Open discussion and honest exchange of views can start much needed dialogue between the Islamic World and the Christian West. It is Alpha and Omega for the world peace and wellbeing.

Before, I go further, allow me to give you few facts of the Islamic world and Islam so that you can easily relate to my presentation.

Who are these Muslim people, we hear so much about?
- There are 1.7 billion Muslims in the world. It is nearly 23% of the world.
- There are two main strands of Islam - Sunni and Shia but there are 72 other sects inside Islam.
- 57 countries - from Indonesia to Morocco - have a majority of Muslims but today Muslims are in every country like China, India, Russis, USA and many African countries.
- In Europe there are nearly 15-18 million Muslims, not including Balkan and Albania.
- 80% Muslims live outside Middle East and do not speak Arabic.
- Islamic world has 67% of the world's oil and gas resources
- Besides the religion of Islam, Muslims around the world have diverse history, languages, food, dress codes, cultures, traditions and customs

In simple term, Muslims are as different as followers of other religions like Christianity.

Then the question arises, if Muslims are so diverse, then why we hear so much about them as one nation, an ethnic group or a religious minority.

Well, that is what I would like to discuss with you today.

To me, Islam is not a nationality or ethnicity but the youngest religion after Judaism and Christianity.

Unfortunately, one of the topics which is increasingly and heatedly discussed in the Western societies is, Islam and the challenge it poses, not to the Christianity or Judaism as divine religions but to the norms of the European cultures, the Western way of living and the humanistic values, the Western civilisation is built on. If these discussions were taking place in a civilized manner and with the Muslim minorities, then it would be a healthy development, which I would also support and work for.

However this discourse has found its way, right into the top political leadership, mass media and down to the population in general. This mindset has produced an atmosphere where freedom of expression is misused to vent abusive opinions and hate speech. This has in turn given rise to Islamophobia and cultural racism.

It is manifested in newspapers, on the radio, on television, in church sermons and in literature.

Even in entertainment magazines for men and children's books, one can find anti-Islam stories and remarks. The media constantly portrays non-European cultures, especially cultures from different Muslim countries as inferior and primitive.

Different newspapers do the same in their articles, foreign reporting, and editorials and in letters to the editors. Media studies carried out by universities, some serious journalists and Ethnic Minority organisations have shown that nearly 70% of all media coverage of foreigners in Europe focuses either on crime or social problems. Frequently, such coverage is not only exaggerated and distorted, but also filled with lies.

It is rare that a foreigner's race, religion, culture and country of origin are not mentioned, whether or not this information is relevant. Islam is often presented as fanatical, barbarian, uncivilised, and medieval. It is constantly attacked with racial slurs, similar to the way Jews were attacked in the 1930's.

Islamophobia is now a reality and not a fiction.

During my many years of collecting information on religious dialogue between Islam, Christianity and Judaism, I have tried to make some sense, out of this massive negative description, which the Western media utilizes in its coverage of most religions, especially Islam. I am also struck at the liberal use of concocted terminology and doctored images; I find my self-facing multifarious problems but few useable explanations as to why derogatory words are used, in relation to Islam.

Why Islam is in focus?

My qualified guess is that after the fall of the Soviet Empire, the only remaining ideology or system, which stood in the way of the total Western dominance - commercial, political and to some extent religious, is Islam and the Muslim communities.

Another factor is the historical rivalry and competition between Islam and Christianity for geographical dominance and getting new followers. Islam has now 1.7 billion followers worldwide and is the majority religion in nearly 57 countries. It is also said to be the fastest growing faith, in Africa, USA and in Europe.

Most of the oil resources are under the control of the countries, which profess to be Muslim. Furthermore, in order to physically occupy, oil rich Middle East or to start any future confrontation, between Christianity and Islam, demonizing Islam and its followers would be a useful tool in the hands of political forces. They would need to win a majority public support in the West, to carry out "A clash of civilizations".

And such public backing can only come if Islam is portrayed as a terrible enemy. Some observers may find this rationale, far fetched or at worst, my prejudice against the West. I wish that this feeling was so individual based, but the reality is that I have heard of such scenarios from people, right from Morocco to Indonesia, as well as from many concerned Western citizens.

The question thus arises if we can call this negative focus on Islam as Islamophobia.

What is Islamophobia?

Well, Islamophobia is a recently coined term. Phobia means;

"A persistent, exaggerated and usually illogical fear or dread of anything". In this case, it will be of Islam. So Islamophobia means the fear of Islam.

In 1997 The Runnymede Report had described Islamophobia as marked by "brazen hostility, bordering on contempt, for the most cherished principles of Islamic life and thought, reaching an apoplexy of hate in the modern Western media who represent Islam as intolerant of diversity, monolithic and war-mongering." The report goes on to warn; " 'Islamophobia as the dread or hatred of Islam has lead to the dislike of all Muslims, discrimination by excluding them from the economical, social and public life. It includes the perception that Islam has no values in common with other cultures, is inferior to the West and is a violent political ideology rather than a religion'.

According to this report, "Islamophobia: A Challenge for Us All, this term was coined in the late 1980s, its first known use in print being in February 1991, in a periodical in the United States. Some French sociologists who work on Islamophobia in France claim that the word Islamophobia can be traced to some French writings dating back to the first half of the 20th century.

