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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’ or the ‘other’ 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 - indulgence in seeing Islam as deplorable & 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 - “only natural”

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ISLAMAPHOBIA: ConsequencesISLAMAPHOBIA: Consequences

Prejudice Stereotyping

Defamation Slander Attack by Media

Discrimnation Alienation

Profiling Breach of Civil liberties

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

Murder

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ISLAMAPHOBIA: ConsequencesISLAMAPHOBIA: Consequences

Category April 19, 1995 September 11, 2001

Violence 13 303

Threat 56 72

Hate messages/Harassment 149 687

False arrest/ Intimidation by authorities

4 224

Airport profiling - 191

Workplace discrimination - 166

School discrimination - 74

Total 222 1,717

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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)

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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

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

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

Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of women

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BASIC TENETS: General BASIC TENETS: General

Islam means: Peace & Self-surrender to the Will of God

A universal message - confirms preceding Divine revelations. Prophet Mohamed is God’s messenger sent to complete & compliment previous revelations:

Abrahamic religion: “… it is the belief of your father Abraham. It is He (God) Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation)” 22:78

6 pillars of faith and 5 pillars of religion

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BASIC TENETS: Pillars of FaithBASIC TENETS: Pillars of Faith

6 Pillars of faith: To believe in God His angels His Messengers (prophets) His Books (Scriptures) Day of Judgement Fate & Destiny - good & bad

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BASIC TENETS: Pillars of Islam BASIC TENETS: Pillars of Islam

5 Pillars of Practice

Testify (declare) that no gods but God and that Mohamed is His Messenger

Pray 5 times a day (Ritual - ablution)

Fast the month of Ramadan (lunar calendar)

Pay alms (2.5% of annual savings)

Pilgrimage to Mecca (Rituals traced to Abraham & Hajar)

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BASIC TENETS: Pillars of IslamBASIC TENETS: Pillars of Islam

PRAYER: Ruk’a

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BASIC TENETS: Pillars of IslamBASIC TENETS: Pillars of Islam

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BASIC TENETS: Pillars of IslamBASIC TENETS: Pillars of Islam

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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 bloc: Myth 1 - Islam is a monolithic bloc: AmericaAmerica

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Myth 1 - .. Can be mobilized by a Myth 1 - .. Can be mobilized by a ‘fatwa’‘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 prima facie

Sources of Islamic law/jurisprudence:

1. Quran: Actual words of God revealed to Prophet Mohamed through Gabriel remained & will remain unchanged

2. Hadith: Prophet teachings - authenticity 7000 of 600,0003. Reasoning by Analogy (drugs) 4. 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

General: “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 (ie not for economic or political gain) those that fight you and do not attack first” ”

If the other side want 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 or to cut

a tree

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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 Scriptures” - under an Islamic state are regarded as “protected subjects” with complete autonomy

The Prophet’s Charter to the Monks of Sinai

Christians & Jews never persecuted for their beliefs in Islamic empire. Then & now Christians keep customs, start schools, visited by missionaries

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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” is meaningless - Used to denote Muslims that believe in Islam fundamentals support terrorism

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

Punishment for terrorism: execution, crucifixion or exile 5:33. Trial first.

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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

Church of the World Creator (rejoiced 9/11) Christian Identity Movement (many terrorist acts in 1996 -

but FBI cant identify them as such) www.religiousintolerance.org/cr_ident.htm

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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

General 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 not like him

“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 cant 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 Prophet confirmed as leader by men & women

separately - mentioned in Quran 60:2

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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

Mentioned once in 24:31– 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 as to 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

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THANK YOU