Is islamiphobia respectable?

Question

It is not respectable to be anti-semetic (and very rightly so)
but is it the same for islamiphobia?

From my experience even in 'liberal' circles islamiphobia is respectable, and it is not seen as wrong to make bad commets against muslims on the pretext of feminism or anti-terrorism.

Why is not islamiphobia seen as something as equally bad as anti semitism or racism?

Answer 1

Ok, some of the answers given to this question are both uneducated and offensive. They also prove that people do think that they can be prejudice against Islam.

Islam is a religion of peace which does not aim to convert people. The Koran actually says that Allah would prefer people to be good Christians than bad Muslims. It also says that it is better for people to stay in the religion they already believe in than to convert to Islam.

It is important to remember that most religions have atrocities attached to their name. In answer to the guy who commented that nobody else would think of committing such atrocious acts of terrorism is wrong. Just think of the Christians who went on crusades ie committed genocide in the name of their God, or who persecuted women just for being single under the name of being witches. Jews also have committed the most terrible crimes - some of the stories from Palastine are shocking. Amnesty International will confirm this. For example, the Jewish militant group Gush Emunim also known as the Block of the Faithful deliberately set off bombs that were intended to maim and cripple and not kill. I'm not pointing the finger at Christians or Jews those these are the most obvious examples. It is not just religions either - think of the nazis' concentration camps - who would think of doing something like that? Or the bombing of Dresden by the allies in the second world war. By no means are Muslims a blood-thirsty religion. People are bloodthirsty. Also, we must be careful in all relgions and politcal opinions not to blame the peace-loving majority for the criminal, fanatical actions of a few groups which are often not even accepted by others in the same group/religion.

So, in answer to question islamiphbobia does seem to be accepted (as some of the other answers prove) and this influenced far more by the media other than academic discourse - but it is really not ok!

PS: this answer was written by a Atheist and a Christian!

Answer 2

Any prejudice against any group of people based on the actions of just a few is wrong. However, these mores go by the wayside when a country is at war. Right now, the USA (I only make the distinction because it's my country and as such, the perspective I am familiar with) is at war with several different Islamic countries and Islamic ideals. When people are at war, they will demonize the enemy to make them appear less human and thus easier to fight. (Face it, it's hard to fight someone who may be just like you. But if they're "evil" and "inhuman", it seems okay.)

I'm not condoning it and I think it's downright wrong. But even I find myself giving into prejudices from time to time. (I'm only human.) It's hard not to when I see things that I percieve to be wrong with Islam. But, then again, who died and made me god? Nobody. I am in no position to say what is right or wrong with the way someone else chooses to live and believe. As long as I am not being forced to live that way, why should I care? (That's probably another contributor to Islamophobia. Many people feel that Muslims want to force sharia on the west.)

I think you're right, though. Anti-semitism and racism are bad and on the same principle, Islamophobia is bad, too. I think that if people see that they have nothing to fear from Islam (myself included) this trend will go away in time. Thanks for putting it so eloquently and giving me this rational point of view. It helps to better put things into perspective.

Answer 3

Simple, Jews control and influence whatever America does. This is a fact accepted by lots of American Presidents in the past and its also apparent from the positions Jews are holding. Moreover, most of the news organizations have Jewish CEOs, which says a lot about what Americans see on the media.

Because Muslims currently have no such influence, they are freely slandered.

An American is afraid of being anti-semitic, because there are Jews all around them in higher authority, if not directly, then indirectly.

If Mel-Gibson had something against Muslims, that would have been ignored, but now you see what kind of response his anti-semitic remarks have triggered. NOTE that Hollywood is packed with Jews when it comes to authority.

Answer 4

I haven't heard this word before but to me it implies an unreasonable fear of persons of the Islamic faith. There should be a better term for persons who are rude to people who happen to be Muslim.

Anti-Islamic or Anti-Arabic. Is there an Anti-Arabic defamation league? Maybe they need to step up their efforts, get a great P. R. firm and get some public awareness out there that is positive. People need to see. someone in Islamic dress working at a soup kitchen or helping on a Habitat for Humanity job site.

They may be there but perhaps they should more outwardly wear a sign of their faith so that they are more noticed for good deeds

Answer 5

Antisemitism, although used primarily as being anti-Jews, originally meant being against the Semitic people, including both Jews and Arabs!
Phobia has to do with having (disproportional) fear of something or someone, not necessarily being against (e.g. arachnophobia, fear of spiders). In theory it's different, in practice it can be the same. In that sense I see your point. Prejudice is bad.
Lot of people in the West have fear of or worse are against people of the Islam faith. So the real question should be: why?

This is a much bigger debate which lies outside the scope of your question.

Answer 6

I just wish all the proponents of all religions would keep it to themselves!!why should someone be forced to convert, listen to be preached at or continually harassed ,just because someone believes something that they want to force down your throat??I've always wondered what people in foriegn countries think about missionarys telling them what to believe?same with Islam,when will they realize that not everyone is wanting to join the group??same with Christians!! I am not an agnostic or atheist but just want to make my own mind up and be responsible for me,not all the world?

Answer 7

Baaad Dokhtar,
Islamiphobia, hmmm. Trying to coin a new word?

I think that you answered your own question: "it is not seen as wrong to make bad commets against muslims on the pretext of feminism or anti-terrorism."

You WON'T deny the greater tendency of Muslims to be terrorists, will you? And the feminism issue, yes we know they are not all like that. But the ones that are, it gives us something to talk about. Not that I do, because I couldn't care less about all that. But others do.

Answer 8

I think most people are alarmed by three issues:

1) The Koran preaches hate against Jews, Christians and other unbelievers. It tells Muslims that unbelievers must be converted or killed.

2) Despite objections from some Muslims that these passages (and they are quite numerous) shouldn't be taken literally, there is no valid explanation presented to the world that supports the notion that they are not meant to be.

3) Despite nearly constant assurance from non-violent Muslims that these terrorist acts are against Islam, there are no protests by Muslims against them. Anywhere. Sometimes, silence speaks more loudly than words.

I wish you peace.

Answer 9

The simple reality is that no one in the United States is going to get in trouble for being anti-Islam. Europe is going the same way. In the US, attempts to be neutral towards Islam can get you into trouble; the President's pious statements about how peaceful Islam is does not play well in Republican congressional districts.

Answer 10

Being Jewish is a matter of ancestry and therefore not a choice. The same is true of any other ethnic group. Islam, however, is a belief system, and therefore a choice. Ideas and beliefs do not deserve respect or deference so it's acceptable to criticise, ridicule or condemn them.