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“Islamophobia” Joins the Rainbow Coalition

Dec 4, 2014 3:54 pm By Robert Spencer

IslamophobiaThreat‘Islamophobia’ Joins the Rainbow Coalition
by Andrew Harrod

“Same-sex marriage bans” and “anti-sharia/anti-‘foreign law’” bills seek “to disenfranchise historically marginalized groups,” according to the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU)’s latest “Islamophobia” study, “Islamophobia: A Threat to All.” An audience of around fifty at a recent panel discussion on the study at Georgetown University’s Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU) witnessed an unconvincing attempt to integrate combatting “Islamophobia” into a broad leftist coalition.

The study’s “manufacturing bigotry” section analyzes correlations between “restrictive legislative agendas” in American state legislatures across six areas: “voter identification,” “immigration laws,” “right-to-work,” “laws restricting abortion rights and access,” and the aforementioned topics. Assessing the study, panel moderator Dalia Mogahed—ISPU research director and longstanding anti-Israel apologist for radical Islam—proclaimed that an “injustice to one is really a threat to all.” ISPU, she added, is however “focused on the Muslim-American community.”

Lead study researcher Saeed Khan dismissed American alarm over sharia law encroachments as prejudice. This lecturer in the department of classical and modern languages, literatures, and cultures at Wayne State University, Detroit is a regular speaker at the University of California, Berkeley’s annual Islamophobia conferences. In light of Obama’s successful elections, Khan strained credulity by predicting that the future replacement of the country’s historic white protestant majority with a “majority-minority country” would cause a “moral panic that America is irreversibly changing.” “Islamophobia within this broader demographic shift,” he argued, “is not really an isolated or unique phenomenon.” Accordingly, one of his PowerPoint presentations recommended that Muslims, “explore potential intersections with other issues,” however unrelated to Islam.

Georgetown labor historian Joseph McCartin—Jesuit employer and Catholic undergraduate education notwithstanding—portrayed anti-sharia efforts as “connected to other regressive policies,” such as opposition to abortion and homosexuality. According to McCartin, homosexuals, feminists, and others allegedly targeted by “regressive policies . . . have to stand together” with sharia’s defenders. Laughably, in his imagination, the “things that unite us are more important than the things that divide us.” Drag queens, burka-clad Muslims, and union workers of the world unite!

In leftist jargon, McCartin described the “othering” of Islam within a “carefully orchestrated attack” on workers and voting rights, while assuming that enforced unionization and a lack of identification safeguards, respectively, best protect these interests. Referencing past animosity towards Irish-Catholic immigrants, while seemingly oblivious to modern American diversity, McCartin reiterated the worn out trope that Americans are only comfortable with minorities “as long as they don’t have power and voice.”

National Black Caucus of State Legislators policy director Ajenai Clemmons, meanwhile, was “incredibly grateful” for a study that is “deeply reaffirming to our experience” of “structural racism.” A “large part of the electorate,” Clemmons claimed, advocates “policies that are especially destructive to people who don’t look like them,” such as racially neutral right-to-work laws. She dismissed voter identification laws, or “legislation ostensibly combatting voter fraud,” as merely “intensifying efforts to suppress the vote.”

While decrying “ultra-conservative messages,” Clemmons praised Democratic congressman Keith Ellison as a “great” example of a Muslim politician. She seconded McCartin’s superficial unity appeal, emphasizing “how important it is for all our communities to collaborate” by “seeing your fate and stakes as one” in “transformational coalition building.” Fortunately, no rousing “kumbaya” rendition followed.

Madihha Ahussein, an attorney with Muslim Advocates (MA), praised the study’s findings that Muslims like her—or those supposedly suffering from “Islamophobia”—are “not alone.” According to the Investigative Project on Terrorism, MA “reflexively criticizes counter-terrorism investigations.” Ahussein claimed there had been a “noted increase” in FBI-recorded anti-Muslim hate crimes since 2010, although 2012 figures show the majority of America’s religiously motivated hate crimes targeting Jews—a longstanding trend. Lamenting that the “industry of hate . . . particularly the anti-Muslim hate network, is very large” and “extremely vocal and active,” she warned that a “huge population on the Internet . . . can mobilize very quickly . . . within seconds.” Rather than the term “Islamophobia,” Ahassein pointed out that MA prefers “anti-Muslim hate or bigotry,” for Islam’s critics “are not afraid of Muslims” and are “very deliberate.”