Runnymede's report was launched by then Home Secretary Jack Straw, and updated in 2004, the document found:
1) Islam is seen as a monolithic bloc, static, and unresponsive to change.
2) Islam is seen as separate and "other." It does not have values in common with other cultures, it is not affected by them, and does not influence them.
3) Islam is seen as inferior to the West. It is seen as barbaric, irrational, primitive, and sexist.
4) Islam is seen as violent, aggressive, threatening, supportive of terrorism, and engaged in a "clash of civilizations."
5) Islam is seen as a political ideology and is used for political or military advantage.
6) Criticisms made of the West by Islam are rejected out of hand.
7) Hostility towards Islam is used to justify discriminatory practices towards Muslims and exclusion of Muslims from mainstream society.
8) Anti-Muslim hostility is seen as natural or normal.

The findings echo anti-Semitic attitudes prevalent in early 20th century Europe.

Similarities between Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.

Given the growing distrust of Muslims as the "other" and the conclusion that anti-Muslim hostility is itself found normal, the publication of the Jyllands-Posten caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad in 2005 can no longer be dismissed as mere experiments in libertarian freedom of speech and censorship.

Jyllands-Posten caricature depicting a bearded Prophet Muhammad with a bomb in his turban is suspiciously similar to the Der Satan cartoon.

Muhammad, a Muslim, and the Jew in Der Stürmer are bearded. Both wear religious headgear, and both are depicted as icons of evil in contemporary society.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, Muslim communities in non-Islamic countries have come to fear the very pogroms, which targeted the Jews in 1930s Europe.

The word - Islamophobia is not ideal, but is recognizably similar to 'xenophobia' and 'Europhobia', and is a useful shorthand way of referring to dread or hatred of Islam - and, therefore, to fear or dislike of all or most Muslims. Such dread and dislike have existed in western countries and cultures for several centuries. In the last twenty years, however, the dislike has become more explicit, more extreme and more dangerous."
William Dalrymple, an eminent British scholar said in The Independent, " Prejudices against Muslims - and the spread of idiotic stereotypes of Muslim behavior and beliefs - have been developing at a frightening rate in the last decade" and "Anti-Muslim racism now seems in many ways to be replacing anti-Semitism as the principal Western expression of bigotry against "the other".
Unfortunately, even if the term, Islamophbia is a recent one, the fear, dislike or hatred of Islam in the Western World, is as ancient as Islam itself.

Historical development of Islamophobia

A hostile view of Islam began in the 8th century when Muslims expanded into the Iberian Peninsula. Islam as a faith was rejected as a fundamental religion and seen as a direct challenge to Christianity; Muslims were seen as heretics and their prophet a diabolical fraud. By the time of the Crusades, Muslims were viewed as a geopolitical threat and military means were seen as the only ways to address the danger to the Church.

Ignorance of Islam and abject rejection of Muslim culture reached its peak in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, itself considered the pinnacle of Western literature in the 13th century.

Dante saw fit to cast the Prophet Muhammad and his cousin Ali to the ninth circle of Hell - one created for schismatics and sowers of discord. The discord Dante refers to is a rebellion of the Christian church. Just as Satan was seen as the great rebel, his minion Muhammad was too, according to Dante. It is worth taking notice that the betrayer of Jesus - Apostle Judas - is also there.

The ideology that Muhammad was hell bound was further explored in a 1415 painting by Giovanni Da Modena. The Last Judgment, which adorns a cathedral in Bologna, depicts a scantily clad, turbaned, and bearded Muhammad in agony as he is pulled into the pits of hell by demons.

Voltaire who is considered the champion of free speech in Europe is very eloquent in his play, Mahomet where he traduces the Prophet in these words;" For a driver of camels to stir up a faction in his village, to associate himself with a set of wretched Koreish, to boast that he was carried up to heaven, and there received part of that unintelligent book which contradicts common sense in every page, that in order to procure respect for this ridiculous performance, he should carry fire and sword into his country, murder fathers and ravish their daughters".

The personal attacks upon the Prophet were a build up to justify and incite hatred towards Muslims.

Pope Urban's rallying slogan in 1095 to free the Holy Land from the vile infidel Muslims set in motion a series of marauding raids and pillage, murder and mayhem that are collectively known as the Crusades.

Professor Norman Daniel in his book; "Islam, Europe and Empire" published in 1966 very graphically describes the Islamophobia of the 12th Century in these words; " It is useful to remember the essential points of the Christian traditional polemic, shocking as it may be for a Muslim. This tradition had an influence far outside the strict concerns of theology, which inspired it.

Christian arguments concentrated on the person of the Holy Prophet. He was made out to have borrowed Islam deceitfully from Christian and Jewish material, in order to satisfy his ambition for power and incidentally for women.

This twin motive, all Muslims were supposed to share in a religion of violence and sexual self-indulgence. Mohammad was believed to have forged revelations to solve his political problems and to satisfy his various wishes. Much energy was devoted to a historical defense of the authenticity of Bible and in contrast, to a detailed attacks upon the Quranic text as fictitious, confused and nonsensical.

The main themes about Muslims were - first violent, second " Sex driven" or " Passion driven" and then deceitful appeared again and again in many forms and endless variety throughout Middle Ages and even survive today".

Throughout the Christian medieval times, Prophet Mohammad was called a magician, a Cardinal in revolt, a monster, an anti-Christ, by men of sense and scholarship like Mark of Toledo, Ricoldo da Monte Croce, Ramon Marti and Ramon Lull, John of Segovia, Jean Germain, Nicholas of Cusa and then in the time of Renaissance, people like Juan Vivés, Juan Andrés, Pius the second and Polydore Vergil.

Anti-Islamic themes can also be traced in the writings of Martin Luther and among the authors of sixteen and seventeen centuries.

We all know that until very recently, Islam was intentionally termed as Mohammadanism.

