Fast on the heels of the University of California’s anti-free speech “Battle of Berkeley”—in which hundreds of black-clad, left-wing, “anti-fascists” attacked Trump supporters in the streets—around five hundred students and scholars attended the weekend conference “Islamophobia & The End of Liberalism?”
The conference poster featured a righteously concerned Statue of Liberty embracing a young Muslim woman in a hijab as if to protect her from the xenophobic natives. The clear implication was that the Western liberal tradition requires open borders and that Muslims as people, rather than jihadis as ideologues, are threatened by fellow Americans.
The concept of “Islamophobia” was created as a political device to demonize critics of Islamic supremacism. At UC Berkeley, the fundamental question was whether “Islamophobia” represents a betrayal of the tradition of Enlightenment liberalism or its imperial, racist fulfillment. This query hovered over the eighth annual conference organized by Hatem Bazian, director of the University’s Islamophobia Research & Documentation Project (IRDP), who blasted what he called “Trumpism.” Surprisingly, the participants from universities around the world did not settle for a pat answer.
Adnan Husain of Queen’s University in Canada argued that the “liberal concept of multiculturalism” is undermined by contemporary forms of aggressive, white, Western “crusaderism.”
In a talk entitled “Liberal Islamophobia,” the University of Denver’s Nader Hashemi asserted that Hillary Clinton is anti-Muslim because she claimed during the 2016 presidential campaign that moderate Muslims represent a bulwark against “violent extremism.” In doing so, she allegedly reduced the American Muslim community to a foreign policy tool of the U.S. government.
Raja Abdulhaq, a graduate student in international affairs at Brooklyn College, asserted that the goal of white Western liberals was to transform Muslims into “carbon copies” of themselves.
Meanwhile, Long Island University philosopher Shaireen Rasheed maintained that the so-called “Western gaze” reduces Islam to a thing in need of reform, according to the standards of white Western cultural hegemony.
Thus, concerns over terrorism or Sharia law are reduced to attempts to control, formalize, and channel Western Muslim identities into alienating, indoctrinating, and inauthentic white liberal molds.
When one asks if terrorism and Islamic supremacism inspire Western anti-Muslim bigotry, the knee-jerk response is to accuse the questioner of “Islamophobia.” The problem, we are to believe, is not terrorism or the spread of Islamic supremacism into Europe. According to the general attitude of the conference, these are merely the natural responses of a people oppressed under the weight of voracious white, Western, racist, colonialist, imperialist aggression.
In other words, the real problem is not Osama bin Laden, but George W. Bush and Donald Trump.
What was perhaps most disconcerting about the conference was the tendency to embrace anti-Semitic anti-Zionism while claiming to oppose ethnic prejudice. A perfect example of this was the use of Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff to promote the event. Latuff specializes in demonizing Israeli Jews as violently inhumane creatures in much the same way the Nazis did with European Jews. It was akin to displaying racist caricatures of African-Americans while professing to fight racism.
Given the inclusion of UC Berkeley’s “IRDP” in Latuff’s signature, Bazian and other conference organizers knowingly endorsed his vile work. Their actions reveal their intent to legitimize anti-Semitism by using it at a UC Berkeley event ostensibly dedicated to fighting racism.
Ultimately, the “Islamophobia” conference contradicted itself in at least two ways. Foremost was the morally reprehensible act of espousing anti-Semitism, ostensibly in order to combat anti-Muslim bigotry. The other was its insistence that the larger Muslim world, comprised of 1.6 billion people—about one-quarter of the world’s population—are fundamentally victims of aggressive Europeans imperial excess. Centuries of Muslim imperialism aside, playing the victim card allows Bazian and his colleagues to continue their aggressions against the West under the guise of moral purity.
Michael Lumish is an analyst on the Arab-Israeli conflict and the proprietor of Israel Thrives. He holds a Ph.D. in American History from the Pennsylvania State University and has taught at Penn State, San Francisco State University, and City College of San Francisco. This article was sponsored by Campus Watch, a project of the Middle East Forum.
Rev g says
Why don’t they show the back of the Statue of Liberty, so you can see the muslima getting ready to plunge a dagger into Lady Liberty’s back?
mortimer says
Defending the fifth column from criticism and EXPOSURE. The ‘Islamophobia’ is a dagger aimed at FREE SPEECH.
Robert says
I ahgree…. how can comparing Islam to the Bill of Human Rights be islamophobia (whatever that word means) ?
Creole Gumbo says
Good point.
dumbledoresarmy says
Actually, perhaps Bosch Fawstin could *redraw* this image to show precisely *that*.
