The charge of “Islamophobia” leveled against Poland by the Warsaw Muslim Center is classic manipulation, commonly practiced throughout the West. That should by now be apparent to everyone. Unfortunately, it still is not.
On the night of Friday, November 27, two men in hoodies vandalised the Muslim cultural centre in Warsaw, breaking windows with stones and pieces of concrete.
It is sad indeed that the Muslim cultural center in Warsaw was vandalized, and that Muslims on occasion are genuinely victims of hate crimes, as are other groups. However, any time anti-Muslim bigotry or hate crimes against Muslims occur, the incidents are magnified and used as a golden opportunity to scream “Islamophobia.” Note that responsibility for the integration of Muslims is carefully and routinely evaded:
the political narrative in response to the refugee crisis has contributed to the increase in anti-Muslim sentiment in Poland.
It is not the “political narrative” that has increased anti-Muslim sentiment in Poland. It is the escalation of crime, the creation of no-go zones, attacks on women, and jihad attacks, as well as the introduction into the country of practices such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage that has created such sentiment.
The best that Muslims can do — and some are doing it — is to condemn such abuses committed in the name of their religion, but for the most part instead, Muslim groups are playing the victimology game, and a kind of win-win situation for “Islamophobia” propagandists is created. As jihadists escalate their assaults and murder and persecution of innocent people globally (by the millions), “Islamophobia” propagandists hide behind their carefully crafted victimology narrative, which serves to distract people from the worst human rights abuses and intolerance being committed by Muslims. The reporters and critics of such practices are labelled as hatemongers, intolerant, xenophobic, “Islamophobic,” racist and anti-human rights.
Most astounding is that people accept this claptrap at the expense of their own safety and the well-being of their societies. Also in the article is an absurd comparison between how Jews were treated in the interwar period and how Muslim refugees are being treated today. “Islamophobia” is compared wrongly to anti-Semitism. The Jewish people were lied about during the interwar period, whereas concerns and fears about Muslim immigration are legitimate and prudent, and are based on facts.
The article by al-Jazeera asserts that “the attack took place amid deepening Islamophobia in Poland, where Muslims comprise a mere 0.1 percent of the population.” The reason why Poland has such a small Muslim population is because the country — like Hungary — has vehemently resisted the massive influx of Muslim refugees into its country. Poland’s Prime Minister Beata Szydlo has warned “European elites to ‘wake up’ and ditch political correctness for common sense so they can beat terrorism before it’s too late.”
“Warsaw Muslim centre attack renews Islamophobia fears”, by Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska, Aljazeera, December 7, 2017:
Warsaw, Poland – On the night of Friday, November 27, two men in hoodies vandalised the Muslim cultural centre in Warsaw, breaking windows with stones and pieces of concrete.
The attack took place amid deepening Islamophobia in Poland, where Muslims comprise a mere 0.1 percent of the population.
CCTV footage confirmed the incident, but in the darkness of night, the attackers’ faces are unrecognisable.
“I hope that the perpetrators will be caught soon”, said Mariusz Blaszczak, minister of interior.
So far, the men have not been named.
“This was not the first attack against our centre,” said Anna Lukjanowicz, a Polish convert to Islam who works at the institute, citing three previous attacks.
In October this year, a masked man threw a bottle against the front door, leaving visible marks.
“Recent events are part of a politically fuelled, unpleasant atmosphere of xenophobia and racism in Poland,” she told Al Jazeera. “Because of the verbal and physical attacks against not only Muslims, but also people who ‘look like Muslims’ – that is people with a darker skin, and the attack against the Muslim Culture Centre, Muslims living in Poland are losing the sense of security.”
Completed in 2015, the centre’s architecture blends Middle Eastern tradition and European trends.
It hosts conference halls, a library and the largest prayer room in Poland, with space for 600 people.
At the beginning of 2017, the centre’s employees wrote to Polish officials, including the president, the prime minister, both chambers of parliament and all parliamentary parties, expressing their concern with the “biased media coverage of Islam and its people” as well as the “consolidation of anti-Muslim attitudes” in the political debate.