Jonathan Brown, ACMCU Chair of Islamic Civilization, boasted that co-host ACMCU is a “huge supporter” of research on “civil liberties, Islamophobia,” and “bigotry.” He argued that “to deprive a group of Americans of rights” via “Islamophobia” calls into question American exceptionalism, or Americans’ belief “that there is something special about their country.” Apparently for Brown, victimhood promotion looms larger than America’s considerable human rights legacy.

Although IPSU’s study seeks to foment the type of leftist-Muslim alliance seen throughout the world, most recently in Ferguson, Missouri’s racial unrest, reception attendees indirectly demonstrated the unwieldiness of this coalition. Deepa Iyer, for example, formerly led South Asian Americans Leading Together, a group that has collaborated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a radical faux civil rights group. Yet, demonstrating that not all South Asian “people of color” think alike, Harsh Voruganti’s Hindu-American Foundation has focused on Muslim repression of Hindus.

Such disparate and, at times, mutually contradictory ethnic and political interests cannot effectively coalesce with some Muslims’ concerns, genuine or not, over “Islamophobia.” Muslims, in turn, risk alienating conservative Americans with ill-considered leftist political alignments. Yet anti-Western Islamic groups have no choice for support and legitimacy other than the political left, given the unifying hatred of Judeo-Christian, bourgeois society in the United States, Israel, and elsewhere. Observers of Islamist groups should carefully consider these political tactics.

Andrew E. Harrod is a freelance researcher and writer who holds a PhD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a JD from George Washington University Law School. He is a fellow with the Lawfare Project; follow him on twitter at @AEHarrod. He wrote this essay for Campus Watch, a project of the Middle East Forum.

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Filed Under: "Islamophobia", academia Tagged With: Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University


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Comments

  1. cs says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 4:11 pm

    Very unsettling I say.

    • Been There Got the Tee Shirt says

      Dec 4, 2014 at 6:19 pm

      @ cs, Agreed.

      The article says “Saeed Khan dismissed American alarm over sharia law encroachments as prejudice”.

      OK, Saeed, at what point does an educated person have the right to pass judgement that is not prejudicial? More taqiyya and kitman from Saeed, an islamic, I’d say. Or am I being prejudicial?

      How much worse does it have to get, how many more jihadi incidents have to happen, how many more Christians have to be slaughtered, and how many more taqiyya and/or kitman statements do we have to tolerate by Barak Hussein Obama, before the media can dispense with the white house’s talking-points-of-the-day and realize there is a clear and present danger here?

      And just who are the real victims? Just because they are thousands of miles away, why do we disregard or are less sympathetic to their plight? And why in the world would I give Saeed’s comments any credence?

      Yes, “historically marginalized groups” exist. But who is marginalizing whom, and what are the marginalizers’ methods to deal with those they marginalize? Seems like they are hate, persecution, and beheading, based on a 7th century cookbook? Or am I being prejudicial again?

      Those offering expert commentary on inter-cultural phenomena need to quit judging all ethnic, religious, and cultural groups by the Judeo-Christian-Western they were raised with, and do a better job of getting into the heads of those they are commenting on. Lkie the Georgetown “labor historian” Joseph McCartin. Why in the world is a “labor historian” being cited as an expert in sharia? is this more taqiyya and kitman too? Or was Mr McCartin just a bit uninformed and marginalized by the marginalizers as a “useful idiot”?

      And for those religious scholars commenting, I would ask the simple question, do they believe there is evil in the world? If they answer “no”, then their arguments must be rooted in a moral equivalency based argument, and should be labeled as such.If they believe there is evil, then they should be clear and concise when labeling either side.

      • Bonnie Loranger says

        Dec 5, 2014 at 8:37 am

        You are totally right about Saed Khan. He is an Islamist and a liar. I live in Detroit and have heard him talk in various interfaith groups.He is very sneaky.

      • Bonnie Loranger says

        Dec 5, 2014 at 10:33 am

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz7zM7yg4NA

        Here is a video from one of Mr. Khan ‘lecture at Michigan state and how he is trying to defend sharia law as a foreign law like the Napoleonic code used in the Louisiana courts.The Napoleonic law is secular and sharia law is not. But I do not think the students got it.

  2. somehistory says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 4:18 pm

    Using projection to stifle free speech. Christians are not the ones who hate as has been proven over and over. The term islamophobia…coined to intimidate, to force into silence any who want to tell the truth about islam, the books used to teach it and the destructive nature it engenders and promotes in its followers. The devil has many tools in his work belt. This term islamophobia is just another one he is using to strengthen his beast.

