To want a way to label the reasonable fear of the variety of Islam that wishes to impose Sharia law?

[Oodiks]

I understand that there are different sects within Islam and that while some pose no concerns, others do. I am horrified at the type of Sharia law imposed in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan, which denies women human rights, but it's hard to talk about those reasonable fears without being labelled Islamophobic. It's not unreasonable to fear a religion that imposes such harsh lives on women.

There is a way to label it surely - isn't it just "Fear of religious extremism" ?

Mittens67, all forms of control and money raising aren't they.

Perhaps "fear of extremism" would suffice?
No need to reference any particular religion but any use of "phobia" isn't appropriate as it suggests an irrational fear and fear of extremism whatever the claimed motivation isn't irrational

This really. Extremist religion of all shades is scary, but luckily it's a minority thing in our part of the world.

Are you confusing Roman Catholicism and Christianity in general?

In the UK the monarch is the head of faiths, for Roman Catholics world wide traditionally the pope was the head of the church, it caused a lot of bloodshed historically, as power struggles often do.

Same. I absolutely detest religion. Most of the religious people I've met are hypocritical self serving arseholes who just use their religion and cherry picked quotes from their books of fairy stories to push their own agendas.

I know a couple of religious people (Christians) who truly are inspirational and it baffles me that two intelligent, successful and seemingly reasonable women can just blindly believe in this but hey that's a whole other discussion.

I don't know why the Muslim religion attracts so many extremists...because on its own it's peaceful religion.

And Christianity ???

Lots of Muslim people dislike dogs, think they are unclean etc. But frankly, that’s tough. This is a country of dog-lovers, and if they are well-trained like yours, then these idiots need to shut up.

I am so sorry they are physically threatening you. That’s terrifying. How are you supposed to fight back against a car. Appalling. I assume police are not interested..

Those people are not my responsibility. I don’t want to put myself at risk from them. In any case, I have never gone on a protest march in 55 years and don’t intend to start now. It is not my fault these thick extremists are spouting hate. Don’t blame me.

We need to use words like Islamophobia, antisemitism, transphobia, homophobia, racism etc carefully. Otherwise they become meaningless and people stop listening.

Except Islam is especially feared.
I could burn a bible or Torah without fear. I could do a stand up comedy routine ridiculing Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism etc. I wouldn't dare do the same for Islam. A teacher can't even discuss a set of cartoons offensive to Muslims in a classroom with having to go into hiding with his family afterwards due to credible death threats.

Since that has already happened though, we are where we are.

Lots of Muslim people dislike dogs,

To be fair, a lot of non muslims also dislike dogs* - I wouldn't rely on it as a defining characteristic.

*As pets - no issue with working dogs.

I do feel uncomfortable in orthodox religious settings. I am not sure why. I have been to weddings from all the major religions. When they have been in especially orthodox settings, I have felt nervous. I think it is to do with feeling judged somehow. But that’s clearly my issue, not the religions’.

Yes. I think it’s a real shame. Stops proper discussion.

I guess the way I see it is they wouldn't be able to get away with trying to impose anything even resembling Sharia law in the UK. I feel the majority of British Muslims want to live peacefully alongside non believers. I would never ever travel to Saudi, Iran etc. it must be hell on earth for women in those strict countries.

I don't know, I would think intimidation is a bigger part of it but also communities exert pressure in other ways and extremism has different flavours, so parts of it may be seen as following 'true' Islam (I.e. being more conservative) where other aspects are more political, and then there will be a spectrum within all these different factors.

Plus I imagine any individual Muslim or family won't feel responsible for denouncing every nutcase out there, any more than I do as a Christian, while being very uncomfortable about some of what is done in the name of my religion. I would say that without any worries about community rejection though. I don't really do protests either, but looking at the marches for Gaza it does seem that Muslims tend to be more engaged in that respect. So I'm a bit iffy in that it does seem like there's plenty of capacity to organise and advocate for themselves. But I can understand that is a more urgent and unifying issue and isn't about Islam per se anyway.

SerendipityJane · Today 10:41
Since that has already happened though, we are where we are.
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Yes. I think it’s a real shame. Stops proper discussion.

Which was the whole point. Mind you, it's often the case that the number of possible definitions of a word is equal to the number of people using it plus one.

So two people discussing "nandemophobia" there are probably 3 possible definitions in play.

Now go to hundreds of millions ....

To be honest I've rather lost interest now. I know what I think. I do my best to ensure it doesn't come from ignorance or hatred and the world can jolly well deal with it. Also I try to see people not labels. Some people are total cunts regardless of what they - or anyone else - calls them.

@DieStrassensindimmernass

But did anyone have to go into hiding as a result of the protests

I think the problem with any religion which ends up with a reputation is that it happens because it tends to be the extremists who stand out, and the “normal” religious people just carry on with their lives like the rest of us.So e.g. people will say that Christians are all pro life homophobic bigots because those are the Christians we see shouting from the rooftops, and the rest want no part in it so aren’t heard.Similarly people accuse all Muslims of being terrorists who want Sharia law based on the fact there is a minority who will shout it from the rooftops while the rest just live their lives like everyone else.And so it goes on.We need to look at the people rather than what they say. if someone tells me that being gay/a single parent is a sin and I’m going to hell then I judge the person. They just use religion to justify their point, if they say it in the name of God then people will say that “Christians believe that…” rather than that “Mick from down the road believe that…” iyswim?In Afghanistan etc Sharia law is actual law and they are all rightly worthy of judgement, and that seems to apply to all men of that country, so it’s easy to say that Afghani Muslims believe in Sharia law. Whereas Ahmed down the road who believes in Sharia law is an individual unto himself, and all the other Ahmeds, and any other Muslims are just Muslims. IyswimOne of the best, if not the best post I've ever read on MN. Thank you. None jugmental just a gentle way to explain the difference between religion and individual's belief. It's refreshing!

Stacey Doole's report is really good.

It makes full sense. Majority living paralell lives, a bit fearful of the other, but once the ice is broken, they can talk and find lots of common ground.
Then a noisy minority full of hate. Refusing to listen and getting violent. UK go to hell, UK police go to hell. That is what they have on their plackards. They can walk in the streets of UK, because of the democratic and secular laws they so much claim to hate. Then the EDL, refusing to listen to any moderate views and engage in conversation.
I am a foreigner in UK. I abide by UK laws, I respect UK institutions and as much as I know about its history and culture (learning a bit more each day). The day I stop respecting UK sovereignty and the fundamental right of all the citizens to live according to its culture and laws, on its own soil, I will expect to be sent to prison or back where I came from. It is that simple.

It's easier for the media and politicians to whipp up fear with one easy word and group of people than trying to differentiate.

In France, the cartoonists..and his colleagues were murdered. That's something we usually associate with gang warfare.

Generally, Muslims are supposed to follow the law of the land they are living in and respect the country they are living in.