The historian, Jan Carew reminds us that:

"At the beginning of the Columbian era, thousands of books that the Moors had collected over centuries - priceless masterpieces that their geographers, mathematicians, astronomers, scientists, poets, historians and philosophers had written, and themes their scholars had translated - were committed to bonfires by priests of the Holy Inquisition. And to cap this atrocity, an estimated three million Moors and 300,000 Jews were expelled from Spain (and this does not include the thousands, forced to convert to Catholicism). The burning of thousands of books and the expulsion of the Moors and Jews was a terrible loss to the Renaissance, although this is seldom acknowledged by Euro-centric scholars. (Carew,1992: 3)

This massive anti-Islam propaganda resulted in formation of a mindset, which resulted in colonialism and the conquest of most Muslim lands. When the French General Henri Gouraud, entered Damascus in July 1920, he stood over Saladin's tomb next to the Grand Mosque, kicked it and said, "Awake, O Saladin, we have returned. My presence here confirms the victory of the Cross over the Crescent."

As we all know or at least should know, that Salahudin Ayubee was the great Kurdish general and king who defeated the Crusaders in the last Crusade and expelled them from the Holy Land. On top of his battlefield brilliance, he was so gracious as to pardon the defeated soldiers and let them return to Europe.

Thomas F. Madden, associate professor and chair of the Department of History at Saint Louis University says in Christianity Today; " From the perspective of medieval Christians, Muslims were the enemies of Christ and his Church. It was the Crusaders' task to defeat and defend against them. Whether we admire the Crusaders or not, it is a fact that the world we know today would not exist without their efforts".

Edward Said in his pioneering work on Orientalism (Said, 1978) has shown that the ideological and cultural frameworks are not a new phenomenon but historically have served the interests of colonial powers like Britain. Orientalists, the source of information for Western powers, were instrumental in furthering the aims of empire. Western colonial powers administering Muslim countries targeted many aspects of Muslims' way of life

Even when the world of Islam entered a period of decline and Europe a period of progress, fear of "Mohammedanism" persisted. Closer to Europe than any of the other non-Christian religions, the Islamic world by its very nearness evoked memories of its encroachments on Europe, and always, of its latent power again and again to disturb the West. Only Islam seemed never to have submitted completely to the West; and when, after the dramatic oil-price rises of the early 1970s, the Muslim world seemed once more on the verge of repeating its early conquests, the whole West seemed to shudder." (Said, 1981: 4-5)

Terrorism, violence and Islamophobia

Coming close to the recent times, Islamophobia has grown tremendously around the world after the 'September 11 attacks', where a series of coordinated suicide attacks upon the United States took place in 2001. Europe had its up to now most traumatic terrorist attacks in Madrid on March 11, 2004 and London on July 7, 2005. Since then, populist anti-Islam argumentation sparked in a growing number of mainstream political parties and organization".

Several anti-mosque manifestations and campaigns of extreme right groups took and are taking place all over Europe with leading examples in Spain, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, United Kingdom etc. The arguments used against the building of mosques and the alleged 'Islamization of society' are not only Islamophobic, but also racist. In Dec, 2009, Switzerland banned the building of minarets on mosques through a populist referendum and sure enough, racist political parties in Denmark and Holland promptly demanded their own referendums to ban.

Although most mainstream political parties did not endorse these highly xenophobic mobilizations, there is a dangerous sociological tendency being encouraged in a very irresponsible way by quite some media and popular parties across Europe. The Netherlands is a clear example in which all of this has been made concrete. Geert Wilders is a member of the Dutch Parliament and the new face to this phenomenon. As former speechwriter of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, Wilders is doing quite open campaigns against Islam.

One of his statements is:'I don't hate Muslims, I hate Islam.'

He is the producer of 'Fitna', a controversial anti-Islamic short film that declares to explore 'Qur'an inspired terrorism, Islamic universalism and Islam in the Netherlands'. In the European Parliament Elections 2009 Geert Wilders and his party won 17% of the votes in the Netherlands and consequentially 4 seats in the European Parliament. In 2010 June national elections, Geert Wilder's party became the 3rd largest party and the de facto king maker in Holland.

The 12 months preceding March 2004 when France passed a controversial law banning the wearing of headscarves in French schools by Muslim pupils, we witnessed one of the worst Islamophobic spectacles that one can be forgiven into believing that French schools have turned into a battleground between die-hards secularists and Muslim fundamentalists with the Qur'an in one hand and the "Islamic" sword in the other hand. Classrooms we were told would soon be turned into Muslim Prayer rooms. A sort of 21st century Crusade in reverse!

France in September 2010 also banned the Niqab - a full body and face cover - in public places like transport and buses.

In Sweden, Swedish Democrat Party for the first time won a large number of parliamentary seats on the anti-Islam platform.

The same can be said about many other European countries like UK, Austria and France.

Double standards practiced against Islam
- When an individual does something that is repugnant to humanity at large, and if he happens to be a Muslim, then the media describes him by his religion. By contrast the media and history does not single out Hitler who massacred Jews as "Christian", or more recently, the Serbs and their atrocities against the Bosnians as "Christian ethnic cleansing".
- When in Rwanda an act of genocide took place, although almost all, Rwandan nationals are of Christian faith, no one was presenting the atrocities as religiously inspired acts, although even some priests or nuns also participated in the killings.
- While Bin Laden's call for the destruction of the United States is described, in the name of Allah, one never hears of the US bombing of Iraq in the name of Christ. That is the difference. Although many neo-cons now in power - right up to President Bush himself - in Washington openly consider it as a kind of a religious battle or duty. We have also heard both President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair openly admitting that they did have divine intervention in their decision to go to war in Iraq, meaning that God has Himself sanctioned their actions.
- Neil Clark in The Guardian, October 20, 2003 wrote;
" Arabophobia has been part of Western culture since the Crusades, with Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden only the latest in a long line of Arab bogeymen. For centuries the Arab has played the role of villain, seducer of our women, hustler and thief - the barbarian lurking at the gates of civilization".
- In fact, even today many people of influence in Europe deny Islamophobia as a myth. Kenen Malik, a British writer and broadcaster wrote in 2005;" In reality, discrimination against Muslims is not as great as is often claimed".
- Daniel Pipes, Director of Middle East Forum in USA wrote in New York Sun in 2005;" Muslims should abandon the discredited term Islamophobia and examine the problem that Islamic societies have".