  3. JS says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    Dear panelists,… Have you ever thought that Islam is the threat to all, and that “Islamophobia” is just one of the logical consequences of it? …No? ..Why?.. Because logic and facts are irrelevant?.. I see.. Thanks. No further question.

  4. FarmerMike says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 4:54 pm

    I just wrote 3 letters–one to each of my state’s Senators, & 1 to my Congresscritter–and it occurred to me to post a note here to encourage bloggers on this site to do something similar. We really are in a cultural-political crisis, & if we want to help shape the outcome of this crisis, it seems to me sending letters to Senators, Congresscritters, & especially to newspaper editors, & radio & tv, would help shake our fellow citizens awake, & stir them to action! Someone once said, “Evil prevails when good people do nothing,.” So, now is the time to act!

    • shrugger says

      Dec 4, 2014 at 5:35 pm

      Agreed. Have done, will continue to do.

    • Arthur says

      Dec 4, 2014 at 8:23 pm

      You inspire me to do as you have done!

    • John Stefan Obeda says

      Dec 8, 2014 at 5:50 pm

      Yes, let’s do what we can while we can. The newspaper editors do not print most of my paragraphs about Islam, but, sometimes some are printed. Better to try and do than not try and not do. But do it with prayer to the Triune God.

  5. Zebo says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 5:44 pm

    lol-it seems that muslim politicians/dictators are the worst islamophobs at,because they,as soon as they have the power,fight fundamental islam first because they know how much of a threat islam and sharia are.
    Assad ,ghaddafi and saddam did so and the first thing sisi did in egypt was? several hundred death penalties for radical muslims because this is theonly way you can cope with those lunatics
    as (radical)muslims have the tendencie to consider pollite and toleranz behaviour often as sign of weakness,because their crazy prophet and their evil god created a hirarchial system where you either
    surpress or are surpressed.

    I think someone should try to heel those stupid leftist asskissers,though i think it is almost impossible.
    Communism has killed 150mio people in several countries in just a few decades,but those idiots still say communism is great.
    The same with islam.Terror after terror,persecution,legalise pedophilia,women treated like shit,legak slavery,an i.human sharia
    and the leftists know very very well about this but they still pretend “everything is fine”

    Seems leftist,while pretending to be humanist freethinkers have a secret nihilistic deathwish of suffer from stockholm syndrom,as both(islam/ communism) are centralised with an extreme hirarchy,and centralsation+extreme hierarchy lead always to fascistic dictatorships.

    Someone shouldtell them what happened in Iran after khomeini took over the country.
    The first thing he did was hunting the liberal freethinkers,and after he destroyed them he hunted the gays.

    • cs says

      Dec 4, 2014 at 7:09 pm

      Agreed with most of it. It is funny, these salafis and wahabis have a freeway in Britain, but in the ME they are under scrutiny, because people know them.
      I don’t know what this people here is up to, can’t really grasp it.

      • pumbar says

        Dec 4, 2014 at 11:13 pm

        They want nothing less than the destruction of white, Western, Capitolism. In that they are all bedfellows, odd bedfellows admittedly.
        The education system is riddled with these people, our government, our civil service, legal system and police.
        Here’s an example, from the U.S, of just how far this madness has got;

        http://www.westernjournalism.com/white-mugging-victim-claims-deserved-attacked-privilege/?utm_source=MailChimp&utm_medium=email&utm_content=featured-stories&utm_campaign=DailyEmail11.29.14#FOd7WFelkKvufkYR.97

  6. albert says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 5:58 pm

    I am not anti gay, live and let live as they say.Well there is a recourse now for gay couples if the vicar or priest refuses to marry them, they could apply to the local Imam and begin the joyous celebrations at the local mosque.

    • albert says

      Dec 4, 2014 at 6:03 pm

      Regarding my earlier post, come on some of our gay friends, apply for a marriage service at the local mosque if you’re of a mind, call the leftards bluff.

  7. mortimer says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    Hunhhhhh!!!!!

    “… feminists, and others allegedly targeted by “regressive policies . . . have to stand together” with sharia’s defenders.”

    What ??? Sharia law says, the homosexual is first punished through harsh beating, and if he/she repeats the act, the death penalty is to be applied. Many Islamic scholars hold the opinion that the homosexual should be thrown from a high building or stoned to death.

    Are these gay activists serious or are they totally delusional?

    • Salah says

      Dec 4, 2014 at 8:01 pm

      “Many Islamic scholars hold the opinion that the homosexual should be thrown from a high building or stoned to death.”