According to the authors, these could lead to the increase in xenophobia and violence against Muslims.
In, 2016, police figures revealed the second highest number of hate crime incidents after 2015, with 765 reported cases of violence. In 2014, police recorded 262 incidents.
In 2016, local prosecutor offices investigated 1,631 hate crimes fuelled by racism, anti-Semitism or xenophobia.
Since 2015, the number of attacks against Muslims rose from 192 to 362, followed by attacks against Jews and Roma people.
‘No explicit condemnation’ from officials
In May 2016, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo abolished an anti-discrimination council that was tasked with preventing xenophobia and intolerance.
The Muslim cultural centre’s letters generated little response from the authorities. In the only reply, in spite of evidence to the contrary, the office of the Senate said physical attacks against the centre were unlikely.
“Facts from the Polish tradition and history show that Christian Orthodox people, Protestants, Jews, Tatars, Ukrainians and Belarusians lived in peace with Poles in our country, making a great contribution to its development,” the response read.
“Apart from reporting on worrying events, which take place in some countries of Western Europe, we have not noticed any references towards the Muslim community, which has been living in Poland for years, that would be worth condemning”.
However, according to Anna Tatar from the anti-racist Never Again Association, which has been monitoring hate crime incidents in Poland since the 1990s, the political narrative in response to the refugee crisis has contributed to the increase in anti-Muslim sentiment in Poland.
“The main reason for this change is the way the Polish debate about the humanitarian crisis and the possible acceptance of refugees was conducted. This is a problem which does not concern Poland at all because there are almost no refugees here, but the hysterical way in which the issue was discussed, used and manipulated for political ends has contributed to the increase in violence,” Tatar said.
“There are a number of examples of statements made by representatives of the authorities, which show that they do not want to see the problem or that they neglect it. For example, at the recent ‘Independence March’, a number of openly racist banners were present. Yet, there was virtually no explicit condemnation of the events,” she said, an opinion shared by the wider Muslim community.
Some 60,000 people joined the “Independence March” attended by some nationalists and fascists in Warsaw on November 11 – more people than the Polish Muslim population of around 35,000 – where chants included: “The whole Poland sings with us: f*** off with the refugees.”
“Public media and nationalist internet sites discriminate against Islam and Muslims and manipulate the public opinion, trying to convince Poles that Islam is a religion of violence, terror, that it is primitive,” said Imam Youssef Hadid, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Muslim League in Poland.
“There are debates and lectures which spread hatred towards Muslims, people who are invited to speak at them have xenophobic and Islamophobic views, have no knowledge of Islam, and those who specialise in it are not invited.”
‘Moral panic’ and rising Islamophobia
A study by the Center for Research on Prejudice published in September 2015, found that although 80 percent of Poles do not know any Muslims, two-thirds declare that they would feel uncomfortable in their presence.
More than half of respondents stated that Muslims threaten Poland’s economic well-being and Polish values, and a similar number agreed with Islamophobic statements. Younger respondents demonstrated a higher level of fear.
“What we are currently observing is a moral panic. Polish society is easy to manipulate. Public opinion polls show that we are the first in the EU when it comes to viewing social media as a reliable source of information about the world. Over half of Poles trust social media,” said Adam Balcer, a Warsaw-based researcher for the European Council on Foreign Relations. “The Polish internet is very right wing and nationalistic, and as a result, Polish youth has a negative attitude towards Muslims.”
Since the country has one of the most ethnically and religiously homogenous societies in Europe with a small Muslim minority, the right wing plays on irrational fears.
“The authorities, which are openly Islamophobic, set the example. This falls on a fertile ground of fears and phobias, which reflect some deeply rooted stereotypes,” said Balcer.
He compared the current atmosphere to the interwar period and the existing attitudes towards Muslims to the earlier situation of Jews.