Anglo-Saxon Islam hatred

The most striking aspect of this modern day Islamophobia is, that it is mostly taking place in the Anglo-Saxon part of the world. I monitor on regular basis, many international periodicals and newspapers from around the world - from Japan to Chile. The greatest of venom, intensity and hatred against Islam and Muslims come from Europe, North America and Australia. Russia, China, India and South Africa with large Muslim minorities do not use derogatory language about Islam, Prophet or Quran.

Muslims remember the past

The reason why many Muslims, whether practicing or not, react to Western (Christian) criticisms of Islam and its practices is that they are well aware of their history, take pride in Islam's achievements and (based upon the past relationships) are suspicious of the motives of Christians. Muslims also feel singled out in a variety of ways, for example, in UK Sikhs and Jews are accepted as ethnic or racial groups for the purposes of the Race Relations Act 1976, but as yet Muslims receive no such recognition or protection under the law.

This also became obvious in Denmark when the Attorney General refused to prosecute the Newspaper, which commissioned and published 12 insulting Caricatures of the Holy Prophet on 30th September 2005.

Attorney General's core argumentation was;

"No matter whether the purpose of publishing the drawings according to the text in the article was to express "scorn, mockery and ridicule" with the intention of debating whether special considerations should be made for the religious feelings of certain Moslems in a secular society, this intention, if it exists, is not found to have been expressed in the drawings in such a manner that it constitutes a violation of section 140 of the Danish Criminal Code".

The Muslims in Denmark according to the editorial on 30th September 2005 and now AG's ruling are now asked to accept "scorn, mockery and ridicule", even if the country has laws against Blasphemy and hate speech. This is a political judgment, not a legal assessment. It is the key argument in the whole decision. It separates the drawings from the accompanying text, and it separates both from their context of debate, from which they are inseparable and in which they should be assessed.

If the cartoon matter remained restricted to one newspaper in one country, the damage could have been localized, but it was quickly followed by many newspapers and magazines throughout Europe on the name of freedom of expression and to show solidarity to journalist community. It is this crossing the invisible line of accepted norms, which were exploited by an Italian Magazine Stude Cattolicis which in its March 2006 edition printed an other caricature of Prophet in Hell. In the caricature, Dante and Virgil, two medieval Italian poets are standing at the edge of Hell and look at the Prophet whose body is parted in two. Virgil asks Dante; " Is it not Mahammed". " Yes, it is him in two pieces, because he has split the society" answers Dante.

A recipe for disaster - Few recent examples of Islamophobia

Very few voices of reason, are pointing out that Islam being the second largest religion on the planet, can not and should not be treated as an enemy or an ideology, the West have to conquer or defeat. Unfortunately, there are signs that such ways of thinking is being systematically advocated in certain political and intellectual circles in the Western World. If this opinion does take hold, it will be a sure recipe for disaster.

Just to illustrate the dire situation, I have chosen to give few examples from hundreds, I have collected over the years.

* On 22nd April 2004, Boston Radio Station WTKK-FM hosted a program about Muslims in America. The question was asked; "Should we befriend Muslims?" The presenter, Jay Severin, in reply to a caller said:" You think, we should befriend them. I think we should kill them. I believe that Muslims in USA are a 5th column."
* In Oct 2003, a three-star US Army general, William Boykin reportedly said about a Somali Warlord:" I knew that my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol." Despite strong protests, both men still are sitting comfortably at their posts.
* A deserter from the US 82 Airborn Regiment, Jeremy Hinzman recently testified at his case hearing before the Canadian Refugee Board. He told the authorities that; " We were ordered to treat all Arabs as potential terrorists. Such descriptions made our blood boil with hate for the Arabs". (Independent, 30th Dec 2004).
* Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham, an internationally known minister who has counseled a number of world leaders attacked Islam as an "evil and wicked religion." The younger Graham offered the benediction at President Bush's swearing-in ceremony.

Let us establish how people get their information.
1. School/ college/university education
2. Social clubs, friends, job and family members
3. Libraries - books, CDs, DVDs and Films
4. Media- Newspapers, Radio, TV, Face Book, Internet Blogs
But media has by far, the greatest influence on public opinion.
Media's role in Islamophobia

Source; Google Search per 20th March 2006
* Islam in the Western media 7.340.000 entries
* Islamophobia in European history 98200 entries
* Anti Islam in the Western press 930,000 articles
* Islamophobia literature in the West 36.500 volumes
* Islamophobic Webs in the West 55,400 operational
* Try www.antijihad.org/listislam

MediaWatch monitoring in Denmark. Jan 2005 - Sept 2005
* Muslim communities; 3% of 5.4 millions Danish population
* Islam in Danish media; 35% of the total coverage
* Negative aspects; 67% of total coverage

Media Watch has extensive contacts in other European countries and the picture is the same.

