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ISLAMAPHOBIAISLAMAPHOBIA

The Myth of the Islamic Threat

Nermien Al-Ali (BA:Islamic Jurisprudence & Political Science, LLB/LLM)

Myths

Basic Tenets of Islam

Islamaphobia

Myth 1 - Homogenous bloc

Myth 3: Islamic “Fundamentalism”

Myth 2 : “Jihad”

Myth 4: Islam & women

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ISLAMAPHOBIA: DefinitionISLAMAPHOBIA: Definition

A phenomenon reported & studied in EU(UK), US, AUST., & Russia

A form of Xenophobia: phobic fear & hatred of what is ‘foreign’ because seen as a danger that threatens way of life

Islamaphobia: phobic fear for person, family, community, society, way of life, country, civilization of some Islamic threat

Mildest form - seeing Islam as worthy of hatred & not worthy of attention

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ISLAMAPHOBIA: FeaturesISLAMAPHOBIA: Features

Negative stereotypes about Islam as the next threat to western civilization after communism: “the enemy within” - “Islamic terrorists”, “A Holy War Heads Our Way”

Stereotypes of Muslims as barbaric, irrational, fanatic, supportive of terrorism, oppressive of women - simply: Anti-American

Works on deeply embedded cultural biases that rationalize & spread prejudices & stereotypes.

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ISLAMAPHOBIA: ConsequencesISLAMAPHOBIA: Consequences

Prejudice Stereotyping

Defamation Slander Attack by Media

Discrimination Alienation

Profiling Breach of Civil liberties

Hate Crimes: Verbal & Physical Abuse Vandalism & Arson of Mosques & shops

Murder

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ISLAMAPHOBIA: ConsequencesISLAMAPHOBIA: Consequences

Year Number of Discrimination Complaints

1995/1996 80

1996/1997 240

1997/1998 284

1998/1999 285

1999/2000 322

2000/2001 366

2001/2002 525

Source: www.CAIR-net.org

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ISLAMAPHOBIA: OriginsISLAMAPHOBIA: Origins

Based on deeply embedded cultural biases Crusades & Inquisition - 11-16th: 5 Centuries of Holy War against

infidels & heretics (Catholic Encyclopedia www.newadvent.org.cathen)

Renaissance 17-18th: Voltaire: excluded Muslims from the right to tolerance in his essay (Springboard)

Colonial times - up to 1960s- Orientalists portrayed Arabs & Muslims as barbarian & primitive to justify colonial conquests (Said)

Islamaphobia in AmericaIslamaphobia in America

Muslims in Virginia addressing fears of Islamaphobia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytAqCyBvTSk

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ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on MythsISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on Myths

Myth 1: Islam is a monolithic bloc - will spur in an act of ‘Holy War’ by a ‘fatwa’ of some bearded leader

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Myth 1 - Islam is a monolithic blocMyth 1 - Islam is a monolithic bloc

Around 1.4 Billion Muslims in the world - Only 18% are Arabs Largest Muslim population in Indonesia 201M. 55M Russia,

100M India, 24 in EU, 7-10 US (2nd largest religion) Muslims comprise 4000 ethnic groups in 128 countries So-called Islamic nations are members of Islamic league Muslims follow no single religious authority – no priesthood

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Myth 1 - Islam is a monolithic blocMyth 1 - Islam is a monolithic bloc

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Myth 1 - .. Can be mobilized by a Myth 1 - .. Can be mobilized by a ‘‘fatwafatwa’’

Fatwa is a non-binding juristic opinion usually passed by Muslim scholars to respond to a new situation. A fatwa that is contrary to Islamic ‘law’ is void

Sources of Islamic law: 1. Quran: Actual words of God revealed to Prophet

Mohamed through Gabriel remained & will remain unchanged

2. Hadith: Prophet teachings 3. Consensus

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ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on MythsISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on Myths

Myth 2: Islam preaches violence against non-Muslims as infidels in the name of ‘Jihad’

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Myth 2: Islam condones violence Myth 2: Islam condones violence against non-Muslimsagainst non-Muslims

Aggression is a vice in Islam The Prophet defined the Muslim as one causing no verbal or physical harm to others Islam’s greeting to everyone is “peace be upon you” Murder of one person or causing devastation of any form is equated with killing all humanity

