Nader Hashemi’s opening remark of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy’s (CSID) annual conference, held last month at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC, dripped with the sophistry and hostility that saturated the event. “There is a good presence here today, including members of the Islamophobic industry. Andrew Harrod, I see, is in the audience,” sneered the University of Denver professor of Middle East studies (MES) in reference to this author’s attendance.
Hashemi is nothing if not consistent in his antagonism toward critical inquiry. At last year’s CSID conference, he refused to answer this reporter’s query: “I can’t have a serious conversation with you about the Muslim Brotherhood and violence because [your question] is driven by a certain ideological agenda.”
Pot, meet kettle.
CSID has numerous Islamic supremacist associations, including its former vice chair and Georgetown University professor John Esposito, who kicked off the conference “The Trump Administration and the Islamic World” via Skype. Speaking before a ballroom with about eighty guests seated around tables, he repeated his well-worn but little-supported mantra that “fear of Islam has become normalized in popular culture, and indeed since 2015 has grown exponentially.”
Yet Esposito’s own comments undermined this claim, as he conceded that his and a National Security Council colleague’s predictions had flopped. “When we got in the field” of MES decades ago, he lamented, “we were sure that things would get better in the Middle East” with developments like a Palestinian peace settlement. But now “the Middle East is imploding.”
Willfully blind to Islam’s faith-based aggression and authoritarian political doctrines, Esposito mocked Trump Administration officials for ostensibly believing that “Islam is not a religion, it is dangerous political ideology.” He dismissed this as “inconceivable from a rational point of view” and drew superficial analogies with Judaism and Christianity. “Imagine that somebody said that Judaism is not a religion, Christianity is not a religion. We would find that this is xenophobe [sic], we would feel that this is explosive, we would say this is anti-Christian, it is anti-Semitic.”
Esposito fretted over recent American initiatives to declare the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). If approved, it could “impact…more mainstream Muslim communities in America in terms of being monitored, questioned.” A prime example would be the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), an Islamist derivative of the MB’s Hamas affiliate, for which he has long been an apologist.
CSID’s senior program officer Mongi Dhaouadi and panelist Ahmed Bedier brought additional CAIR/nefarious connections to the conference. Dhaouadi is CAIR’s Connecticut chapter executive director, while Bedier founded CAIR’s Tampa, Florida chapter. In such company, Esposito worried that “if you ever were a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, somehow you belong to a terrorist organization. It sounds very much like a McCarthyite approach.”
Sharing the first panel with Esposito was his equally misleading Georgetown University colleague Tamara Sonn, whose professorship is funded by the MB-bastion Qatar. She decried the “confusion between Islam and terrorism” and belittled all too real jihadist/sharia threats in the academic jargon of the Copenhagen school of security studies’ “securitization theory.” A “securitization of Muslims,” she claimed, is a “successful speech act through which an understanding is constructed within a political community to treat something as an existential threat.”
Denying any specifically sectarian jihadist ideology, Sonn called on the audience to “compare the so-called Islamic terrorists’ complaints with those of non-Islamic terrorists; they are the same.” Her faulty “root cause” analysis optimistically held that “Muslims overwhelmingly condemn terrorism, but they also share political concerns with some terrorists” over such issues as Israel. She ignored that jihadist ideology from the very origins of Zionism has condemned the mere existence of a Jewish state in supposedly Muslim territory, long before any Israeli “occupation” began in 1967. “Until the formation of Hamas in the late 1980s, there were Palestinian groups resisting Israeli occupation and some were using terrorist tactics, but they were using secular ideologies, not pseudo-religious ideologies,” she argued unpersuasively.
Bracketing the conference on its final panel, the aforementioned Hashemi descended into simplistic rants against the Trump Administration. He condemned the unspecified “deep political incoherency, and also the complete moral bankruptcy, of Donald Trump’s approach towards the Islamic world.” He disdained Trump policy adviser Stephen Miller as a “disciple ideologically of the notorious right-wing Islamophobe David Horowitz.”