Mira Media of Holland has in 2003 done a European Survey, which covered all 15 EU countries. According to the findings, explicitly negative items such as crime and deviance, fundamentalism/extremism, (racial) violence and illegal immigration accounted for 40% of all newspaper stories with an ethnic dimension - and for 50% of those stories in "popular" or tabloid newspapers.

Furthermore, taken together with other controversial subjects like; integration/segregation, asylum and immigration policies and control, conflict-laden topics accounted for 60% of all newspaper stories with an ethnic dimension - and 74% of those in "popular" or tabloid newspapers.

Three recent examples of uninterrupted anti-Islam rhetoric from international media in November 2009:

Nic Robertson, the senior international correspondent for CNN was describing a new initiative by Libya to counter terrorism. He used many times words like;

Islamic terrorist, violent Jihadist groups, criminal Islamic fighters, Islamist militants. Not once he called them what they really are; violent extremists.

In the program, he is shown looking at a computer screen showing Arabic Internet site. I have checked and Mr. Robertson does not read or understand Arabic.

The second example is from BBC world Service.

TV news presenter, Martine Dennis was commenting on the proposed Swiss Referendum on Minarets. She explained;

" Swiss people are concerned about increased migration to their country. There are 400000 Muslims in Switzerland".

It must be noted that the bulk of the migration in Switzerland is from Europe and the country has 4 large distinct national groups as well as Africans and people from East Europe.

The third example is also from CNN but this time with a famous anchor with a Muslim background. To discuss terrorism in the Muslim world, Fareed Zakaria invited Reuel Marc Gerecht, Former CIA Middle East specialist, Former Fellow of the hard-line Think Tank, American Enterprise Institute and the present Senior Fellow at the neo-con Foundation for Defense of Democracies, on his program GPS, 15th Nov 2009 at kl. 14.

Mr. Ericht dutifully said;" The history shows that terrorism is an integral part of Islam" and went on to mention that; " By taking part in the acts of violence, one is a part of a much larger ideology".

Let me give you another example of Western media's mindset when it comes to Muslim countries.

All most all media in the West comments on Iranian nuclear program as such;

" The International community would not tolerate Iran acquiring nuclear arms". Or " The world is watching as to what Pakistan army is doing to catch Osama Bin Laden."

The words International community and the world usually mean USA, UK, Israel, Denmark and few other hard line European countries.

No one bothers to ask these media outlet that there are over 200 countries and 90% of them do not support or back such claims.

What hope Muslim communities have to present their side of the story when powerful anti-Islam personalities like Mr. Gerecht are invited by mainstream media on daily basis and these hate mongering experts sit their and spread their venom under the banner of Freedom of Islam.

I often wonder; Have the West lost its democratic soul? Has it come to a point where millions of peace loving people - citizens and permanent residents are being subjected to insults, demonizing and degrading statements about their cultures, life styles, traditions and even religion. I have this strong feeling that Europe in particular has not learnt any lessons from its history - past and even recent when millions of Jews, Roma and other minorities were exterminated.

I sincerely hope that such situation would never arrive again.

Is Islam criticism possible?

A person can and should have the right to hold opinions, which are racist, anti-Islam or anti-religious. No one has the right to question personal views, however disgusting.

But when such opinions are expressed from a public platform, in the media or in a political gathering, the same opinions take another importance and are regulated by the law of the land.

Why?

Because unchecked racist or anti-Islam opinions in the public domain has a powerful effect on those people who have little or no knowledge of the subject and are easy prey to propaganda and hate crime.

The best example is the collective brain washing of German people by Nazi statements and the dire consequences, it had.

Free speech has its limits - moral, legal, and societal. No individual or a group should be above law and society's well being as well as harmony.

Few anti-Islam statements from USA

THEIR RELIGION is militaristic 1, a bloody, bloody, brutal type of religion

Hateful and frightening, http://www.sptimes.com/2006/11/04/Hernando/Leaders_criticize_Mus.shtml

One of the greatest evils on our planet, invented by savages for savages 4 http://www.boingboing.net/2002/12/26/islamic-advocacy-org.html

A big lie http://www.garnertedarmstrong.ws/GTA_Wordfroms/gtanews118.htm

A killing cult, http://www.michnews.com/cgibin/artman/exec/view.cgi/214/9654

A threat to civilization as long as it exists http://libertyandculture.blogspot.com2005_12_01_libertyandculture_archive.html

An incomplete, misleading, and often downright false revelation which, in many ways, directly contradicts what God has revealed through Jesus and constitutes a threat to the world at large.

http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamophobia_alarming_statements_3_2006_to_2007a/0012637

"Who ever heard of such a bloody, bloody, brutal type of religion? But that's what it is. It is not a religion of peace." 1.05.2006 (Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club, host Pat Robertson)

it is an imperialistic ideology akin to Nazism but disguised as a religion 11 ( Christian Evangelist Frnaklin Graham ) http://www.faithfreedom.org/

THEIR RELIGION is a worthless, dangerous Satanic religion, like a virus-it affects the mind-maybe even better as an analogy-it is a cancer that destroys the body it infects. 14 (Vice President of Development and Senior Editor of U.S. Financial Marketing Group- Jerome R. Corsi) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1188258/posts Some Danish political statements

* Islam is like poison in the clear waters of Denmark- Glistrup - Progressive Party
* Islam is like Hitler - Mr. Langeballe of Danish People's Party
* Muslims will cut our throats when they will be in majority - Mogens Carme - Member of the European Parliament - Danish People's Party
* We must confront the challenge of barbaric and primitive Islam with our superior culture - Culture Minster, Brian Mikkelsen at his party's annual Meeting 2005
* Islam is like cancer on the body of Denmark. It must be removed - Louise Frevert - Member of Danish Parliament
* We should sell the criminal Muslim kids to Russian jails for few pennies - Louise Frevert - Member of Danish Parliament
* 12 insulting Caricatures of Prophet Mohammad, published by J.Posten, 30th Sept. 2005, showing him as a terrorist and women oppressor
* Queen Margrethe II in her biography published on 14th April 2005 has said
"We are being challenged by Islam these years - globally as well as locally. It is a challenge we have to take seriously. We have let this issue float about for too long because we are tolerant and lazy. We have to show our opposition to Islam and we have to, at times, run the risk of having unflattering labels placed on us because there are some things for which we should display no tolerance." (Daily Telegraph -UK -by Hannah Cleaver)

Many critics of the public debate and the rhetoric being used as matching well with what was said during Nazi propaganda against Jewish people in 30s and 40s.

