Islamophobia

Ethnic Fear and Stereotyping

Tiana M. Hairston:

Islamophobic Website:

http://www.masada2000.org/islam.html

This website refers to many Muslim ethnic groups Arab Muslims in particular. The site says the growth of the Muslim population in America is frightening. It calls Arab-Americans disloyal and their high birthrates and immigration rates are some plot against America. The site attacks Muslim students and mosques saying these groups are trying to convert Americans such as angry blacks. This website even goes so far as to attack the prophet himself calling him a pedophile!

Websites to dispute Islamophobia:

 http://www.msa-natl.org

http://www.zaytuna.org/

Sami Abdullah

Islamophobic Website:

http://www.masada2000.org/islam.html

The person in this site has tried to portray Muslims as the ones who encourage a particular activity(Suicidal attacks, terrorism kill etc..) , especially the ones who cause trouble. He has accused them of “trouble - mongering”. There are couple of things that are wrong with his claims:

Firstly, the Surahs that were there in the Quran were interpreted wrongly. I related Quran to see whether his claims were true or not and I found out that when one reads the whole page where the surahs are originally located, it changes the whole meaning. It clearly states when it was applied and when it should be applied. He just took a particular Surah and said this is what Muslims believe and do and will continue to do so without considering the situation it was applied or when it is applicable.

Let me give you few examples of the Surahs he chose:

“Muslims are encouraged to be wholly occupied (Sura 2:273) with fighting for Allah's cause”

“A Muslim can kill any person he wishes if it be a "just cause”

In these cases, it is a Muslim’s duty to defend when other nations declare a war on them. It is more of a front to front war rather than coming from behind and killing innocent civilians by blowing yourself out. Furthermore, Islam does not allow declaring an aggressive war on a nation first, except where the rulers of that nation are guilty of persecuting its citizens (and subsequently those citizens call that Islamic state for help) or where the state is creating unrest and anarchy in the Islamic state. Even at war, Islam strictly prohibits killing children, women and elderly people or whoever who are not actively involved in a war.

Secondly, terrorism is not in “Muslim Culture”. It is alien to Islamic world and anyone involved in such acts are subject to hell fire. Terrorism has no religion. The terrorists have no concern with the religious ascriptions of their targets. Their sole interest is to spread terror. Their actions are not representative of Islamic creed, but of their intolerance toward all that is against their personal liking (which they may have derived from an incorrect understanding of their religion). No religion teaches inhumanity. The Terrorist creed survives on hate while all Divine religions are based on the concept of a loving and merciful God. Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H clearly states that “there are people who kill in the name of Islam and go to hell.” When he was questioned why with his claim, he said “because they weren't fighting truly for the sake of God”. He also said that “Suicide is haram in Islam It is prohibited, like a mortal sin. And murder is Haram, to kill civilians is murder.”

Lastly, the person in this site has also talked about the Surahs that are not even there in the Qu’ran. Just to degrade Muslim community he/she went ahead and accused them.

Websites to dispute Islamophobia:

http://www.awesomelibrary.org/Muslims.html

http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=955

Christine Scott

Islamophobic Website:

http://www.masada2000.org/bacon.html

This website refers to specifically Arab-Muslims as being responsible for terrorist attacks. The also attack Arab-Muslims who they see as targeting Jews. The person who wrote this site has enough knowledge of Islam to know that Muslims do not eat pork. They use this knowledge to insult Muslims by wrapping picture graphics of them in bacon. This site also mocks many Muslim beliefs such as their concept of paradise. The problem with this site besides being offensive is that it picks out Arabs as being the source of Muslim terrorism. The site has a disclaimer at the bottom announcing that all Muslims who reject the killing of Jews, Christian, and non-Muslims, yet they go on to say that they hate all Arab-Muslims who do so. (Insinuating that their being “Arab” has something to do with them wanting to kill Jews, Christians, and non-Muslims.) This site makes the mistake of associating being Arab with being a Muslim, and therefore being a terrorist. This site is so concerned with mocking this group of people that it overlooks all of the nuances of Islam and of being Arab. The fact is that there are plenty of Jewish, Christian, and non-Muslim Arabs throughout the Middle East.

Websites to dispute Islamophobia:

http://www.slate.com/id/2095636/

http://www.freearabvoice.org/WantingToBeWhite.html

Marianne Beasley

Islamophobic Website:

http://www.islamreview.com/

This site predominantly addresses the covert islamization of America, the islamization of the American school system, the coming jihad against western culture in Europe, the arabizing of Black Africa, lies directed towards African-Americans, efforts towards imposing Sharia in America, and Quran sanctioned deception in Islam. This site also offers articles listing the perils of being married to a Muslim, slavery under Islam, and young Christians being kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam. It also cautions against those who would promote an understanding of Islam.

Websites to dispute Islamophobia:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/islam.htm

This site has more of a scholarly approach with fewer diatribes. It references books published and as census figures as well as a large assortment of articles categorized into facts, quotations, beliefs and practices, etc

http://www.beliefnet.org/index/Index_10004.html

This site is more religiously oriented, however, it does offer material that gives insight into how Muslims, Jews, and Christians all stereotype each other, as indicated in author Mark LeVine's book "Why They Don't Hate Us".  Also listed was the dialogue program of, "The Daniel Pearl Dialogues for Muslim-Jewish Understanding," which featured Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl.