Hashemi proclaimed that “history will record that this election is a fundamental challenge to the type of democracy that we are used to in this country.” Of America’s democracy promotion abroad, he insisted that “you cannot support democracy abroad unless you have it at home.” Displaying the overconfidence of the self-described “resistance” to Trump, he predicted that “it is pretty clear we are heading towards impeachment,” concluding “in that sense, there might be an opening and cause for hope.”
Yale University Political Science Professor Andrew March struck the day’s single positive note during the panel on Tunisia. He claimed that Islamic “sharia is not something that is fixed,” but his record contradicted his optimistic assessment that Islamic law can accommodate free societies: he has previously defended Islamic polygamy and Islamic speech restrictions.
Dhaouadi lightened the atmosphere by convincing a reluctant Bedier to pose for a picture with this “notorious” author, but the conference disappointed. The participants defended the MB and its offshoots, insisted that Americans are “Islamophobic,” and whitewashed Islamic supremacism and terrorism. Likewise, unhinged criticism of Trump made what should have been a scholarly gathering little more than a political rally. Unfortunately, the conference accurately displayed the maladies that make contemporary MES a mockery of objective, rigorous scholarship and teaching.
Andrew E. Harrod is a Campus Watch Fellow, freelance researcher, and writer who holds a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School. He is a fellow with the Lawfare Project. Follow him on Twitter at @AEHarrod.
Wellington says
I’ve said this before and I will say it again. Anyone who seriously thinks “islamophobia” is a problem should never be taken seriously. Might as well complain (and Muslims are experts at the “complain game” as are dhimmi Leftists) about Marxistophobia or Naziophobia or KKKophobia.
Yeah, might as well.
mortimer says
They denounce Islamophobia, all the while PRAISING KAFIR-O-PHOBIA… the canonical HATRED directed by Muslims towards the dirty KAFIRS.
KAFIROPHOBIA is NORMATIVE ISLAM, rather than an aberration.
Al Walaa wal Baraa is the doctrine of hate that is authoritative, authentic, essential and compulsory upon all Muslims. The doctrine of Islamic hatred of disbelievers is called Al Walaa wal Baraa. Muslims will go to hell if they do not believe and practice Al Walaa wal Baraa faithfully.
-Imam Abdul-Latif ibn Abdur-Rahman Rahimullah said, “It is not possible for someone to realize Tawheed and act upon it, and yet not be hostile against the mushrikeen. So anyone who isn’t hostile against the mushrikeen, then it cannot be said that he acts upon Tawheed nor that he realizes it.” [ad-Durar as-Saniyyah 8/167]
Rufolino says
Thanks for making this very clear, Mortimer.
IQ al Rassooli says
It is a travesty of morality, justice and logic to mention Islam and Democracy in the first place. DECPTION is part and parcel of the DAILY life of every Muslim on the planet against every infidel/ Kafir/ Non Muslim on the planet as MANDATED in Muhammad’s Quran.
After all, is not Allah the god of Muslims “the best of DECEIVERS”? Is not Muhammad, their alleged ” most PERFECT male ever created” a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR?
The despicable behaviour of Muslims vs non Muslims is fully understandable. What is insane and beneath contempt is the fact that those who attend such Muslim talks or lectures are either brain dead or intellectual COWARDS who do not stand up and contradict these lying Muslims
No one has ever asked any Muslim or any of their apologists regarding their OXYMORONIC and FALSE mantra of ‘Islamophobia’ the following very simple but factual question:
Since a minute BEFORE 911 till today how MANY Muslims have been MURDERED in the USA because they are Muslims and how many Americans have been slaughtered by Muslims in the last 16+ years because they are NOT Muslims?
There is NO Islamophobia but there are most assuredly ‘Christian phobia’ ‘Hindu phobia’ ‘Buddha phobia’ ‘Homo Phobia’ ‘Jew phobia’ and most certainly ‘
I rest my case
IQ al Rassooli
Kafir & Proud!
mortimer says
All Muslims are KAFIROPHOBIC or they have left Islam.
gravenimage says
All good questions, IQ al Rassooli.
somehistory says
It is always a whine and lie fest and trying to put the blame for terror on others.