Use of negative terminology

Primitive, fundamentalist, Islamist, extremist, intolerant, authoritarian, militant, medieval, women oppressive, radical, menacing, aggressive, patriarchal, backward, tyrannical and lacking the will to reform itself, are some of the adjectives used liberally in front of or after the word, Islam.

More recently, one hears or reads such terms as, Militant Islam, Islamist, fundamentalist Imams, Radical Islamic Cleric, Jehadist movements, Fascio-Islam and Quran-fascism. Even Nazism and Communism are being compared with Islam. One member of the Danish parliament even bombastically declared that "Islam is like Hitler" in an interview on 18.7.04 in the largest circulated weekly newspaper in Denmark, Søndagsavisen,

This general description of Islam as a religion or faith is very insulting, derogatory and provocative to most Muslim communities. They welcome criticism of individuals, groups or even whole societies, where Islam is the major religion but draw the line between Freedom of speech and Freedom of hate speech.

Inayat Bunglawala, spokesman for the mainstream Muslim Council of Britain expressed the inner feelings of millions of followers of Islam in his interview in The News International - UK on 10 Nov. 2004.

"Muslims feel under siege. Their faith is not only under criticism, but there is an attempt to dominate the heartland of Islam. It compounds that sense that Western nations are out to humiliate Muslims".

Connecting individual acts of violence, committing of crime, lack of integration or not conforming to the customs of the host society, to the faith itself, not only irritates most followers of Islam but puts majority of law abiding, peaceful and well integrated members of diverse Muslim groups in the West, in a very difficult position.

Islamophbia, extremism and Islam

The pressing issue of Islamophbia and the erosion of civil liberty due to excessive linking of terrorism and Islam have somehow not been considered important in the public debates. Through our work with the media monitoring, we know that in today's Europe, we have to look very seriously on the issue of religious discrimination and particularly the situation of various Muslim Communities.

Poor socio-economic conditions, the question of identity, lack of mutual integration in the wider society because of barriers, negative perception of Islam, dwindling inter-cultural relationships and youth alienation are some of the problems, ENAR has identified. Besides, we should also look at the political signals sent by populist parties and the way public discussions in the society are conducted. But we believe that the greatest challenge facing us is the biased media coverage.

There have been many European wide as well as national media surveys, which support this point of view.

Ambassador Ömür Orhun, permanent representative of Turkey to the OSCE in his statement to OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna on 25th March 2004 said;" In the post -Madrid stage, I regretfully notice a repeated tendency to equate violence and terrorism with a religion, namely Islam, especially in the mass media. Terms such as "Islamic terrorism" is unfortunately abundant".

H.E.Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald, representing the Holy See to the OSCE Conference on tolerance and the fight against racism in Brussels on 14th September 2004 also criticised the media. He said;" We are all well aware that the roots of racism, xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance are found in ignorance and hatred, which may often arise from faulty education and also from the misuse of the media".

The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) released its report on "Intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in the EU-developments since September 2001" in Vienna on 7th March 2005.

Its findings are much thought provoking, both for the European societies and the Muslim Communities. The report not only documents that majority of Europeans consider Islam as the source of terrorism, women oppression and extremism but it also states that unbalanced and stereotypical media reports portraying Muslims as" alien" to EU societies and as "an enemy within", is creating widespread negative attitudes towards Muslims. July 2005 events in London have further galvanised the issue.

In Denmark, MediaWatch Magazine has monitored media coverage since 1995. According to its findings, the Muslim communities are less than 3% of the Danish population, but they figure 35% in the media debate. 65 to 85 % of this coverage has normally a negative twist to the stories focusing on militancy, terror, poverty, conflicts, tribalism, lack of compatibility etc, with Europe.

When we are talking about the rise of extremism and the so-called Islamic radicalization, it is not enough to state the obvious but also search for the reasons of such development.

Here the Western governments are making a grave mistake by stopping at the heated discussions and not looking for and formulating solutions, which are based on reality and not political expediency.

Besides, when tackling with extremism, we should not stop at a tiny group of ideologues among Muslim communities but also very actively map and eradicate all forms of violent and hateful racist views held and exercised by many native majority groups, academics, politicians and media. These groups sow the seeds of hatred, have much more organizational power and are more dangerous than any individual and group among Muslim minorities. They commit violent crimes and murder against minorities on regular basis.

The concept of human rights is not new nor is it a western invention. All religions and philosophies talk about the sanctity of human life, caring for the poor and needy and respect for others belongings. All religions preach; " Do not do to others what you do not wish to be done to you". May be it is the right time for Europe to come down from its colonial horse of mono-culturalism and realize that we live in an inter-dependent and globalised world.

Tackling Islamophobia

Islamophobia is a matter at hand and it must be dealt as such, not tomorrow or day after but here and now. Dealing with Islamophbia now does not mean that we should ignore other pressing problems. There is no scale of discrimination, against which we can measure the amount of racism.