Amanda Ead:

Islamophobic Website:

http://www.operationsaveamerica.org/articles/articles/whyall-terrorists-muslim.htm

Due to major stereotyping, I have chosen this specific website as being

Islamophobic.  Mr. Benham has made it very clear in his article that, in his opinion, all terrorists are Muslim.    He makes a point to comment there is no common ground between Islam and Christianity.  What struck me the most was his remark that Islam is filled with violence and murder.  Furthermore, the article states that Muslims bow to Allah and Prophet Mohammed.  Firstly, Muslims bow in prayer only to Allah and no one else.  Secondly, as mentioned in the counter websites, the word Islam means submission and derives from a word meaning peace.  There is no drive for violence and murder in the religion of Islam. 

Allah is the Arabic name for God.  It is the same God Christians pray to as well.  Unlike what Mr. Benham mentions, there is a common ground between these two religions.  Not all the terrorists in the world are Muslims.  This is an unfair assumption by ethnic (or religious) fear and stereotyping. 

Websites to dispute Islamophobia:

http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=63

http://www.islamicity.com/Mosque/uiatm/un_islam.htm

Said Abedi:

Islamophobic Website:

http://boortz.com/nuze/200504/04222005.html

This website was found article found on the “world-famous Internet site of the Nationally Syndicated Neal Boortz Show.” Then Neal Boortz show has close to 4 million daily listeners which hear the host of the show, Neal Boortz, rant and rave about the politics of the day.  I usually tune in to see what Boortz have to say, and generally he gives me knowledge usually about some corrupt political figures or hear him gossiping about the political he say she say.  For the most part the radio show is interesting and at the same dangerously misinforming the audience.  In this article and in previous shows Boortz has viciously harmed and insulted Islam’s name.  The article is covering a certain battle in Iraq where it is reported that a helicopter was shot down, killing 6 Americans, 3 Bulgarians and two people form Fiji.  But what also is shown is a video tape that shows a “Islamic goon” finding a survivor and the cameraman gives the order to shoot in which the “bloodthirsty bastard” kills the “innocent” survivor.  Boortz also reports that the “merciless followers of Allah” forced the survivor to stand on his broken leg.  Not only does Boortz disclaim Islam’s peaceful nature but also insists that all Muslims will kill Americans in the thousands.  He fails to research and investigate the true nature of Islam.  He presumes that all terrorist acts and actors are a reprehensive of Islam.  He fails to recognize the billion plus non-violent true Islam followers. 

Websites to dispute Islamophobia:

http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr82.html

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-AAbout_Islam/AskAboutIslamE/AskAboutIslamE&cid=1123996015574

While some may try to insult Islam and assume bias based on the actions of a few individuals, whose motives are not always religious, conclude that this individual represents Islam and his actions is accepted by all Muslims.  This way of thinking is beyond ignorant.  The people who support this way of thinking relate political events as religiously backed and correlate it to the religious teachings of Islam.  If one was to educate themselves about Islam, websites like the two presented, show that Islam is truly a peaceful religion and in no areas of Islam does it state for Muslims to kill Americans.  Islam teachings of tolerance for those who are non-Muslims, “Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error” this portion of Surah 2 Verse 256 shows Islam inter-religious tolerance.  Even when fighting is unavoidable, the Qur’an and the examples of the Prophet have laid down the principles in the manner of fighting in the “Way of Allah”. A fight merely for vengeance, for personal or national glory etc. will never be a fight in God’s Way. (www.islamonline.net). Boortz failed to properly educate himself with Islam teaching and related political actions to be that of Islam. 

Rachel Eide:

Islamophobic Website:

www.masada2000.org/islam.html

The first website, The Sword of Islam...War against Israel and the West, is extremely Islamophobic in the context of ethnic fear.  It portrays Muslims and the Islamic faith as being extremely dangerous, violent, and murderous.  It describes Islam as being the greatest murdering force in the history of mankind, with the goal of eliminating freedom worldwide.  According to this website, Islam is a barbaric religion which brings misery, poverty and war to all countries that it invades; not only that, but most, if not all, Muslims are fundamentally unable to assimilate.  At best, they are only passive supporters of fundamentalist and militant Islam.  By portraying all Muslims as being violent and destructive, it promotes an undue and overexaggerated fear of Muslims and of Islam.

Websites to dispute Islamophobia:

www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/questions/types/index.html

www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/cib/2001-02/02cib07.htm

Cajy Hajer:

Islamophobic Website:

http://www.republicanandproud.com/arabiannights.htm

Islamophobia can be seen in the website titled “Muslim Terrorists—Are They Arabian Knights?”. The author, Barbara Stock shows a strong sense of ethnic fear of Arabs. She uses the words Muslim and Arab interchangeably. Stock generalizes greatly in that throughout her article she only states Muslims as being Arab. This, however, is very incorrect. Muslims are present throughout the world. Their ethnicity could vary from being Chinese to being African America. In addition, the people who carry out the acts of terror are only a small minority. They do not represent the beliefs of other Muslims. There are many Arabs that are Muslims, but one should not generalize all Muslims as Arabs.

Websites to dispute Islamophobia:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/reac_ter5.htm
http://www.rabidtigers.com/rtn/newsletterv3n4.html