CJ

If you don’t believe me you don't believe me. There's nothing I can do about it.

I have in fact widened the scope of my inquiries since my previous posting. For the benefit of others who may be interested I shall report back

As they requested I phoned the Islamic Society of Victoria (03 9470 2424) again yesterday afternoon. The gentleman I spoke to requested time to formulate a reply. I left him with my phone number and email address.

It is significant that despite constant claims of Islamophobia two Muslim Victorian organisations are unable to define it. I understand their dilemma. Make the definition too broad and the whole concept behind "Islamophobia" is revealed for what it is - a ruse to curtail freedom of speech.

On the other hand make the definition too narrow and Islamophobia - as opposed to discrimination against Muslims - is seen to be a red herring.

I intend to pursue this investigation after the Easter break. I shall again phone the two aforementioned Islamic organisations in Victoria. I shall also phone Islamic organisations in other states and abroad. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) are both on my list.

It will be interesting to see what comes up. I shall specifically ask whether the organisations I phone consider the Muhammad cartoons to be a manifestation of Islamophobia.

Perhaps I can work this up into an article for a serious publication.

Obviously a persons genetics, skin colour, family heritage is something they cannot change and this is to be respected.

However persons ideas, politics, and religion is something that is flexible and can change. By the use of opposing ideas in political and religious debate people's minds change. We in a society that has freedom of expression can challenge any ideas held. However if we use restriction of expression, threats of violence or intimidation then it is based in phobia. We fear that we may loose control and our held beliefs.

All the above restriction of expresion, threats of violence or intimidation are methods sought or used by Islam and they classify anyone who opposes them on such held beliefs with Islamophobia.

Muslims often compare Islamophobia to anti-Semitism. They say both are evils that must be combated.

They hasten to add that attacks on Israel or Zionism are not anti-Semitic.

Of course, just as many people use attacks on Islam as a way of disguising their racism, so many people use attacks on Israel or Zionism as a cover for their hatred for Jews. Nonetheless, being anti-Israel or anti-Zionist is not synonymous with hating Jews anymore than expressing contempt for Islam is racism.

How can we differentiate between someone who objects to Zionism and someone who just hates Jews?

Here are links to three cartoons. Which, if any, of these would posters consider to be anti-Semitic as opposed to simply anti-Israel or anti-Zionist?

The first is the famous Leunig cartoon the Age refused to publish. It was later entered into an Iranian competition on "Holocaust Cartoons" without Leunig's knowledge.

http://blogs.news.com.au/images/uploads/060502_s5f1_thumb.gif


The second cartoon appeared in La Stampa in Italy. The caption reads "surely they're not going to kill me again."

It appeared at the time Fatah gunmen were hiding in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Israeli forces surrounded the building.

http://watch.windsofchange.net/pics/vignetta_stampa_small.jpg

The last is a prize-winning cartoon by David Brown of the Independent newspaper in the UK. It depicts a naked Sharon eating Palestinian babies.

http://www.usefulwork.com/shark/independent_sharon.jpg

For comparison purposes here is a link to one of the notorious Muhammad cartoons.

http://www.humanevents.com/images/islm_cartoon_6.jpg

Steven, I think that, of your first threes cartoons, only the second (the Italian one) is anti-Semitic. This is because it substitutes a depiction of Jesus for that of the Fatah gunmen, and implies that the Jews are just up to the same murderous tricks they've been engaged in since they crucified Jesus. Much Christian anti-Semitism seems to cite the Jews' responsibility for the Crucifixion as justification for hating Jews.

On the other hand, I wouldn't call the 'Muhammed' cartoon Islamophobic. While I suspect the business about suicide bombers being promised X number of virgins on reaching Paradise is more of Western fantasy than an Islamic one, the cartoon is obviously commenting on terrorism rather than Islam itself.

CJ,

Aaah the old virgin question.

For a modern translation of what the koran has to say about heaven see.

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/koran/browse.html

Go to Sura 56 esp 36-40

See also Sura 55 and Sura 76.

Whether actual virgins are involved or whether, as some Muslim scholars latterly insist, this is a mistranslation, I cannot say. There is no doubt however that Muslims are promised a very sensual paradise.

Even more important than the promise of virgins is the promise in ayah 18 and ayah 19 of Sura 56. That promise alone would be enough to persuade some of my acquaintances to embrace Islam.

For the rest, I agree with you. Only the second cartoon seems to me to be anti-Semitic.

Are the Muhammad cartoons Islamophobic?

Here is a link to an article on the Muslim Council of Britain's website.

http://www.mcb.org.uk/article_detail.php?article=announcement-535

Under the heading "London Rally Voices Anger on Danish Cartoons" we find the following:

"Dr Abdul Bari, Deputy Secretary General of the MCB in his address said that “this peace rally is about solidarity against incitement, against Islamophobia and against the vilification of Prophet Muhammad,…"

So is "vilification of Prophet Muhammad" a manifestation of Islamophobia? Or is it a separate "crime?"

This is one of the questions I intend to ask the MCB when I phone them next week.

Now another question CJ.

We both agree that taken individually the Muhammad cartoons are not Islamophobic.

Suppose a newspaper regularly – say once every two or three weeks - published cartoons that lampooned Muhammad. Would that be Islamophobia?

Is "lampooning" the same as "vilifying" and is vilification, or lampooning, of "Prophet Muhammad" some great evil that all men and women of good will should fight against?