“A Jew used to be portrayed as oriental, the other, an eastern man, incapable of assimilating and integrating, who could destroy the nation,” he explained.
“Those cliches only had to be revived. You can see them in the current fears of the Law and Justice’s electorate which include the alliance of [George] Soros and the Germans to destroy Poland’s ethnic cohesion by bringing in refugees”…..
infidel numero uno says
Well done, Poland! Rid the country of ALL the goat humpers!!
Emilie Green says
“two men in hoodies vandalised the Muslim cultural centre in Warsaw”
All staged. Those two men in hoodies were themselves Muslims doing this to advance the narrative.
Januk36 says
A case for “islamophobia” can hardly be made if the country has been on good term with the tatar muslim community for cenuries. It’s the ME trash influx that causes the reaction.
Theopholus says
Can someone please tell me what’s wrong with being Islamophobic. Do we not have the right to disagree with someone else s position on anything. What’s does one call someone who wants to force everyone to their religion and their way of thinking. If a Muslim (not a terrorist) disrupts my way of life with protests and accusations of racisism, what is that Muslim called. Why has Islamophobia become a illegal action and not the reverse? Why are politicians so quick to denounce my way of living when I protest that way of living being attacked. Why, why, why. So many questions and so so few answers.
Older Canadian says
Theopholus…..excellent post. Thank you
mummymovie says
The reason muslims continue to use the “I-word” at every opportunity is because they are being directed to do so in the mosques.
The definition of “islamophobia” at face value would mean ” an irrational fear of islam”, which we all know is completely rational to be afraid of. In fact, if you’re not afraid of islam at this point, you’re a damn fool.
The imams are told what to preach by directives that come down from the OIC and the Muslim Brotherhood, who will not be satisfied until this ridiculous term is completely synonymous in scale with “Nazi”.
The mosques are the source of poison in the well, so to speak, and new construction of them needs to be restricted by number. Those that currently exist must be in very closely monitored and required to conduct all sermons and official discourse in English.
Charles says
Does Warsaw have a center for the Celebration of NAZIsm TOO?
Would be just as bad. Close down those “Satan’s Houses” NOW!
Naildriver says
This article and Robert Spencer’s clear analysis of the topic of so-called Islamophobia regarding these lower less thought out defenses against the Islamic threat, by way of vandalism, is well timed given the other incidents of vandalism in the USA, where a man was sentenced to 15 years plus another 15 years probation, for breaking windows and distributing bacon in a Mosque as a message of protest to our government’s acceptance of Islam as an acceptable inclusion to our society.
Islam is not OK.
These structural establishments say that Islam is acceptable and should be entertained as a potential choice for the citizens, and the government is allowing it, if not encouraging it.
Here in the USA, the government prior to Trump, was positively ‘establishing’ Islam and, so to my mind these crimes against property were justified as political speech and a loud objection to our government’s betrayal to our Constitutions establishment clause.
Freedom of religion needs to be understood to be an individual’s right, not the right of an enemy system to invade our country with the government’s help.
The 14th Amendment confuses that issue since it gives factions some rights as individuals, but even so, it does not give the right of corporations or other enterprises as religions to maliciously invade and employ threats to the Constitution — a threat which Islam clearly intends, and in itself clearly, is by way of its history and usage of those codified directives of malicious intent, forever part of its Koran.
Why is this not considered by the Supreme Court of the United States? Or why has no legal objections to this enemy, Islam, not been presented to it for consideration?
The treaties of Tripoli regarding the Barbary pirates and other documents cited, so often, don’t seem to me valid objections to Islam’s right to be here, even if some congressional affirmation by congress, that Islam isn’t this nation enemy, was made — essentially as another way to appease these Islamic enemies and continue the submission the USA had so shamefully previously paid.
Could not the billions the USA doles out to many Islamic countries be in reality pay off money?
Certainly in Pakistan’s case where this government is clearly paying an enemy; since Pakistan funds Islam with it, as Islamic concerns are the main recipient of those funds.