Perhaps a sequence…
An alternative is to show the Muslimah in the next picture *tying up* or poisoning lady liberty .. and then standing by, ululating, as a group of bearded mohammedan thugs prepare to *rape* the victim that she has tricked into letting down her guard.
Robert says
is there a true difference between left extremists and right extremists in our society?? They both hate and are ready to kill for their believes…. But I beleive that Robert Spencer and others should compare Sharia to the Bill (Magna Charta) of Human Rights…. almost anything in the Sharia and the Qoran is 180 dgrees opposite the Bill of Human Rights….. so yiu take the wind out of the sails of the islamophobia-fighters
WVinMN says
The European/Asian Left is on the hook for at least 100 million deaths during the 20th century alone. The American Left embraced the institution of slavery, separate-but-equal, Jim Crow Laws and the KKK. Remind us all again about the “moral equivalence” demonstrated by conservatives or the “right” that is comparable to such a legacy of evil? I won’t hold my breath.
Cretius says
Debate rather the values you want to see in society rather than debating which side is the greater butcher. That is a sucker’s game and a waste of effort.
WVinMN says
The are no “sides”, and there is no debate. The Left embraces malcontents, and provides excuses for their foot soldiers to carry out terrible acts violence. You’ve been called out and your moral equivalency decimated. Chalk it up as a learning experience.
mortimer says
Islamophobia to be replaced by KAFIR-O-PHOBIA.
It is HYPOCRITICAL for LEFTARDS and VERBAL JIHADISTS to denounce an undefined, theoretical, nebulous, unofficial ‘Islamophobia’, when Islam contains an intolerant, discriminatory doctrine that is ‘ESSENTIAL’, DEFINED, LEGALLY BINDING, PRECISE and OFFICIAL.
• ‘Al Walaa wal Baraa’ – (Allegiance and Disassociation) is an Islamic doctrine that is very similar to apartheid, but more severe.
• ‘Al Walaa wal Baraa’ is an ‘essential doctrine’ (usul ud-deen). ‘Essential’ means that all Muslims must believe and practice al Walaa wal Baraa as a condition of being admitted to paradise.
• ‘Al Walaa wal Baraa’ is a highly developed, well-supported and canonical part of Islam approved by the consensus of Islamic jurists.
• ‘Al Walaa wal Baraa’ is legally binding and obligatory upon all Muslims.
• ‘Al Walaa wal Baraa’ is precisely defined by Islamic jurists and is not a nebulous idea
• ‘Al Walaa wal Baraa’ is an official Islamic doctrine and considered the second most important doctrine in Islam.
Definition of ‘Al Walaa wal Baraa’ from Islamic sources:
• from “The Islaamic Concept of al-Walaa’ wal-Baraa’” by Khalid El-Gharib: …“[iv] to show enmity to those who show enmity to Allaah and His Messenger” (i.e. Muslims are to visibly demonstrate their enmity or towards the kufaar – non-Muslims)
• from a lecture given by Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal (H.A.): “The implication of al-Baraa is that one HATES for the sake of Allah (SWT)…Al-Baraa means to recognize who your enemies are and to HATE them and EXTERMINATE them in their Endeavour to get rid of your Deen, al-Islam…Al-Baraa is to HATE the people who propagate Baatil (falsehood)—the Muslim should HATE them and (at least desire to) KILL them when the time comes.” (i.e. the hatred of Muslims toward the kufaar is for the purpose of ethnic cleansing)
Examples of Baraa from Historic Islamic Leaders:
• from Ahmad Sirhindi (1564-1624): “The honour of Islam lies in insulting kufr and kafirs. One who respects the kafirs dishonours the Muslims… The real purpose of levying jiziya on them is to humiliate them to such an extent that they may not be able to dress well and to live in grandeur. They should constantly remain terrified and trembling. It is intended to hold them under contempt and to uphold the honour and might of Islam.”
• from ibn Taymiyya, “Book of Emaan”: “… true believers show animosity and hatred towards disbelievers and never support them.”
• from Umar Sulayman ‘Abd-Allaah al-Ashqar, “Belief in Allah”: “The Muslim should regard the Kuffaar as enemies and hate them because of their kufr, just as he hates their kufr (disbelief) itself.”
Custos Custodum says
OUTSTANDING OUTLINE!
A lucid, tightly-drafted exposition of this key concept of normative Islam which is often ignored, misrepresented and misunderstood.
Thank you, Mortimer!
John A. Marre says
Clever. Depicting Miss Liberty as protecting that poor “oppressed” woman from those evil Christian-Americans.
A better drawing would have been Miss Liberty in a hijab, being stoned to death by 10 bearded male Muslims.
