Critical Patriot: islamophobia

Rushdie knighted - for something or other

"Salman Rushdie, who went into hiding under threat of death after an Iranian fatwa, has been knighted by the Queen.

His book The Satanic Verses offended Muslims worldwide and a bounty was placed on his head in 1989. "
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6756149.stm

In this whole article, all anyone seems to know about Salmon Rusdhie is that he attacks and upsets Islam. Some of his "intelligent" criticism includes "veils suck." This, of course, is an over reaching comment that assumes Muslim women everywhere are ruled by Taliban like regimes. Which isn't the case. The veil is typical of Western rhetoric regarding Islam. It is a piece of cloth that we get to argue against rather than engaging the women behind them. Many Muslim women have expressed disappointment at the discrimination they face in "free countries" when they choose to wear the veil. I wonder if Southern Baptist and other conservative Christian women face the same pressure over their roles and dictated clothing limitations.

All the writer knew about Rushdie is that he was known for irking Muslims. Which makes me wonder what the priorities of the British crown are these days when he's knighted for that.

Muslim Women (by Muslim Women):
http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/list.htm

Muslims Never Condemn Terror

I spent a small amount of time today addressing the question, "Why Muslims don't condemn terror?"

The short answer is - because of Islamophobia encouraging ignorance among some and willful hateful dishonesty by others - because Muslims do.

If you hear or read a public figure stating this question or presenting it as a statement of fact, especially someone with a staff and resources to do a basic search or read the newspaper - they are blatantly lying.

Here are some statements against violence. I didn't include the condemnations of violence specifically against Muslims, like Diallos murder, the burning of Mosques and killing or beatings of Muslims in western societies.

I hope everyone understands how bizarre the statements are in context. Imagine the NAACP being asked to apologize for violence in the Zimbawbe, or NCLR/LULAC for kidnappings in Colombia. Imagine these groups needing to condemn acts of foreign extrmist groups regularly and some to even compile lists of the condemnations to prove they happened.

Here is a good set of sites that actually collect statements. More than 200

Various condemnations of Nick Berg killing (including by conservatives and extremists)

Islamic Statements Against Terrorism in the Wake of the September 11 Mass Murders

Muslims Condemn Terrorist Attacks

Some by British Muslims

Muslims Around the World Condemn the Kidnapping of 2 French Journalists

Statement Of British Imams And Scholars On The September 11 Tragedy And Its Aftermath

Fight Terrorism, But Not Through Draconian Laws (1998)

MCB expresses total condemnation of terrorist attacks

MCB expresses total condemnation of terrorist attacks in US

MCB Condemns Attacks In Bali

MCB Condemns Bombings in Istanbul

Partnership Needed to Defeat Terror Threat Facing Us All

MCB condemns terrorist atrocities in Madrid

Muslims condemn reprehensible Nick Berg killing

Saudi Fatwas and statements against various specific acts and general acts of terrorism