All type of racism is equally deplorable and we should tackle it both on longterm basis as well as an issue at hand. To do this, we have to look at various factors, such as; stereotypical categories, key issues facing the Muslim communities - externally and externally and what can be done about this situation.

The most common stereotypical categories of Muslims:
* Religions fanatic and militant
* Hard-headed and ill-tempered, uneducated and unsophisticated
* Have many kids to get social benefits
* Wear headscarves and keep long beards
* Practice patriarchal family system, oppress women and children
* Culturally traditionalists
* Want to live in ghettos and do not want integration
* Support Jihad and are involved in terrorism
* Hate all non-Muslims and regard their women as prostitutes
* Reject modernity and hate progress
* Want to establish a Muslim Khalafat instead to democracy


Key concerns facing the Muslim communities - internally

There is an on going debate among different groupings and nationalities belonging to the Muslim communities in Europe. Some of the topics, which are constantly being discussed but are often unnoticed by the majority society, are;
* What role Islam should play in their daily lives?
* How far native cultures be adopted?
* What local customs be accepted?
* How smooth upbringing of children and their education can be achieved?
* How to negotiate women's position in the family and society?
* How to change the pattern of the limited social mobility and high unemployment?
* What are the consequences of legal restrictions on their daily life?
* How to have a dialogue with the majority in the host societies?
* How to respond media misrepresentation of Islam?
* How mutual integration instead of disintegration be obtained?

Key issues facing the Muslim communities - externally
* High unemployment
* Lack of respectful recognition of their faith
* Lack of mosques and burial places
* Linking of terrorism with the religion of Islam and every Muslim being held responsible for criminal and violent actions of the few any where in the world
* Political harassment, propaganda and negation of individual's right to be different
* Use of harsh adjectives and degrading language in the public debate
* Lack of legal protection because of "freedom of speech" concept
* Media's selection of few extremist persons and movements as true representatives of Islam
* Hostility of host societies
* A common platform, able to communicate and negotiate with the host society

What can be done?

Proposals with workable solutions from the civil society must be welcome, especially from the Muslim Communities should be encouraged. Legal measures are the State responsibility but the civil society must demand these changes.

Since it is the majority, which always holds the key to the door leading towards integration, it is advisable that European societies play their part with:
* A proactive and open-minded discussion concerning the accommodation between secular and religious forces in the society, including Muslim communities
* A clear understanding that Islam in not a nationality or ethnicity but a faith
* A closer look at the terminology used by the media in its coverage of Islam, and Muslims in general and terrorism in particular
* De-linking of Islam and terrorism or militancy in media
* Clear guidelines against Islamophobia from internationally respected organs, like UN, OSCE, ODIHR, EU, Council of Europe
* Strong legislation against hatespeech, incitement to religious hatred and propaganda. A monitoring system would be of great help.
* An ongoing dialogue with the media as how to balance freedom of speech, covering events without prejudice and being sensitive to the rights of minorities
* Seminar and workshops for the journalistic community and resource persons among diverse Muslim groups
* More transparency among Muslim communities, quick response to wrong information in the media
* Invite mainstream journalists to the Muslim community arrangements so that they can see from close quarters, what they write about'
* Inclusion of Islam in the religious studies at the primary and middle school level. It should be done at par with other faiths
* The provision of information concerning Islam and Muslim cultures to the employees of diverse sectors of society which normally come in contact with Muslim communities in daily life, for example; health, education, social and other public services

We should be visionary and practical. Instead of constant mention of Evil Ideology (meaning Islam) versus the democratic values of the West, we have to look at the Muslim communities as co-citizens and not as the 5th column or a foreign culture.

Muslim communities are here to stay and we have to integrate them in an inclusive way, and not as a cultural or religious entity which should be Europeanised or looked at as a cultural threat but involve people in the whole fabric of the society.

What are the solutions?

An overwhelming majority of Muslim people can quickly agree that all Islamophobic acts are deplorable, create hatred and must be dealt with, judicially, politically and with the help of sustained information campaigns.

The famous BBC producer, David Attenborough, of the "Life on the planet" fame once said;

" Individual efforts are needed to change things but it is the duty of the governments and political decision makers to make sure that we leave behind a world, worth living".

But the questions, which arise and need a clear response, are many.
* Can we lobby against hate when media is not only reporting the events but also is a vital part of propaganda against Islam?
* Can we take legal action against religious hate when governments are busy making laws, which discriminate religions?
* Can we educate the public, which is bombarded by political statements, which are not only anti-immigrants and anti-non - European but also talk about making Christianity as the official religion of Europe?

I believe that a dialogue not only is possible but necessary for a harmonious society. Alternative to a dialogue would be chaos, conflict and division in the society. It is a frightening and unwanted prospect, we should at avoid all costs.

We have seen many examples of a successful dialogue around us on individual, national level and even on international level.
But a dialogue requires an open mind, a warm heart and a willingness to make this world a better place to live. A dialogue also requires two partners, somewhat equal and who have a wish to listen.