How anyone can stand to attend and listen to the hogwash is beyond understanding, but not as far beyond as agreeing with the spouters of the hogwash.
mortimer says
Blameshifting, slander, pettifogging and GASLIGHTING.
gravenimage says
Intolerant Profs Decry “Islamophobia” While Whitewashing Jihad Terrorism
……………………
Thanks for continuing to keep an eye on these thugs, Mr. Harrod.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
Pass laws that stop or limit big influence money and people like this will simply disappear. (They may even re-brand themselves and show up on the opposite team.)
No Fear says
One only has to read the Quran and some Hadith and biographies of Mohammed to “feel the hatred” the Prophet had for those who disagreed with him. Those source texts describe the hatred and violence Mohammed planned for all those who simply would not believe his bullshit. What a pathetically insecure arsehole of a man. He should have been drowned at birth so none of us has to put up with his supremacist crap in 2017.
Lou says
The ”islamophobia” concept is a mental gun, one of the most effective weapons used by the Globalist in the current WW3 against the Western Civilization.
Time for the West, as a whole, to fight back.
mortimer says
Gaslighting is the practice of brainwashing or convincing mentally healthy people that they are going insane or that their understanding of reality is mistaken or false.
Ordinary people around the world must wake up to this psychological manipulation being practiced by Muslim leaders, our politicians and academics.
Lou says
Thank you, Mr Harrod. I just read more about Campus Watch Research. This is great !
How about an international Committee with scholars from the whole West instructing
us, Westerners, about what we are all going through in the manipulative hands of the Globalists and their allies ?
All the international organisations have been infiltrated by them. We need to hear a different discourse ! And I strongly believe that since the whole West is under attack, only a unified West could successfully fight back.
mortimer says
We are already doing what you suggest, but it is funded only from our own pockets, whereas, the Palestinian terrorists are funded by the many governments and ISIS is funded by oil money. CAIR a professional propaganda organization is funded by the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas affiliates. Many operatives are interlapping members of these various groups. The conspiracy against the West is being funded by taxpayer monies from the West … against our wills. The Muslim Brotherhood should be declared a terrorist organization. Government intelligence agencies should develop protocols to deprogram Muslims right out of Islam. ABSOLUTE DEPROGRAMMING OF MUSLIMS is the answer and must be done by governments.
cretius says
Deprogramme and where that fails ‘invite’ them to return to their Islamic paradises.
Benedict says
In a so called Muslim country the islamized police staff will, or has the right to, arrest a citizen that publicly smoke a cigarette during Ramadan. A religion, that employs the police in order to enforce its rules and regulations upon a people that it has not covenanted with, stinks – and it is such a religion Prof. Nader Hashemi is a spokesman for.
Islam should not be feared: Islam should be utterly disclosed as the repulsive and totalitarian ideology it is and rejected in all institutions of society, and its creepy prophet, that fits the minds of Prof. Nader Hashemi and his ilk, should be ridiculed of of existence and recommended an eternal trip to the moon on his flying donkey.
Halal Bacon says
has anybody else noticed a correlation between the point of view expressed and the name of the person spewing this garbage, it rarely if ever comes from somebody names Smith, Adams etc.
Carolyne says
That Islam is NOT a “Dangerous Political Philosophy” is inconceivable.
Haavard says
This is a great, informative article. This author writes very well. Obviously a very brave man to go into the Lion’s den.
Brian O' Reilly says
“Islamophobia” is a term coined by the terrorist organisation The Muslim Brotherhood to curb and cease any and all criticism of Islam. I do not give any credence to that fake term. Islam in the Koran denigrates Christians, Jews and all non-Muslims, so Islam is inherently anti-Christian, Anti-Semitic and anti-non-Muslims..All in all, Islam is the most hateful ideology with a veneer of religion ever known.
Dale Netherton says
This is areply I got form this arrogant wimp. “I have a concern with stupid people who waste my time with asinine questions.
You seem to fall into this category.”
—–Original Message—–
From: dnetherton@me.com [mailto:dnetherton@me.com]
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2017 10:56 AM
To: Nader Hashemi
Subject: Message from a site visitor Dale Netherton
From: Dale Netherton
E-mail: dnetherton@me.com
Message: I see where you have a concern with Islamophobia. Do you have an equivalent concern with Infidelophobia which is just as prejudicial and discriminatory?
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).