C T says
I like that image. Much more accurate. If they knew anything about most versions of Islam (gotta except the Quranists and Nizari Ismaili), they would realize that Islam itself spells the end of liberalism. Such a shame that Berkeley has sunk so far into know-nothingness.
dumbledoresarmy says
“A better drawing would have been Miss Liberty in a hijab, being stoned to death by 10 bearded male Muslims.”
No: Miss Liberty non-hijabbed, being *raped* by ten bearded male Muslims. With the Muslimah standing nearby ululating with glee (which is what Muslim women used to do when non-Muslim women in South Sudan or Darfur were being gang-raped by the Janjaweed, Muslim jihad raiders).
John Magne Trane says
The Lady of Liberty should be hugging a bearded islamist, instead of a female one.
Oh, wait, she’d be decapitated then.
dumbledoresarmy says
Raped and enslaved. Like all those poor little girls in the UK.
LaLa says
The picture to me states,
America’s response to the oppressed Muslim women ” I am sorry but the nation of America is too scared to stand up against Islamic beliefs and fight for your rights as a human being, your rights to be free under the constitution even though you have come to America to be “Free” you still will be oppressed”
That is why the Statue of Liberty is hugging the Muslim.
simpleton1 says
Those muslimas often do not feel oppressed. They believe in The Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam (CDHRI).and the imam of their local mosque.
Many believe they are free in following Mohammad, and worshiping Allah.
It is just that they want freedom from other sects of islam that do not match theirs.
They will also enforce many of the sharia laws on their own sisters, and daughters and back up there men folk.
Lala you do have a point that Americans and the Western world,should be strong in what they believe, so that there is a safe alternative if even one muslima wants to leave islam.
As Osama bin Laden said, “they will chose the strong horse over the weak horse”.
Our laws to be strong to stop intimidation, and strongly punish threats and honour killings.
Marriage, divorce and inheritance as per Western laws. Sharia courts banned.
To be able to leave the burka, niqab or hijab.
We must know ourselves, and value our culture, so that it can be seen as realistic choice, or we will lose it all.
ChristianInDeed says
To me the Lady of liberty looks to be a ‘woman of colour’ encouraging minority(?) groups to huddle together in freedom and solidarity against the evil people who would seek to spread the truth.
ChristianInDeed says
Very well put.
I still can’t figure why more people can’t/won’t see this as at least a starting point for discussion without labelling the attempted instigator of said discussion as “Islamaphobe” and refusing further dialogue!
Truly we live in troubled times.
Monty says
I have one suggestion for the lefties who are so in love with Islam. Go and live in Afghanistan for a while. Not in the cities, but in the country. Find out what Islam is really about. Convert if you like. just don’t come back. Funny how they’ve made Ms Liberty look a bit like Angelina Jolie (whim I can’t stand for some reason). Ktulu is right. The Western world sold its soul to the Middle East decades ago. The oil crisis of 1974 was Islam flexing its muscle in the light of Egypt’s failed attempt to destroy Israel. It’s been downhill ever since. A succession of bad decisions, complete misunderstanding of Muslim mentality (still prevails) and a point blank refusal to accept the bleeding obvious with respect to Islam. The Muslim world now calls the tune and there are plenty of “dhimmiwits” ready to dance.
Cretius says
Definition of ‘Islamophobia’
It is sad that Western politicians on the political Left continue to refuse the reality of the true Muslim definition of ‘Islamophobia’.
‘Islamophobia’, n. any comment or discussion of the teachings of the Islamic belief system, Islam’s history, Islam’s related cultural practices, the reality of Sharia Law, the history and nature of Islam’s prophet by any and all non-believers (infidels, kaffirs).
Motion M-103, passed by the Canadian Parliament, is nothing less than an abrogation of the right of free speech and personal choice by surrendering to the demands of a supremacist belief system, Islam, that does not allow for the accommodation of non-believers. M-103 is a betrayal of the democratic principles that our fathers and grandfathers fought and died for in two World Wars.
The ignorance and naivety of Western politicians when dealing with Islam is appalling and does not bode well for the long term survival of Western democratic values, cultural practices, or equality before the law.
Pandering for votes at the expense of our democracy is despicable and presents Islam as a ‘religion of peace’ that is not confirmed by any objective review of that belief system. We deserve better but that is beyond the pale of the present Liberal government.
The following proves that Justin Trudeau has no clue as to the realities of Islam and it’s onslaught against Canadian democratic values and institutions.
——————————————————————————————–
“Canadian Imam contradicts Trudeau: “Islam will never become a part of liberal secularism”
Posted by: CIJnews Staff March 25, 2017
David Ramseur says
How do curious students not just drop their jaws at such idiotic argumentation? How is it possible for someone in the audience to not see right thru this absolute insanity? How have they not jumped the shark?
abad says
That “embrace” by the Statue of Liberty only tells me that she “embraces” Islam.
