Islamaphobia - a rising tide

The West seems to be in the grip of a rising tide of Islamaphobia. At first glance it could be seen as a reaction to terrorism, to the over-reaction in some states to the cartoon crisis sparked by the Danes and fuelled by the French and other Europeans. And yet, while it may seem like a natural reaction, there is another side to the story. Right of centre intellectuals in countries as far apart as France and Australia are feeding the simmering missunderstandings, hates and prejudices. Politicians are using fear of Islam as a path to popularity.

The ultra-conservative Frontpage Mag.com is typical of the kind of journalism being used to fuel the flames instead of seeking dialogue and understanding. Writing of the riots in France, Andrew G. Bostom, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Brown University Medical School, and occasional contributor to Frontpage, attempts to put the present troubles in an historic perspective. But he does so in an inflamatory way by talking of the recent French riots as "Intifada 2005" and raising the spectre of "Eurabia" which Bostom claims is "a global movement that is transforming Europe into a new continent of dhimmitude within a worldwide strategy of jihad and da’wa, the latter being the pacific method of Islamization."…

He further claims that - "this policy of dhimmitude for the Euro-Arabian continent…entitled “Dialogue between Peoples and Cultures in the Euro-Mediterranean Region” was accepted by the European Union in December 2003. Unfortunately, the policy of “Dialogue” with the Arab League nations, willfully pursued by Europe for the past three decades, has promoted European dhimmitude and rabid Judeophobia."

At no time does Bostom attempt to understand the seeds of the troubles, but rushes headlong to judgement and is soon in full flight...

"It is within this harrowing context that one must view the apologetics regarding the French riots, or “intifada,” by pundits across the political spectrum, and on both sides of the Atlantic, who denied or trivialized the role of Islam. For example, although twelve Christian churches were desecrated and/or burned by the overwhelmingly Muslim rioters in France, these bigoted acts were barely reported by investigative journalists or bloggers, and ignored altogether by pontificating commentators.

Apologetic assessments further ignored the existence of ominous and influential Islamic entities such as the Arab European League—a hideous group which equates the assimilation of Muslims within a European context, to rape—or the European Fatwa Council, headed by Muslim Brotherhood “spiritual” leader Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, who sanctions homicide bombings against Israeli non-combatants, and issued a public fatwa on December 2, 2002, calling on Muslims to conquer Europe, stating, “Islam will return to Europe as a conqueror and a victor after being expelled from it twice – once from the south, from Andalusia, and a second time, from the east, when it knocked several times on the doors of Athens.” Qaradawi’s fatwa ruled, in addition, that Muslims should re-conquer, “former Islamic colonies to Andalus (Spain), southern Italy, Sicily, the Balkans and the Mediterranean islands.”

There is much more like this, but you get the picture all of which concludes:

"Denying any Islamic etiology for the major problems confronting Europe, thus begets more Islam as the “solution,” and accelerates Europe’s seemingly inevitable trajectory towards complete Islamization, with implementation of the Shari’a."

Islamaphobia comes in all shapes and sizes and in Australia the ultra-concervative Prime Minister is peddling what could be described as Islamaphobia-lite. Under-attack from the Muslim community, Howard said he stood by his comments outlined in a book to mark his 10 years in power, claiming sections of Australia's Muslim population are antagonistic to Australian culture.

He said a commitment to jihad and extreme attitudes towards women were two problems unique to Muslims that previous intakes of migrants from Europe did not have, and that Australia wanted people to assimilate and adopt Australian ways.

The Islamic community were outraged. Islamic Council of NSW spokesman Ali Roude responded "If the PM has a personal preference for assimilation rather than the strategy of multiculturalism which has been the strong bipartisan position in Australia since the days of the Fraser government, that is his personal right and he is entitled to it".

"As moderate Muslims and as moderate Australians we condemn all forms of extremism and discrimination at home and abroad. Where Muslims are extremists or bigots we condemn their misguided attitudes and actions.

"However, to suggest that Muslims alone are extremists in our society or that anyone except the smallest minority of Muslims in Australia act in this manner, or that Muslims as a group cannot adapt and embrace Australia's ways, is as invalid an argument as it is offensive and ignorant."

Lebanese Muslims Association spokesman Keysar Trad said yesterday that Mr Howard was "unfortunately just pandering to the Islamaphobia out there by making these comments".


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