Racism and IslamophobiaMany apologists for Political Islam claim that to criticize any aspect of Islamic practice is to be guilty of racism and Islamophobia. But much of the criticism is directed not against Islam itself but against Political Islam. And much of the criticism comes from Muslims. How then can this be racism? How then can it be Islamophobia?
Certainly in the west there is a high degree of correlation between race and religion. Muslims in Britain, for example, tend to be of Middle Eastern origin or from the Indian subcontinent, but nevertheless it is dangerous to confuse race and religion. Attempts to make Islamophobia a crime are thinly disguised attempts to silence opposition to Political Islam and Islamic fundamentalism with accusations of racism. The very term Islamophobia is misleading. A phobia is an irrational fear. How can a fear be made a crime? And how can Muslims be accused of racism for our criticism of Political Islam? It is essential to distinguish between criticism of Political Islam and either fear of Islam or fear, hatred or contempt for ordinary Muslims, who are themselves the victims of Political Islam. Human beings are worthy of respect but not all beliefs and not all practices must be respected. Yet moral criticism of Islamic practices or criticism of the Sharia is often dismissed and demonized as Islamophobic. No belief and no practice, rational or irrational, scientific or divinely inspired, should be exempt from analysis and examination. If a belief is sound it will stand on its own merits. If it is unsound it deserves to fail. No-one pretending to speak for a religion should seek immunity from an examination of their claims, nor seek freedom from moral criticism of their practices. Comment on this article
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