Battle erupts over scheme from mostly-Muslim working group to define ‘Islamophobia’
By Bob Unruh
Lawmakers warn of ‘chilling effect’ on free speech, and suggest formal definition could be ‘weaponized’ by Muslims against critics
Lawmakers in the United Kingdom are warning of the likely “chilling effect” on speech, as well as the actual threats to those targeted with such accusations, should parliament move forward with a scheme that involves defining “Islamophobia.”
Islamophobia already is defined by those on the left as “the irrational fear of, hostility towards, or hatred against the religion of Islam or Muslims in general.”
They claim Islamophobia is “primarily a form of religious or cultural bigotry.”
They even have a derogatory name for those they arbitrarily convict of such attitudes: “Islamophobes.”
Actually, the term most often is used against those who have criticisms of Islam, whether it be for religious reasons, the fact that Islam is connected today to terrorism worldwide through some of its factions, or whether it involves demands made by Muslims on others in society, such as in European cities where there are now no-go zones for non-Muslims.
Leftists blame the surge in such attitudes on “the radicalization of Christian nationalist and far-right groups with growing hostility towards Muslims.”
But then similar attitudes exist for and against all religious traditions, and seldom do appear the words “Hinduphobe,” or “Christianphobe” or “Buddhaphobe,” “Shintophone” or “Sikhphobe.”
Now a report at the Christian Institute in the U.K. explains members of the House of Lords are warning against adopting a proposed definition.
“In a letter signed by 36 members of the House of Lords, the peers called the attempt at a definition ‘misguided’ and stated that it would only increase division in communities.”