Myth of Islamophobia 2
My own experience among Muslims, in my role as a GP and as an active member of the community, is that hostility towards Muslims because of their religion has dramatically increased since 11th September 2001.
The statistical data is neither large nor specific enough to prove or disprove the phenomenon of Islamophobia. Malik is critical of those who draw firm conclusions from such statistics, yet does the same. It is absurd to say that the 300 per cent increase in stop and search “among Asians” is a consequence of their living near Heathrow, or that only about half of these are Muslims because only about half of all Asians are Muslim.
Neither seeking “victim status” nor new legislation is likely to curtail what I see as the main cause of the hostile atmosphere to Islam in society: a climate of fear of political Islam deliberately inspired as part of the “war on terror.” In the long run, robust expression and explanation of Islamic thoughts and practises will do more to address these root causes of Islamophobia.
Many of us are actively engaging in this but have met with mixed responses. The chattering classes, it seems, prefer a chat with those whose views differ very little from their own. The real challenge is to embrace an “intelligent conversation” with those who admit to differences with the mainstream of society.
Dr Abdul Wahid
Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain
Letters, Prospect
7th February 2005
