A Controversy or Misunderstanding?

Islam and Muslims Are Facing Racism, Sexism, and Islamophobia.

Ben Affleck takes a lot of heat for saying that comments by Harris or others are racist and is quickly dismissed because he is an actor.

The fact is, I argued recently in the YouTube section of the video posted on someone’s channel, that it is racism when people say things like “go home” and they are assuming that the Muslim they are speaking to is “from Africa or the Middle East” or call someone a “camel jockey” or ask a Muslim his origin, where he was born, or tell him he’s “backwards” or a “f---tard”, and so on. It doesn’t even matter if the Muslims are born in the west or not, or what their background, ethnicity, race or nationality is. The speech is almost always ‘racist’ or has racist undertones. If the Muslim answers that he is born in the West, he is further insulted or threatened, and told that he is a member of an enemy camp.

 I would rather we call this “Islamophobia” but there are those out there who also say this isn’t even a thing. But do such non-Muslim extremists really fear Muslims or do they fear Islam? Or do they just hate both Islam and Muslims? Whether or not they are truly racist is not the most important question, but whether the system in Western or European countries can properly deal with Islamophobia. Will non-Muslim states continue sweeping the problem under the carpet?

Muslim women are also treated less than kindly. Feelings for them range from pity to disgust and can be described as misogyny. Women are discussed in terms of their gender almost exclusively; they are often called “cunts” or “whores”. Muslim men receive sexually explicit insults as well, but it seems to be the case that women receive predominantly sexist comments. Of course, many ignorant Muslims also use such insults right back on the internet. This is a truly unfortunate situation, volatile and an emergency.

It doesn’t matter if she’s a neuro-scientist for God’s sake! Muslim women often get questioned or insulted because of their faith; even they say they are harassed daily in public. I was shocked by a video in which a woman wearing western dress with a veil, minding her own business, was knocked onto the pavement and then she lay unconscious, with no one to protect her, and possibly permanently affected; definitely the probability of a fear of further attacks will remain with her for a long time. Did the person attacking her believe she was a foreigner? Or did they just want to show her that they hate all Muslims? Did she deserve to be targeted? She didn’t appear to be a delinquent or a threat.

Are Muslim women generally regarded with such contempt or fear? Is there proof they are a growing danger to society, as many reports by some media outlets seem to suggest; such stories as “sleepers” and the “indoctrination” of families, seems to be a reality in some people’s minds, though it is likely much more true to say that “Jihad brides” or whatever they are called are not something we should be worried about in the West. Whatever the impetus for the choice young women have made to go join ISIS or other groups, the treatment of these women in reporting is generally less sympathetic and more hateful. But they are more a danger to themselves than to the West, possibly they are used or volunteer for suicide missions. Possibly no-one in the echelons of power really cares if they are killing other Muslims, so let’s put that aside.

It is rather obvious that “Jihad brides” is both derogatory to Muslim women and politically motivated, because it suggests that these women who are supposedly going to join a “jihad” are actually being used by someone, their husband or a group, and don’t know what they are doing or it suggests that they have been brainwashed. The term Jihad bride, usually in quotes, insinuates a master-slave relationship or sexual exploitation on top of the usual accusations (e.g. Muslims are stupid and backwards or Islam is a dangerous ideology and Muslims are dangerous fanatics).

One such suspected terrorist took a flight to Turkey and then it is said that she joined ISIS, but where is actual proof of that? (I’m not saying it isn’t possible, but proof is something that we definitely need to see when people’s lives are being scrutinized and Muslims raked over the coals for it). The facts show that governments and male dominated society or institutions care less about women’s rights and more about domination or securing economical, political or geographical gains. (In the case of powerful men, those who have taken their control to the extreme, they seek sexual favors from women - Bill Clinton, JFK and other well known public figures have done so in the past). The rights of women worldwide are not upheld; women are often living deplorable lives, a brute existence and cannot see a way out for themselves or their children. Western women are still undervalued, treated as sex objects and denied equal rights or sometimes even justice in criminal trials. The same is true for visible minorities.

Finally, I want to also point out that Harris says many inflammatory and frankly ridiculous things. Islam is not “more violent” than other religions, for example, no matter how often it is said or by who. Million of Muslims in the world who live peacefully while practicing their religion, or claiming to be Muslims even if  showing less conviction or perhaps less faith (this isn’t really the subject of debate/arguments) are still accused of extremism or ascribing to an extremist ideology. The truth is far from what Maher and Harris insist about Islam is reality.  

Yes, by all means look at history and look at the rise of extremist groups, but don’t blame Islam for something fairly recent and possibly even, in the case of some extremist groups a creation of any government intent on destroying the fabric of Muslim societies.

The likes of Maher or Harris or others who think like them say that Muslims must stop defending verses of the Quran, or that we should not support Jihad no matter what. It is very dangerous when governments, let alone private citizens or popular program hosts (their lobbying is taken seriously, whether the verses in question are understood in their proper light or not), begin to dictate what we can believe, whether or not we are peaceful or not. There is a real danger that “Big Brother” is poised to take away even more of our freedoms, which began with the banning of the face veil, head scarf (in France, or in government buildings or Universities, even in Turkey) and burqa, what they call “religious symbols”. I’m afraid to ask - to what extent are they willing to go to protect their “Western values”. Guantanamo Bay is still in our recent memory, an example of what the West is capable of.

Look forward to my next short post on another topic, coming soon.