Think long and hard about what I just said!
The United States of America must be purged of the Evil known as Islam.
duh swami says
An Islamophobe is not someone who misunderstands Islam,,,An Islamophobe is someone who understands Islam all too well..
SAM says
Poor Muslims over and over and over and over again! Stupid people are taken again and again and again.
Will this stupidity about Islam ever end?
MacUalraig says
It absolutely will, SAM.
MacUalraig says
Islam is clearly anti-enlightenment, anti-liberalism. Progs know it but want to make common cause to overcome the capitalist West, yes?
And then the Muzz will kill off the Prog commies.
But it won’t get to that.
Eur says
The statue symbolizes everything contrary to Islam. Freedom, union of people regardless of their origin, knowledge and laws.Islam is dogmatism, oppression, social control and theocracy.
gravenimage says
Exactly, Eur.
gravenimage says
UC Berkeley Pits Liberalism Against ‘Islamophobia’
…………………………….
I’m ashamed to say this is my alma mater.
C T says
I feel for you. No one likes to see a place that is supposed to stand for free speech and science education be so willfully blind.
gravenimage says
Thanks, C T. There are a lot of great things about Berkeley–this ugly stupidity is not one of them.
tedh754@gmail.com says
Another reason why Islam reminds me of communism. If a country like the US enters a country during a war, it is imperialism. If the old Soviet Union TOOK OVER a country, it is “liberation.” If a country being invaded by Islam, it is called “Divine Will” and if anybody fights back, they are “enemies of Allah.” No matter what happens and no matter how it happens to take over, Islam and communism are always on “the right side of history.” Name one Islamic country that became that way by peaceful means!
Demsci says
That picture conveys the idea that that Muslima is American, a minority and that she is attacked or maligned by a big portion of other Americans, in need of protection by “liberal Americans”.
That is such a myopic view! First of all it is needed to ask all Muslims residing in America how they see themselves, and as a consequence where their highest loyalties lie.
Do American Muslims see themselves as Americans first and of the category of Americans it’s Muslim part?
Or do they see themselves as Muslims first and of the category of Muslims of the American variety?
If it’s the former, than yes, loyalty of the Muslim and protection of her are OK.
But I am almost 100 % sure that the Muslims in America and the West have the second image of themselves, that of being Muslims of the American variety.
And therefore their loyalty is towards the Ummah and that is largely hostile to America.
So in this picture, in terms of seeing the Muslima as representative of the average Muslim, depicts a well-meaning lady Liberty protecting an enemy of Herself, a snake, a rat. Or at the very least, an unresponsive sullen protégé, not worth protecting until she unequivocally chooses loyalty to lady liberty over loyalty to her enemies.
This picture does not present a two-way-streeft relationship,
Henner720 says
Arabs do things leftist not have stomach to grasp utter extreme violent darkness.Saudi oil money buyes influence anywhere, whithout oilmoney nobody want arab lifestyle.nobody.
UNCLE VLADDI says
Re: “The clear implication was that the Western liberal tradition requires open borders and that Muslims as people, rather than jihadis as ideologues, are threatened by fellow Americans.”
“Muslims” AREN’T “people:” it’s not an ethnicity, it designates crime-gang membership.
And “islamophobia” is simply a categorical sub-set of CRIME-O-PHOBIA.
Is it now a mental illness “phobia” or morally wrong to be scared of criminals?!
sog says
We should blame western imperialism if ever there are 1.5 Billion Anglicans worldwide, many of whom are hell bent on supporting holy war. As it is, we should blame something else.
Lydia says
Terror attacks all over the world in the name of allah, but hey, what’s to fear?
Don’t worry… be happy….. (kaboom!)
Personally I’m not afraid, I have nothing to fear from death, only and early ticket to
heaven. I just know islam is a false religion. And bad news for the world.
Liz Wagner says
“Their actions reveal their intent to legitimize anti-Semitism by using it at a UC Berkeley event ostensibly dedicated to fighting racism.” – This is exactly what happened at the first U.N. Antiracism Conference, in Durban, SA, back in 2000 (or thereabouts). The atmosphere at that conference was so viciously anti-Semitic that Israel and the U.S. walked out. Despite that spectacle of Jew-hatred, this marks the moment when the anti-Israel campaign accelerated in America, and moved into high gear around the world. The left consistently overlooks the vile Jew-hatred that motivates the Palestinian cause and that is a major component of the Muslim and Arab Middle Eastern culture, from which Bazian and many other leaders of the “Islamaphobia” conspiracy movement hail or descend. This is an ugly fact about the left that should be exposed and exploited more effectively.