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?

Of course not. The Taliban are a bunch of evil tribal men who seek to control women. Islam doesn’t require that. But their tribal customs probably do but those tribal customs have nothing to do with Islam.

Next question.

Because you are advocating legislating against criticism of Islam, which is a blasphemy law. This is antithetical to our entire culture and rule of law.

I think considering you are oddly focused on Islam but ignore the other religious courts and laws in the UK, you need to ask why you claim your issue is about different legal systems in the UK but really it’s about Islam.

I don’t agree with the term Islamophobic generally. It suggests there is a fear of Islam, rather than a prejudice towards it.

So what happens if Sharia deems an act of terrorism legal as holy war? Does the British legal system stay out of it, because Sharia supersedes British law when it comes to the act of Muslims? What about if a woman is publicly flogged for adultery? Do the police turn a blind eye, because Sharia can do as it wishes? What happens when the two systems are in conflict? Should the British rule of law not apply to Muslims if they want to opt out of it?

Hard agree with this.

No blasphemy laws in the UK, ever.

Again, what exactly is ‘religious hatred’ that you’d like to see outlawed? Can people criticise religions? Disagree with certain practices?

Again, where did I say that? You are manipulating my post to suit your agenda.

How is protecting religions and minorities from discrimination at odds with our culture and rule of law?

Define discrimination? Honestly believe the Muslim population is the least discriminated against in this country. The number of accommodations is baffling!!

There are some seriously shady characters in the legal world who crop up time and time again to attempt to stop Muslim defendants being subject to British law; and I will say no more than that.

If you cannot understand the dangers of curtailing free speech then I cannot help you

No, my issue isn't with those other courts. Just the Sharia ones... my issue is with the extreme interpretation of the Quran and the severe punishments required by Sharia.

And I do have a genuine fear of the extreme Islamists. I don't fear the extreme groups of Jews and Sikhs in the same way, as they don't tend to make themselves known by bombing buses or flying planes into buildings.

So, in discussing my fear and hatred of the extreme type, at what point do I become Islamophobic?

@RainingRoses said "I have no issue for Muslims using Shariah law to govern their way of life AS LONG AS it doesn’t harm another person." but you guys keep giving irrelevant examples. You guys are only trying to find ways to justify your prejudice against Muslims.

Having said that, I believe any religious laws/courts shouldn't have recognition over UK's (or any other country's) laws/courts and my google search shows this is the way religious courts are designed in UK.

Please tell us about a Sharia country that doesn’t harm people?

There is no such thing as Shariah deeming an act of terrorism legal as holy war. You might have men who make such declarations but those are the extremists that ordinary Muslims ignore.

The primary law here is English, Scottish, etc. Those laws must be observed and obeyed. Islam teaches you to respect local laws and customs. I think you missed the point where I said as long as there is no harm to others, then it doesn’t really affect anyone else if Muslims choose to follow Shariah law in their day to day lives.

Wildflowers99
Which is odd, as the support for a Palestinian state is generally from the left wing.
Both extreme left and extreme right virws are problematic.

Why is UK law not enough then? What is lacking in it that makes it not good enough for Muslims? You can bring up Jews etc if you want but this conversation is not about them.

Ottoman Empire. For others, you need to look case by case as I have often said radicalism in countries like Afghanistan and Iran is a result of foreign invasion. You ca n not just simply point fingers at the religion and dismiss the root cause factors.

Extreme Islamists do not represent all Muslims.

In fact, Muslims are the biggest victims of Islamists. More Muslims have died at their hands than non-Muslims.

And you are focusing on the extremes but ignoring that those extremes aren’t widely practised. The Bible has some harsh and extreme verses. So does the Torah. But those verses are largely ignored. Just like the majority of Muslims largely ignore them.

Yes, totally agree.

Religions have their rules and practices. This is nothing new or out of the ordinary for Islam.

In fact, Muslims are the biggest victims of Islamists. More Muslims have died at their hands than non-Muslims.

This doesn't sound like a positive selling point for the religion

Yes, believe it or not Muslims aren’t fans of Islamists either!

Quite.

so Muslims incite all the violence and are also the biggest victims. And we’re supposed to want this here, why?

It’s irrelevant whether it’s all Muslims. Of course it’s not.

Why won't you say more?