What is Islamophobia?

Submitted by Octavio Johanson (Italy), Mar 13, 2006 at 15:43

Islamophobia is a form of racism. So, Michael Jackson could claim Islamophobia (read "racism") against him. But, what is Islamophobia? When French people ask Muslim students to show their face at school, that is a legitimate request. When the Italian parliament, in a rare show of bipartizanship, bans the burka, that is also legitimate. And there is nothing wrong for the Americans to deny a United Arab Emirates company the chance to be in charge of their security.

Similarly, I don't see anything wrong when the Australians restrict immigration from Muslim countries and the Irish ban bigamy. And the Danes are morally right when they make it impossible for Danish men to import under-25 wives from Muslim countries. And it is not wrong for Holland to ask people to speak Dutch, or to deport people who have ties to Islamist organizations. If this is Islamophobic, then so be it. But, if you are objective, none of these actions amounts to discrimination on the grounds of race, colour and creed. This is mere common sense.

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