Principles for a good dialogue.
* Be willing to listen more and speak less. That is why God has given us one mouth and two ears
* Do away with arrogance - cultural, racial, religious and intellectual. No one wants to be dictated to
* Use power of persuasion gently and kindly. Speak softly and be resolute and firmly to the mutually negotiated principles
* Start being appreciative, positive and give credit before criticizing
* Avoid a pointed finger because it has a lecturing posture. Besides, when you point one finger towards others, you are pointing three towards yourself
* Acknowledge that the society is more and more inter-cultural, inter-religious and inter-ethnic. One can be part of a society without looking, sounding or acting like the majority population
* Make people feel welcome and part of the larger society. Integration requires a two way process
* Be ware of own prejudices. Do not let own personal opinions cloud human judgment
* Try to get to know people's background. It helps to avoid misunderstanding
* While interacting with people of the Muslim faith, remember that they are not "Ambassadors" of their religion, culture or country
* Muslims are not one homogeneous group of people who think, act and want the same things
* 85% Muslim people are not practicing. They as well as those who do practice their religion, have the same worries as everyone - family, friends, jobs, social status and a wish to have a happy life
* Many Muslims do not understand Islamic concepts and mix religion with local cultural values
* Many Muslims practice the religion on a symbolic level instead of practicing the true teaching of the religion
* Politicians who do not deliver social reforms and are often not elected by voting, use the religion to silence the critics in Muslim countries
* Most Imams in Europe are not highly educated. They can not interpret Quranic teachings in a modern context because of language barriers and because of their own selfish economic interests and a desire to control
* Since the time of colonialism, most countries with Muslim majorities have been subjected to a vast propaganda from the West that Muslims are inferior. This has effected them psychologically and mentally
* Many among the Muslim communities live in a nostalgic state because of their great past history. They are scared to face the realities of today
* Most Muslim countries have a ruling class which is often Western educated and resist any religious revival which will challenge their absolute power

What should Muslim communities do?
Since Muslim communities came from outside the Western World and decided to make this part of the globe, their home, they have to be mindful of many local concerns.
* Do not impose your wishes or demand your rights by using unpleasant manners. It is always helpful to negotiate and go the half way.
* Be a good example of your community so that the host society appreciates your efforts
* Face the level of prejudice some misguided Muslim people have about the Western life style, traditions or gender equality.
* Show respect for the society, one lives in and contributes to its well being as much as one wishes the society to help the individual
* Consider the country, one live in as your home. Sense of belonging is difficult to achieve but one must show loyalty, solidarity and care for the surroundings
* A change in the attitudes towards the Muslim communities would only come, when the society would notice a common bond. Muslims have to work internally on their own prejudices towards other groups.
* Muslims do have tools and resources to conceptualize, think positive and live peacefully and be respectful to diversity.
* Religious observance and traditional practices must be acted upon with sensitivity to one's fellow human being.
* Both Islam and Christianity wish to fulfill spiritual void in one's life. Every one must choose his/her own ways.
* Last but not the least, violence, death threats, force is un-Islamic. Muslims should follow the path of righteousness, not of despair.

Practical approach?
Christian Muslim Dialogue can inspire and promote partnership for inclusive societies. Better cooperation amongst our communities is an important contribution we can make to the interdependent world we live in. We have much to learn from each other, our commonalties and differences. Benefits are plenty.
* Christian and Muslim people can feel safer as an integral part of society.
* Successful partnerships can take constructive action towards positive and equitable intercultural relations.
* A platform for resolving differences and shared issues is provided.
* Develop innovative approaches to peace, understanding and citizenship
* Encourage both communities to support each other morally and practically in public arena What can be focused on?
* Creation of the authentic dialogue through encounters and cooperation
* To look at the role of the media in cementing prejudices
* Provide training and education for mutual understanding
* To collect and analyze material on Islamophobia
* Facilitate partnerships and projects development

Reaching the common person

The religious dimension in intercultural relations is one of the greatest diversity challenges we face today. Interfaith dialogue is key, but it does not reach the wide-range of people who would not participate in interfaith activities.

The problems between the West and Islam are not religion-not in the basic defining tenets of either Islam or Christianity, but rather in the exploitation of the poor and ignorant members of the two societies. On both sides, extremists use fear and retribution as tactics to encourage subservience among the "faithful." Education is key to removing the rot from the brains of all of the blind followers

In marked contrast to Christian attitudes to Islam, Muslims have historically respected Christianity as a sister religion that shares the same prophets and many of the same moral values. Muslims would welcome a rapprochement that heralded an end to Islamophobia. For this to be realized, however, most people in the Western societies have to shed their racism and face up to the realities of past and recent encounters between Muslims and Christians.

In short, the only way forward lies in our ability to listen and act rationally. Acting on our emotions may satisfy our short-term need but it will not help the Muslim communities to be respected and accepted.

My experience of 40 years in the West tells me that no matter how bleak the future looks; there is always a ray of hope and a tiny candle of light burning to show us the way. Faith in the best in humanity can move mountains and if we do not loose sight of our goals, the journey will one-day be completed.

But it is imperative that the progressive European forces must wake up, because to those much is given, is much required.

Pluralistic approach is the answer!

In the case of Europe, I believe, the thinking man's true contribution lies in helping political leaders by re-examining the path via which the cultivated person is educated and developed, taking into account that one of the key characteristic of the modern society is, it's pluralistic nature.

Tomorrow's European should no longer be obsessed with the idea of a single identity, even less so by the quest of a strong sense of European-ness. They must advance towards an identity that is, if not weak, at least flexible and open. They will then become authentic citizens in a society where identity will at last be dissociated from race, culture, religion and color.

If Europe really wants to have a pluralistic society, a cosmopolitan identity and a intercultural dialogue, then it must do away with Euro-centrism and enlarge the definition of identity from being - exclusive to all-inclusive. It must be multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious.


Bashy Quraishy


Coordinator of EMISCO
Chair-Advisory Council-ENAR - Brussels
Chair-Jewish Muslim Co-operation Platform - Brussels
Senior Advisor - COJEP International- Strasbourg
Mobile; 0045 40 15 47 71 Phone; 0045 38 88 19 77