“Jihad”: Striving to do good for the sake of God - A broad concept Coming from a battle the Prophet said to the Muslims: “You came from the minor ‘Jihad’

back to the major ‘Jihad’” Asked to explain, he replied: “Inner self ‘Jihad’”

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Myth 2: Islam condones violence Myth 2: Islam condones violence against non-Muslimsagainst non-Muslims

Even in cases of war “Don’t fight those who don’t declare war on you for your faith

or don’t attempt to take over your homeland” 60:8-9 “Fight for the sake of God (not for economic or political gain)

those that fight you and do not attack first” ” If the other side wants peace then make peace 4:90, 8:61 If a member of the other side seeks asylum award it & ensure

safety 9:6 Forbidden to kill the elderly, women, children, animals.

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Myth 2: Islam condones violence Myth 2: Islam condones violence against non-Muslimsagainst non-Muslims

Religious Tolerance most fundamental to Islam “No compulsion in religion, Truth stands out clear from Wrong”

2:255-256 - Applies to Muslims & Non-Muslims Christians & Jews called “People of the Book” Christians & Jews should never be persecuted for their beliefs

in Islamic empire – they can keep customs, start schools.

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ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on MythsISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on Myths

Myth 3: Terrorism is Islamic - a religious duty of the fundamentalists. You never know when your Muslim friend will turn more fundamental!

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Myth 3Myth 3: Terrorism is Islamic - a : Terrorism is Islamic - a fundamentalist dutyfundamentalist duty

“Fundamentalist” Muslims do not necessarily support terrorism – to be traditional does not denote violence.

Originally used to describe Protestants & other Christian groups adopting literal interpretation of the Bible

Terrorism : Defined as “devastation on land” “killing people & destroying crops”. Recognized as most heinous crime

Punishments for terrorism according to Islamic law are very harsh.

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Myth 3Myth 3: Terrorism is Islamic - a : Terrorism is Islamic - a fundamentalist dutyfundamentalist duty

“Islamic terrorism” is an oxymoron Terrorism as a phenomena - Hitler is of the Christian faith as

Saddam is of Muslim faith Terrorists justify their acts by citing authoritative sources:

religion, the Constitution Sadly, terrorism exists in a multitude of ethnicities, religions,

countries.

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‘HAREM’

‘Chadour’

‘Role captivity’

NO SELF-DETERMINATION

ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on MythsMythsMyth 4: Islam is oppressive of women

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Myth 4Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of : Islam is oppressive of womenwomen

LEADERS

Professional Working Women

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Myth 4Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of : Islam is oppressive of womenwomen

Equality - “We created you from one self” Taking care of home & children not obligatory. Housework

is work - wages - 1991 law Can divorce her husband “If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the

orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal fairly (with them), then only one”4:3 “you can’t be fair ..”

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Myth 4Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of : Islam is oppressive of womenwomen

Economic rights Seek education/knowledge is duty of every Muslim Right to own & inherit property Right to contract Financial independence - “To men is allotted what they

earn, and to women what they earn” 4:32Political rights

Political Rights In most Islamic countries, women can vote and run for

political office.

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Myth 4Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of : Islam is oppressive of womenwomen

Islamic dress A voluntary good deed - difference of opinion - part of the

good deeds that women may take in their religious/spiritual devotion

basic principle is that of purity – emphasis first on lowering one’s gaze

Emphasis not on appearance but mainly on piety & conduct – 7:26.

No coercion or compulsion for Islamic dress

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Myth 4Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of : Islam is oppressive of womenwomen

Tansu Ciller - Turkey 93-5

Megawati Sukamaputri Indonesia

Panazir Bhutto Pakistan 88-90 & 93-5

Hasina Wajed Bangladesh 96+

Khaleda Zia Bangladesh 91-6

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ReferencesReferences Quran online: www.islamicity.com/mosque/quran Index: www.islamicity.com/mosque/TOPICI.htm Council on American Islamic Relations: www.Cair-net.org www.themodernreligion.com/terror/terrorism_compare.html

Tolerance:http://salam.muslimsonline.com/~azahoor/toleran1.html Women in Islam - www.mwlusa.org

Books Patricia Springborg (of Sydney University), Western

Republicanism and the Oriental Prince, Polity Press, 1992 Edward Said, Orientalism: Westerners Conceptions of the Orient;

1978, Routledge & Kegan