Can someone explain Islamophobia to me?

[BaMamma]

I don't think I have an irrational fear of Muslims, but I think I have a reasonable concern about radical Islam, does that make me Islamophobic?

There are some bizarre stereotypes in the other direction on this thread too. Like we’re all walking round with our tits out. I feel no pressure to be sexy and have my body on show. Like most women I’m in jeans and a jumper. Comments on this thread are dripping with disgust at western women. Is there a phobia word for that? Or does it only apply in one direction?

Not sure but it's not helping their overall argument

it’s too ridiculous to engage in. If you aren’t Islamophobic you are pro sharia law? Right ok…

More obfuscation and never a direct response. We can be forgiven for drawing certain conclusions.

Try another one… do you support legislating against Islamophobia in the UK?

This comes back to the op's thread title

This grouping of many under the term Islamophobic

There can be discussion on a religion without phobia

I believe all sorts of religious hatred and discrimination should be legislated against.

I also don’t believe shariah law has a place in the UK but if Muslims want to use it to govern their own lives then that’s ok. Many religions have religious courts and they should all be allowed to use them if they wish.

Seeing as you think each Muslim is representative of all Muslims worldwide, do you have any questions for me?

Perhaps, your question is a bit strange. As I said, I'm from a Muslim background and I have never lived under sharia law in my majority Muslim country and I wouldn't want to live under sharia law in Europe or USA. I believe in separation of state and church/mosque/synagogue. Being Muslim does not mean you automatically want sharia law let alone for non-Muslims not being prejudiced against Islam means you're a supporter of sharia law. Being religiously Muslim and preferring secular law are not mutually exclusive.

Thank you for answering. That is clear. You are happy to see shariah law written into the laws governing the whole of the UK then. Proscribing against Islamophobia essentially being blasphemy laws forbidding criticism of Islam. In the UK we have freedom of belief (arguably to our detriment!) and this would curtail it. Thank you for confirming your personal belief. I’ve no idea whether it is shared by most Muslims.

Where does religious hatred start though?
Some people would perceive any kind of questioning or criticism of their beliefs as hatred.
How would you police it?

I would absolutely not support Muslims having their lives governed by Sharia Law in the UK. I'm concerned to hear anybody say they'd support this.

Does this make me Islamophobic?

I also don’t believe shariah law has a place in the UK but if Muslims want to use it to govern their own lives then that’s ok

You would be happy for, in the UK in 2025, thieves to have their hands amputated and public floggings arranged for infidelity? Would they be exempt from the criminal system for grievous bodily harm?

There are 30 sharia law courts in the UK now. Many already do. There’s a new emboldening to get certain elements (blasphemy laws) written into the UK law that governs us all.

I can’t see it as remotely problematic that there are swathes of our society living under two separate ‘legal’ systems 🤔.

I should have known better than to engage on this thread.

Did you read my post? Where on earth did I say I am happy to see shariah law written into law.

I did not know this 😬

Jews have their own courts, so do Sikhs. The question I ask is why does it bother you about Muslims but I don’t see you share the same outrage about Jews or Sikhs.

Muslim-majority nations carry out a large percentage of the world's executions. In the year 2020, an Amnesty International report found that 88 percent of all recorded executions took place in either Iran, Egypt, Iraq or Saudi Arabia. However, 'all recorded executions' did not include data from China, where the number of executions is classified information

What do you think these people are being executed for?

I am against capital punishment or corporal punishment.

Next question.

In that case you should not be ‘ok’ with Sharia law. Unless you believe it’s fine for Muslims to be executed but not non-Muslims?

No fear of death from those quarters. And an absence of mission creep in attempting to reshape the UK. Next?

Blasphemy laws are sharia, no?

Of course not. But I have no issue for Muslims using Shariah law to govern their way of life AS LONG AS it doesn’t harm another person. Apologies I missed that caveat.

Next question.

I didn't know this either 😬.

The obvious answer is that I don't know of any offensive Sikh or Jewish laws. Not saying there isn't any, I just don't know of them.

However I do believe Sharia Law wouldn't align with my ( admittedly Judeo Christian ) values.

Now am I Islamophobic?

Did I say that Shariah laws need to be made into law? Or did I say that all forms of discrimination and religious hatred need to be outlawed AND Muslims can follow Shariah if they wish?

Do explain how that means Islamic beliefs need to be protected by legislation?

Do you think the women of Afghanistan are following Sharia because they ‘wish’ to?