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ISLAMAPHOBIA

ISLAMAPHOBIA. Islamaphobia. Myth 2 : “ Jihad ”. The Myth of the Islamic Threat Nermien Al-Ali (BA:Islamic Jurisprudence & Political Science, LLB/LLM). Basic Tenets of Islam. Myth 3: Islamic “ Fundamentalism ”. Myths. Myth 4: Islam & women. Myth 1 - Homogenous bloc.

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ISLAMAPHOBIA

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  1. ISLAMAPHOBIA Islamaphobia Myth 2 : “Jihad” The Myth of the Islamic Threat Nermien Al-Ali (BA:Islamic Jurisprudence & Political Science, LLB/LLM) Basic Tenets of Islam Myth 3: Islamic “Fundamentalism” Myths Myth 4: Islam & women Myth 1 - Homogenous bloc

  2. ISLAMAPHOBIA: 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

  3. ISLAMAPHOBIA: 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.

  4. ISLAMAPHOBIA: Consequences Defamation Slander Attack by Media Prejudice Stereotyping Hate Crimes: Verbal & Physical Abuse Vandalism & Arson of Mosques & shops Murder Profiling Breach of Civil liberties Discrimination Alienation

  5. ISLAMAPHOBIA: Consequences Source: www.CAIR-net.org

  6. ISLAMAPHOBIA: 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)

  7. Islamaphobia in America Muslims in Virginia addressing fears of Islamaphobia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytAqCyBvTSk

  8. ISLAMAPHOBIA: 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 (C) N. Al-Ali, 2001

  9. Myth 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

  10. Myth 1 - Islam is a monolithic bloc http://islamicweb.com/begin/population.htm

  11. Myth 1 - .. Can be mobilized by a ‘fatwa’ • 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

  12. ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on Myths Myth 2: Islam preaches violence against non-Muslims as infidels in the name of ‘Jihad’

  13. Myth 2: Islam condones violence against 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’”

  14. Myth 2: Islam condones violence against 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.

  15. Myth 2: Islam condones violence against 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.

  16. ISLAMAPHOBIA: 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!

  17. Myth 3: Terrorism is Islamic - a fundamentalist 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.

  18. Myth 3: Terrorism is Islamic - a fundamentalist 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.

  19. ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on Myths Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of women ‘Role captivity’ ‘HAREM’ NO SELF-DETERMINATION ‘Chadour’

  20. Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of women LEADERS Professional Working Women

  21. Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of women • 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 ..”

  22. Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of women 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.

  23. Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of women 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

  24. Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of women Panazir Bhutto Pakistan 88-90 & 93-5 Khaleda Zia Bangladesh 91-6 Tansu Ciller - Turkey 93-5 Megawati Sukamaputri Indonesia Hasina Wajed Bangladesh 96+

  25. References • 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 (C) N. Al-Ali, 2001

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