The term Islamophobia has its origins in the early 20th century, which later reemerged in the 1970s and wasn’t accepted in mainstream language then. The word Islamophobia went on to become a trend over the succeeding years with many people developing a sense of fear of the religion of Islam, their culture, and people.
Is the fear based on a strong foundation? Or is it just senseless fear?
Currently, Islamophobia brings a certain kind of discrimination over the Muslim community, they are now always viewed as terrorists, or someone with violent tendencies. With the religion of Islam being linked to bombings, hijackings, and killings, their culture is deemed by many as unacceptable – citing jihad and pedophilia, among many others. Having said such, it is more than enough for us to hate – or even loathe – Islam, isn’t it?
It is easy for us to hate the religion as well as its people just because of the things we always see on the news, but we don’t see what lies behind. We have developed a strong hatred for our Muslim brothers and sisters because there were a lot of Christians, Jews, and other people of different religious background killed unlawfully and in the most terrible and agonizing way imaginable. What we don’t know, however, is the fact that there were also Muslim people killed every day. Is it given much attention, though? Unfortunately, no.
When there were attacks on the US, France, and other big countries, condolences poured in. But were there condolences and aid pouring in for Muslim countries who are at war, such as Sudan and Libya? Again, there is none.
While the fear of the ISIS cannot be ignored, it should not encompass the entire Muslim community because they are also living in fear. The religion of Islam is not the enemy, in fact, they are also experiencing attacks on their own mosques and worship centers.
Just last January, an attack on a Quebec mosque, orchestrated by Alexandre Bissonnette, a “very right [wing], ultra nationalist, white supremacist,” killed six Muslims and was considered an act of terrorism by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Bissonnette is not, in any way, part of Islam but what he did was the same thing that led us to fear Islam – he killed people.
It is important to note that whatever religion one may believe in, they are still capable of terrorism. Pointing that out, Islam should not be feared because it is not the reason for these issues. Rather, it is how a person – Muslim or not – perceives things.
I’ve met a fair share of Muslims and they are good people. Though, I admit, I have some questions on some of their beliefs, but I still believe in mutual respect. It doesn’t mean we are each other’s enemies because we come from different religious groups.
Despite the differences, there is only one God/Allah that we believe in and this All Mighty Father wouldn’t want His people discriminate each other. After all, no religion can save, rather, it is how we live our lives in accordance with the teachings of God that will give us salvation./WDJ