There’s an important difference between being Islamophobic and Islamocritical

Jul 8, 2019 by Jill

by David Robertson, Christian Today:

It was a touching moment. On our last evening in our home of the past 27 years, our Muslim neighbour came in to say goodbye. She thanked us for being good neighbours and apologised if in any way her family had done anything wrong. I was moved at her tears and compassion. I don’t think it is ‘racist’ of me to say that I have always enjoyed having Muslim neighbours and would be happy to have them again.

But why bring up racism? Because according to the UK government’s working party definition, “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”

It now seems to be the accepted norm that being Islamophobic is racist. But is this a correct understanding? Islam is a religion, not a race. You can choose and change your religion – you cannot choose and change your race. Why then is Islamophobia considered to be something do with race?

Because Islamophobia is considered to be as irrational, immoral and harmful as racism. That may be correct, but first of all we do have to ask what Islamophobia actually is.

The working group’s definition was rejected by the UK government. Thankfully. Because if the definition had been accepted, it could have resulted in making any criticism of the doctrines and practice of Islam illegal. I have read the Koran and I find some in it that is fine and good, but much that is frankly dreadful.

For example, I don’t think that the death penalty for apostasy from Islam is appropriate for society today. Nor do I accept polygamy. Nor do I think it wrong to disagree with and critique verses such as “Kill the idolaters wherever you find them, and capture them, and blockade them, and watch for them at every lookout…” (Quran 9:5).

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