CNN speaks of Islam with assurance that our acceptance and nurture of it must proceed and that Islam’s rightful place here, with further acceptance of Muslim immigrants, is assured. Are they right lawfully?
If they are; we are in deep trouble. I would hope Trump and his DOJ proceed immediatly with the Muslim ban.
Bezelel says
Have the muslim countries welcomed Churches or Synagogues?
Richard Paulsen says
What is islam doing at all in Europe and democracies? Why are there mosques in Europe? They are so ugly all these mosques. Should be torn down each one in Europe. Free Europe from islam. Lots being fed up.
Muslims having no reason to establish themselves in Europe. They get more money from EU than nations suffering from communism and nazi ockupation. Absurd.
Send all the brutal bastards away. Down with islam and multiculturalism in Europe. Stand up for Europe.
Ray Jarman says
Richard, the reason for the followers of the pedophilic murdering cult leader being admitted was cheap labour and it turns out to be very myopic. This cheap labour that refused to work is costing EU nations billions of dollars with no return in sight. They should have realized that this cult is tribal and each one in the tribe hates every one else. These people from 637 AD have never lived harmoniously with themselves much less with anyone that is not a member of the cult. I lived in Europe for over twenty years while serving in the military and at the State Department and I have my heart aches for my friends there and many are making an endeavor to come to America.
Richard Paulsen says
Thank you for your service. Agree.
Green infidel says
The funding for this mosque comes from an unknown source in Saudi Arabia, so despite its modern look, it seems likely that inside similar stuff is taught, to that in other Saudi-funded mosques
Green infidel says
As for Poles being ignorant, because they don’t know enough of these vibrant wonderful Muslims, other reports say otherwise… the Poles who go west to enriched places like Britain, come back far more “xenophobic” in their outlook:
“Aleks Szczerbiak, a professor of politics at the University of Sussex, said: “It was long assumed that young Poles would come to the west and become more secular, multicultural and liberal, and that they would re-export those things back to Poland. But instead their experience of the west seems to have reinforced their social conservatism and traditionalism in many ways.””
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/18/more-girls-fewer-skinheads-polands-far-right-wrestles-with-changing-image
marble says
Islamophobia results from knowledge of the condition that occurs when one suffers from the condition of Islamophilia.
JawsV says
I couldn’t care less about the Warsaw Muslim Center. It shouldn’t be there. It should be razed and the Allah-worshipers deported from Poland.
Jan III Sobieski says
Switzerland outlawed the building of mosques in their country by Islamic governments. Every Western and non-Islammic country should do this because these mosques and Islamic ideology centers are really forward operating bases for the global Jihadists.
Monty says
Muslims have a phobia about non-Muslims. I don’t hear to many complaining about “Infidelophobia”, Christianophobia or Iraelieophobia. Yet Muslims hate those groups with murderous passion. What did Einstein say? The only infinite things are the universe and human stupidity. I’m not sure that he’s right about the universe.
Jan III Sobieski says
“There are debates and lectures which spread hatred towards Muslims, people who are invited to speak at them have xenophobic and Islamophobic views, have no knowledge of Islam, and those who specialise in it are not invited.”
The hatred is not towards Muslims. The disgust, justified fear, and acting to preserve Western Civilization is directed justifiably towards Islam; as Sarah Haider (exna.com) has stated: one can’t hate Muslims, they are human, but Islam is an idea — all ideas can and must be debated. The debate has judged Islam to be a collection of ideas worthy of hate which is an acceptable conclusion. Islam teaches intolerance, violence, volatility, and Islamic supremacy.
Lydia says
Why aren’t they decrying any potential “backlash” towards the responsible party and those of related sentiment? And calling such backlash “anti-islam-ophobia”?
Lydia says
It’s the best example of DOUBLE – STANDARD that I’ve seen yet!
Denis says
Poland should take the initiative and start offering all these free loading Muslims who came to their country a free ride home. Offer them some Euros so they could get settled in their place of origin and boot them out and fingerprint and eye scan all Muslims so they never return.