what is the reason for islamophobia?

[lightbulb247]

Yes, i understand recent years have not shown Islam in a good light, however other religion have and are doing bad things aswell, yet there is less hatred for these than there are for islam. Why?

Also people dont seem to understand the term "minority". Only a minority of muslims do bad things yet the whole religion is blamed. Again, why?

[kat2206]

My, personal, opinion is that there is so much angst against Muslims etc in this Country as "they" are allowed to celebrate and worship their religion, however, when "we" try to fly our flags I.e St George etc the Muslims go up in arms and complain bitterly and so loudly that we, IN OUR OWN COUNTRY have to or feel we have to take them down...

Plus what the posters have said with regards to the ongoing conflict that is so prevalent within today's society!

[Duncer]

"Why? The usual government generated hysteria that has plagued us since time immemorial aided by fascist rags like the Daily Mail."

i prefer to go with Naomi's excellent stated argument.

[beso]

When any philosophy declares a punishment for those who criticise it then it is time to stand up against it.

[jomifl]

Boxy, interesting statistic, strange how such a small minority can produce so many terrorists yet that population is mostly unaware of them. One could almost suspect that some people have an unwillingness to see what is before their eyes.The veil seems to have more than one use in islamic culture. I get the impression that islam is more about hiding inconvenient truths than anything else.

[naomi24]

Beso, quite right.

[mibn2cweus]

//When any philosophy declares a punishment for those who criticise it then it is time to stand up against it.//

Yay! Can I try one?

That which places itself above reproach is beneath contempt . . . :o)

Your's gets the gold of course.

[modeller]

naomi #It’s a good point, but when people are either exposed to it from birth, or subsequently willingly abandon their intellect to the ramblings of madmen, how do we stop it? #
You don't !
You are not going to stop it. It's been going on for as long as man has inhabited the world. Just look at primitive societies and how they are/were controlled by their witch doctors. Look at any holy book going back millennia they all peddle garbage . The only difference is today that garbage is disseminated throughout the world and is supported for political reasons by the governments. Religion is power over the masses . There is little room for logic and reason.

[naomi24]

Modeller, I’m not talking about religion per se – but Islam’s more unsavoury practices. I think that as far as those living in the west are concerned, they must eventually learn, for example, that little girls who have reached puberty are not adults and are not ready for marriage. I don’t believe the young people raised here will continue to follow the ways of their forefathers – in fact we’re seeing examples of that already. They will choose freedom over repression and those Islamists who think they will one day dominate will end up realising that by coming here to ‘show us the way’, they have in fact shot themselves in the foot.

[naomi24]

Has the 'lightbulb' gone out?

[emmie]

1.6 million Muslims in Britain, that is not a minority.
http://www.mcb.org.uk...rary/statistics.php#1

[emmie]

Naomi, seems so.

[keyplus90]

Same old stuff there again. Naomi ALL THOSE KILLED IN 9/11 AND 7/7 WERE INNOCENT. WHOEVER WAS BEHIND THERE KILLING IS TERRORIST IN MY MIND. WORD “WHOEVER” COVERS EVERYONE, BUT I KNOW YOU WANT ME TO SAY SPECIFICALLY MUSLIMS. BECAUSE YOU AND FEW OTHERS ONLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE KILLED BY MUSLIMS AND NOT THE OTHER WAY. THAT IS YOR NARROW MINDNESS. BUT I WILL NOT LET YOU RUN AWAY TODAY.

Innocent in my mind is someone who is not attacking, not conspiring to attack, is going about his daily business and so on, who is not there to harm someone or kill someone. “Now do you and birdie believe that children being killed by Israel and USA in Palestine and Afghanistan are innocent? And do you believe that people who are killing innocent according to my definition above in Afghanistan, Palestine or anywhere in the world are terrorists or not.

Or be brave and give me your definition of innocent now, and I know what your definition of innocent is. According to your definition anyone is innocent apart from Muslim, even if it is a one year old child as long as he is Muslim, he is not innocent. Or come on prove me wrong. Or perhaps Birdie and Jomifl can do same now.

[jomifl]

Keyplus, Calm down and don't make assumptions about other peoples opinions. I think that Israel's treatment of the palestinians is apalling and would have been stopped by the united nations long ago were it not for the influence of the USA. The reasons the USA supports Israel despite it's dreadful deeds is because USA politics is controlled by the vociferous pro- israeli lobby and right wing christian zealots who believe that a satisfactory end to the world depends on the existence of 'zion' .
As for the matter of the meaning of the word innocence, that is defined in the english dictionary for that is the language we are using. Your understanding of it is not relevant. In this context it is the meaning of the word innocence as used in the english translation of the koran. Perhaps as an arabic speaker you would care to find out how accurate this translation is instead of hiding behind weasel words and ambiguous phrases.

[jomifl]

em10, 1.6 million is a large number but it is still a small minority.

[naomi24]

Keyplus, //According to your definition anyone is innocent apart from Muslim, even if it is a one year old child as long as he is Muslim, he is not innocent.//

You’re making it up again. That's a wicked accusation and it isn’t true at all – and you know it. I’ve told you many times I think the Palestinians have been treated abominably – and yes, I do think the children are innocent. However, those who hi-jack commercial aircraft and fly them into buildings, or surreptitiously carry bombs with the specific intention of blowing themselves and all the unsuspecting people around them to smithereens are not innocent.

As you well know, I never run away - and there’s no need to shout. I’m not deaf – and neither am I blind.

[lightbulb247]

//Keyplus, you know perfectly well that islam allows muslims to lie to, rob, rape and kill non-muslims.//

jom, when islam started spreading through countries the reason why people accepted was because it was done peacefully through trade, preaches etc. Also if muslims lied to non muslims than non muslims would not have gotten help from muslims in things like medicine and architecture and nowhere in the quran does it state you can lie to non muslims. The punishment for robbing in Islam is having your hands cut off, only unless you do it for hunger, so that point is invalid. Islam does not promote rape and the punishment for raping is also the death penalty. And for your point in killing non muslims, islam does not allow it, unless it is in self defence or if muslims are attacked first.

I know these answers will not do anything to change the atheist viewpoint but there you go.

[lightbulb247]

also you know you said no MUSLIM does not condemn muslim actions which they do but it is quite obvious that if you look in the media its only the bad actions of muslims being reported, not the good. Here you go. Muhammed ali...and will smith for some reason lol.

[Sir Alec]

I used to work in a centre where most of the Muslim women who came to us wore a Burka to hide the bruises. Most of them were consistently raped by their husbands until they got pregnant.
Please do not tell me that Islam is a peaceful religion. It is only peaceful if you are male, and even then, you are fighting between differing sects of Islam.