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Tag: Islamophobia
Pushback Against Growing Islamophobia (October 23 2012) Pushback Against Growing Islamophobia (October 23 2012)

James R. Lobe the 63 year old American journalist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the Inter Press Service, best known for his criticism of U.S. foreign policy and American militarism, has published an article on the IPS News titled ‘US: Pushback Against Growing Islamophobia’. Lobe states “Faced with a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment and a well-funded campaign to promote Islamophobia, a coalition of faith and religious freedom groups said it will circulate a new pamphlet on frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Islam and U.S. Muslims to elected officials across the United States. The initiative, which coincides with the appearance in subway stations in New York City and Washington of pro-Israel ads equating the Jewish state with “civilised man” and “Jihad” with “savages”, is designed to rebut the notion that Muslims pose a threat to U.S. values and way of life. “Nothing gives weight to bigotry more than ignorance,” said Rev. Welton Gaddy, a Baptist minister who is president of the Interfaith Alliance, a grassroots organisation of leaders representing 75 faith traditions. “The FAQ enables people to be spared of an agenda-driven fear and to be done with a negative movement born of misinformation…” Gaddy was joined by Charles Haynes, director of the Religious Freedom Project of the Freedom Forum’s First Amendment Center which co-sponsored the new 13-page pamphlet, entitled “What is the Truth About American Muslims?” “In my view,” Haynes said in reference to the so-called “Stop Islamisation of America” (SIOA) movement that, among other things, has sponsored the subway ads, “this campaign to spread hate and fear is the most significant threat to religious freedom in America today”.”

 

Inspired by IPS News ow.ly/ezr6u image source Lobelog ow.ly/ezr23

The insult, the injury and indignities of empire (October 5 2012) The insult, the injury and indignities of empire (October 5 2012)

Abdullah Al-Arian the 31 year old Assistant Professor of history specializing in the modern Middle East has published an article on Aljazeera titled ‘The insult, the injury and the indignities of empire’, citing during colonial times, scathing critiques of Islam were often met by Muslims with thoughtful and measured responses. Al-Arian states “…the United States and its European allies hope to absolve themselves of any culpability for the recurring hostility expressed by populations in the Middle East and beyond. To deny historical experiences and current political realities allows one to miss the point entirely: that the offence caused by the steady flow of anti-Islamic cultural production is quite literally adding insult to injury. And it is much easier for all of those involved to focus on the insult rather than the injury. There is little new in the amateurish hate-filled film that emerged out of the bowels of an Islamophobia industry that has picked up considerable steam in the last decade. Aside from trading the physical soapbox for the digital one of YouTube, anti-Islamic screeds have not evolved much since the era of the Crusades, relying primarily on a thoroughly discredited historical narrative of Prophet Muhammad’s life and mission that acted as a kind of medieval war propaganda. …Anyone seeking to understand the recent upheavals need only contrast the latest response with historical ones. Internal Muslim condemnations against the protests have relied primarily on Muhammad’s example of ignoring insults against his person. But in fact, there is a long tradition of Muslim tolerance for insults against their faith and its founder.”

 

Inspired by Aljazeera ow.ly/e0c6S image source usavsalarian ow.ly/e0cnQ

A truly liberal society is a multicultural society (August 19 2012) A truly liberal society is a multicultural society (August 19 2012)

Mehdi Hasan the British television current affairs journalist with a philosophy politics and economics background has published an article on Aljazeera titled ‘In defence of Britain’s multiculturalism’, in which he questions if  multiculturalism is really dead in the UK as the political, media and theological establishments seem to suggest. In the article Hasan states “Multiculturalism is dead in the UK …. seems to be the depressing verdict of senior members of the British political, media and even theological establishments. In recent years, they have lined up to deliver the last rites for multiculturalism, their condemnation and critiques cutting across party and ideological lines. …attacks on “the British multicultural model” continue and intensify – and Islamophobia is on the rise. Multicultural cities such as Bradford, in the north of England, with big Muslim populations, are denounced as failures, smeared as ghettoised societies. Structural factors such as racism, poverty and industrial decline are ignored. …But I for one can’t help but be a defender of the UK’s multiculturalism …I am, after all, a product of multiculturalism; I consider myself to be British, English, Asian and Muslim. I see no contradiction between these ethnic, national, cultural and religious identities. …Britain has come a long way from the nativist and assimilationist 1960s; opinion polls suggest this is a nation at relative ease with its racial, religious and cultural diversity in all walks of life. It is now 2012, not 1965. In this age of globalisation and devolution, Britain cannot return to some fantasy of a halcyon mono-cultural past. In the 21st century, identity isn’t finite; loyalties do not have to compete. And the truth is that a truly liberal society is a multicultural society.”

 

Inspired by Aljazeera ow.ly/cQRQU image source ow.ly/cQRMP ow.ly/cQRMP

Benoit Julien de Pommerol a French military chaplain stationed in Afghanistan has been reassigned to the French Antilles following accusations of Islamophobia in a report he wrote published on the internet. In the report de Pommerol denounced the French army’s deference to Islam as “babouche-licking”, citing examples including of a female soldier forced to wear a head covering veil and preparation of religious feasts for nationals. The French army officials rejected de Pommerol’s accusations claiming “it’s a matter of courtesy, common sense and education to respect other people’s religion” attempting to try and “earn acceptance by respecting local customs” and were specific decisions “made in a specific operational context.” The report has played into the national sensitivities that have grown towards Islam in France, resulting in tense anti-islamic reactions. Inspired by Nathalie Guibert ow.ly/5DfX4  image source Military Photos ow.ly/5DfIJ Accused the army of babouche-licking (July 26 2011)

Benoit Julien de Pommerol a French military chaplain stationed in Afghanistan has been reassigned to the French Antilles following accusations of Islamophobia in a report he wrote published on the internet. In the report de Pommerol denounced the French army’s deference to Islam as “babouche-licking”, citing examples including of a female soldier forced to wear a head covering veil and preparation of religious feasts for nationals. The French army officials rejected de Pommerol’s accusations claiming “it’s a matter of courtesy, common sense and education to respect other people’s religion” attempting to try and “earn acceptance by respecting local customs” and were specific decisions “made in a specific operational context.” The report has played into the national sensitivities that have grown towards Islam in France, resulting in tense anti-islamic reactions.

 

Inspired by Nathalie Guibert http://ow.ly/5DfX4  image source Military Photos http://ow.ly/5DfIJ

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