The term “Islamophobia” is an illegitimate conflation of two distinct phenomena: crimes against innocent Muslims, which are never justified, and honest analysis of the motivating ideology of jihad terror, which is always necessary. And here we see that yet again: “Next door in Spain, a right-wing political party has been increasingly vocal in its anti-Islam sentiments. But prior to this last year, there have been cases of Islamophobia. The Interior Ministry’s latest study on hate crimes does not mention Islam by name but reported 66 cases based on religious beliefs or practices in 2019 (down from 69 in 2018) and 596 cases based on racism and xenophobia (21% growth from 2018).”
In the first place, as those hate crimes based on religious beliefs were not specified, they could be anti-Semitic attacks, which according to FBI hate crime statistics are far more common year after year in the U.S. than anti-Muslim attacks. Could the same thing be true in Spain?
Note also that the alleged “anti-Islam sentiments” of the alleged “right-wing political party” in Spain is conflated with these attacks on innocent people. So Salaam Gateway is assuming that opposing jihad violence and Sharia oppression of women, as well as mass migration, which is likely the platform of this “right-wing political party” is essentially the same thing as going out on the street and beating up some random person because he or she is Muslim.
This is viciously irresponsible, but it’s also insidious, and its purpose is clear: to give the impression that honest discussion of the motivating ideology behind jihad violence is wrong and must be criminalized, so as to prevent those random attacks. The idea is ultimately to silence all criticism of Islam. And we’re well on the way.
“Spain must be ‘genuinely’ welcoming to attract more Muslim tourists amid recent rise in Islamophobia, say experts,” by Heba Hashem, Salaam Gateway, April 9, 2021:
Spain wants to attract twice the number of high-spending Saudi visitors as part of its post-pandemic plans but a recent rise in Islamophobia could smear its Muslim-friendly image.
Around 90,000 Saudi travelers visited Spain in 2019, 21% more than over the previous year, Daniel Rosado, director of the Spanish Tourism Office for the Middle East, told Salaam Gateway.
The plan is to double this number once international flights resume in the kingdom from May 17, as recently announced by Saudi authorities….
But could a recent rise in Islamophobia in Spain potentially derail marketing efforts?…
“In recent months we have seen a slight new surge in Islamophobic and xenophobic discourses from far-right activists and politicians, particularly in France, but also in Spain,” Dr. Barbara Ruiz-Bejarano, Director of International Relations at Córdoba-based Instituto Halal, told Salaam Gateway….
Next door in Spain, a right-wing political party has been increasingly vocal in its anti-Islam sentiments. But prior to this last year, there have been cases of Islamophobia. The Interior Ministry’s latest study on hate crimes does not mention Islam by name but reported 66 cases based on religious beliefs or practices in 2019 (down from 69 in 2018) and 596 cases based on racism and xenophobia (21% growth from 2018). Plataforma Ciudadana contra la Islamofobia reported 546 cases against Muslims in 2017, which was the year of the two terrorist attacks in Barcelona.
But tourists did not stop flocking to Spain post-2017. In fact, Spain in 2019 was the most popular EU destination for international tourists, with 299 million nights spent in tourist accommodation, or 22% of the EU total.
The country has also been pulling in more and more Muslim visitors, according to Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of Muslim-friendly travel market expert CrescentRating. Spain ranked ninth among non-Islamic countries on CrescentRating’s annual Global Muslim Travel Index 2019, on par with France and the Philippines. Bahardeen attributes this rise to the growing number of Muslim visitors as well as more Muslim-friendly services and facilities being offered, especially in the main cities.
It appears, then, that Muslim travelers will visit Spain regardless of cases of Islamophobia, but one analyst says more will be needed if authorities want to hit their goal of doubling the likes of Saudi visitors.
“I believe that some segments of Saudi travelers would travel to Spain regardless of whether or not it is Muslim-friendly, but if Spanish authorities are aiming to double the numbers, they would need to ramp up their efforts in providing Muslim-friendly services and facilities,” Reem El Shafaki, travel specialist and Partner at DinarStandard, told Salaam Gateway….
“More halal-certified hotels and restaurants are needed, as food and drink is the most basic need of Muslim travellers.”….
Honest Ali says
Only fools would court the tourism to their country, of genocidal religious supremacists who carried out 781 years of rape, mass murder, kidnap and slavery, and sexual slavery, and forced religious conversion in that very country.
Brando says
A Scholarly Book to Read:
“The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise:
Muslims, Christians, and Jews under Islamic Rule in Medieval Spain”(2016)
by: Dr. DARIO FERNANDEZ-MORA
Here is a video on the book:
“The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise”( 29 MIN )
https://youtu.be/HTpeJFcDt2M
gravenimage says
+1
mortimer says
Spain wants Muslims to come and see the Umayyad monuments built by CHRISTIAN SLAVES for their supremacist Muslim masters.
