99]

(Original post by Darth Stewie)
This

Islamophobia implies an irrational fear of Islam, according to some people Islam condones all kinds of nasty acts hence a fear of Islam is perfectly rational.

It's like calling someone who doesn't want a great white shark released into a pool full of children galeophobic.

That analogy would work better if only one in every 1000000 or whatever sharks were dangerous.

[gagaslilmonsteruk]

The slightest bit of discrimination whether Islamaphobia, homophobia, racism, xenophobia etc are all totally unacceptable. End of.

[nicoleclaire]

I've definitely seen a growth in Islamophobia around where I live! I have been called derogatory terms to do with being a muslim so many times and i'm not even one.. heck i'm not even from a muslim country, I'm 100% British! My biggest problem is with people complaining about how we're going to become a Muslim country when in actual fact something around 2% of the country are actually Muslim.. we'll be an athiest one long before we're Muslim. Islamophobia get's me really worked up.

[Surfing_the_shine]

only in a seclar world is there concern about prejudice of reigions , this is bucking the trend and i think religion will only become more alienated from society as most western ideals are far from that of what the religious ideologies. there is anti-semtisitm and there is 'islamaphobia' but only in cases , we have to have an open mind and not be so judging and then we might just realise that it isnt so crazy although some ideals are and i can accept why people would be concerned about full burkhas although what france did - which was to banish them- seems to be infringing on human rights

[Sir Fox]

What about Islamophobiaphobia? Is disliking Islam (as well as Christianity) as a religion really something bad, as long as you don't automatically dislike muslims?

Why do I as someone who has read the Quran and found parts of it to be horrible and unreasonable (same thing applies to the Bible) have to defend myself for disliking this religion?