      That is unless they’re doing it…for Allah!!!

      http://crossmuslims.blogspot.ca/2012/07/wide-anus-for-allah-anus-large-pour.html

  8. DRDIAS says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 7:40 pm

    “Islam is an overly deprave Ideology that was fabricated by a group of completely barbaric semi illiterate mass murdering pillaging lying misogynistic whore mongering syphilitic profane warlords and pedophiles to subjugate then enslave those who they deem easily conquerable or infrahuman to sadistically feed their demented sexual orientations!”

    Islam being the one to be most feared in the 21st century for its ruthless violent acts against humanity!

    “The only peace and tolerance Islam delivered is to the dead!”

    “We must stop enabling this death cult known as Islam!

    “Islam is an Ideology of death not a religion!”

    Islam the Ideological cult of Enslavement and Death!

    There is no such thing as “moderate muslims”, nor is there a “radical Islam.”

    The people being called terrorists are simply following the Quran, Hadith, and Sira and the life of Muhammad who spent his entire career waging bloody slaughter, raids, raping, plundering and taking slaves.

    This is what Islam IS!

    The sugar coated “religion of peace” version was created for western consumption and is a complete lie and deception

    If Mohammed was alive today, he would be a member of Al-Qaida!

    Read more at http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=083_1211136873#w26t9gi31PmczAl3.99

  9. mortimer says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 8:48 pm

    Homosexuals supporting Sharia law? Do they know that Sharia does not support them?

    Sharia says the homosexual is first punished through harsh beating, and if he/she repeats the act, the death penalty is to be applied.

    Other views are that the homosexual receives the same punishment as adultery: stoning, but if single, he/she is whipped 100 times.

    Still others say that the homosexual should be thrown from a high building, but a minority say homosexuals should be imprisoned until death.

    From the Saudi Ministry of Education Textbooks for Islamic Studies: 2007-2008 Academic Year, we read: “Homosexuality is one of the most disgusting sins and greatest crimes…. It is a vile perversion that goes against sound nature, and is one of the most corrupting and hideous sins…. The punishment for homosexuality is death…Homosexuality is one of the most disgusting sins and greatest crimes…. It is a vile perversion that goes against sound nature, and is one of the most corrupting and hideous sins…. The punishment for homosexuality is death.”

  10. mortimer says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 8:50 pm

    Muslim Reactions to Homosexuality in the Real World:

    1.As of 1999 in Iran, more than 4,000 lesbians and gays had been executed since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
    2.Two thirds of all reported incidents of anti-gay violence in Amsterdam are by Muslim youths.
    3.As of 2009, homosexual relationships, acts or behavior are illegal in 36 Islamic countries. 10 impose the death penalty.
    4.A 2009 Gallup survey could not find a single British Muslim who approved of homosexuality.

  11. RonaldB says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 8:55 pm

    I would have one word to describe the conference on “Islamophobia: A Threat to All.” .

    BORING!!!!!!!

    I don’t mind hearing opinions different from my own, even ones I consider reprehensible. But, I do want some critical thinking and discussion.

    This so-called academic conference grouped together a bunch of people with the same opinions and same political positions. There was no critical discussion and no dissent, because the goal of such a conference is not to argue and seek truth, but to give the true believers their marching orders. It would drive me crazy to have to attend such a gathering, not because I disagreed with them, but because it would rot my mind. How can you tell truth from fiction in such an environment? In what passes for academia currently, all the believers pack the conferences, teach each other’s students, review each other’s papers and books, and vote on each other’s tenure applications. It’s like the European royalty, who inbred with each other, producing rulers of low intelligence and and even lower competence in running a government.

    On the face of it, I can’t understand how any self-respecting academic could attend any function of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU). This is an institute sponsored by the royal family of Saudi Arabia, a country which won’t even allow a bible legally in the country. The very name is self-contradictory. Anyone participating in a conference at an institution of such low logical and critical integrity has already checked his critical and ethical sense at the door, along with his coat.

    And predictably enough, the presentations traveled the thought spectrum from A to A.

    I would like to see even one of these so-called experts take part in a real debate, argument, or discussion, with a knowledgeable person who does not share their opinion. I honestly think they have lost not only any critical sense, but any sense of integrity and honest disputation.

  12. citycat says

    Dec 5, 2014 at 7:13 am

    Silence like a cancer grows
    That Islamophobia, clothed in sophisticated apologisms, in positions of control, is treacherous

  13. citycat says

    Dec 5, 2014 at 7:18 am

    Therefore the collective silence should hold a scream-in of thousands each day
    Blaspheme against the cause of silence

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