Re:The Invention of Islamophobia (2011)
by jdietrich on Sunday April 28, 2019 @07:59AM
(#19770633)
The term "Islamophobia" is in many cases a justified label for bigotry and prejudice, but I see it being used increasingly to stifle legitimate concern and criticism.
A 2015 poll of British Muslims conducted by ICM on behalf of Channel 4 found a number of attitudes that I think are genuinely worrying. 39% of respondents agreed with the statement "wives should always obey their husbands". 52% disagreed with the statement "homosexuality should be legal in Britain". 23% supported "areas of Britain in which Sharia law is introduced instead of British law". More than a third agreed with the statements "Jewish people have too much power" and "Jews have too much control over global affairs", while a quarter agreed with the statements "Jews are responsible for most of the world's wars" and "people hate Jews because of the way Jews behave".
I have been accused of Islamophobia simply for reporting on this data. Our ability to have a meaningful conversation about a significant social issue has been stifled by ideological absolutism - on one side by bigots motivated by hatred, and on the other by those who see anything but unconditional acceptance as symptomatic of bigotry.
A 2015 poll of British Muslims conducted by ICM on behalf of Channel 4 found a number of attitudes that I think are genuinely worrying. 39% of respondents agreed with the statement "wives should always obey their husbands". 52% disagreed with the statement "homosexuality should be legal in Britain". 23% supported "areas of Britain in which Sharia law is introduced instead of British law". More than a third agreed with the statements "Jewish people have too much power" and "Jews have too much control over global affairs", while a quarter agreed with the statements "Jews are responsible for most of the world's wars" and "people hate Jews because of the way Jews behave".
I have been accused of Islamophobia simply for reporting on this data. Our ability to have a meaningful conversation about a significant social issue has been stifled by ideological absolutism - on one side by bigots motivated by hatred, and on the other by those who see anything but unconditional acceptance as symptomatic of bigotry.
https://www.icmunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Muli...