In order to build Muslim palaces and mosques in southern Spain, the Muslims first conscripted Christian SLAVES to KNOCK DOWN churches, basilicas and other Roman-Gothic gems of architecture so they might RE-PURPOSE the stones for Islamic buildings.
Practically ALL churches in southern Spain were DEMOLISHED by the Umayyads and almost all the Christians were expelled or enslaved, thus depopulating the entirety of southern Spain.
Michael Copeland says
“More halal-certified hotels and restaurants are needed….”
Camel. ….Nose. … Tent.
mortimer says
It’s the year 711 AD all over again!
Bikinis not Burkas says
You beat me to it, great minds think alike!
Infidel says
Why doesn’t Spain hold a referendum, along the lines of Brexit, on whether to retain their Catholic (even though that concept is now increasingly meaningless w/ the wokest of popes there ever was), Spanish identity or revert to what they were as the lone outpost of the Umayyad caliphate? Their ‘islamophobes’ can vote to retain the identity of the country created by Ferdinand & Isabella, while their Leftists and islamophiles can vote to restore al Andalus, replace Spanish w/ Arabic and Roman Catholicism w/ the Maliki school of sunni jurisprudence. Maybe this Andalus can even unite w/ Morocco, and rediscover its great islamic past
If the Spanish side wins, all the Leftists and Andalusians should voluntarily move to Morocco or the erstwhile Spanish Sahara. If the al Andalus side wins, the ‘islamophobic’ Spaniards can leave the country and move to Latin American countries from Argentina to Mexico, wherever they prefer
Wellington says
For the record, I have no interest in being “Muslim friendly” anymore than I have an interest in being “Nazi friendly,” “BLM friendly” or “Marxist friendly.”
tim gallagher says
My sentiments exactly, Wellington. To hell with all those evil ideologies. The sooner all of those vile ideologies, which have caused so much misery for so many people, (well, this BLM brand of Marxist crap hasn’t been around long enough to match the amount of misery the others have caused yet, but give it time) end up in the dustbin of history the better for all of humanity.
James Lincoln says
Seconded!
gravenimage says
Spot on.
Jim says
Perhaps they will make conditions for a tourist to come to Spain. They would have to deposit a certain sum of money in a federal bank that they could recover when they leave the country. But that would not happen, probably it would simply become another conduit for illegal immigration of Muslims including jihadis.
Treereen says
Not so long ago there were reports about Spanish lefty activists being “unfriendly” to paying European tourists, wanting to get rid of them. Now, there’s a drive to attract muslims? Haven’t they got enough violent, rapey sponger “tourists” from Africa continuously turning up by dinghy?
RichardL says
I lived in Spain for years and they are completely unaware of the dangers of islam. In Catalonia, the government is anti-Christian and very pro-islam. On the other hand, they don’t give a flying fck about marking things as halal. Iberico and wine are the national religion in Spain.
gravenimage says
Spain wants to attract more Muslim tourists but ‘recent rise in Islamophobia could smear its Muslim-friendly image’
…………..
Utter insanity. Doesn’t Spain realize that Muslims are obsessed with reconquering “Al Andalus”?
Daniel Silvan says
Most of the muslim tourists in the world are properly referred to as illegal immigrants. And they don’t spend their money in the country. The country spends its money to house, clothe, and feed them.
Bikinis not Burkas says
Ask the Buddhists of Afghanistan what they think of Muslims, sorry I forgot the Muslims butchered all the Buddhists so you can’t talk to them!
Check Burry says
Which will lead to a drastic reduction in non muslim holiday makers, yes a great plan,
mortimer says
With useful IDIOTS like Dr. Barbara Ruiz-Bejarano, Director of International Relations at Córdoba-based Instituto Halal, I hope remember to increase prayers to their patron saint SANTIAGO, also the patron saint of the RECONQUIST of Spain.
mortimer says
addendum/correction: I hope THAT SPANIARDS remember
(Letters in the typing boxes are TOO SMALL and FAINT to read)
mortimer says
¡Piénsalo bien, España!
The repressive Muslim OCCUPATION of Spain lasted 781 years … do the Spaniards want a REPEAT PERFORMANCE?
In 711 AD, no one in Spain thought the Muslims would be staying that long and they didn’t they it would be such a PAINFUL experience.
The JIHADISTS are talking about a REPEAT performance of their OCCUPATION of Spain.
Think it over carefully, Spain!
BlackSabbath says
Sounds like Spain has forgotten Caliphate of Cordoba. Spanish folks, please to invite normal tourists and not savages.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphate_of_C%C3%B3rdoba
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphate_of_C%C3%B3rdoba#/media/File:Califato_de_C%C3%B3rdoba_-_1000-en.svg
OLD GUY says
The muslim/islamic invasion being promoted for tourism, migrant workers, diversity all result in the take over of your society and country. Islam is the enemy of the freedom of mankind, and WOMEN don’t have a prayer.
cfprcy says
We don’t want the Saudi dirty money! Don’t you see that their touristic interest sparks from a desire to re-conquer Europe?