"Am I an Islamophobe?"

Yep.

Thanks bags, good piece.

My thoughts exactly.

I'm in total agreement.

Very well put, thanks for posting that bags

Bit surprised to see that Stephen made a typo, though.

Doesn't he write well?

Rxcellent

Even excellent!

YES!

YES too!

Very well put.

I agree with every word. I know how irritating it is when you say you don't like some of the practices of any religion and you are then told you are insulting or attacking all adherents of that religion.

Very well put.

Yes, agree with what's been said.

ELOE , Fry or G/Nan ?

Totally agree!

Any extremist is dangerous! Not all religious people in N Ireland support/ed violence, not all Christians try to kill doctors who perform abortions but some do so in the name of their religion!
I agree with SF that it is difficult to try to say you do not agree with a philosophy/belief/lifestyle without some people accusing you of hating people!

Stephen Fry just seems to have that gift of putting into writing everything I want to say.

Yes - completely agree with him.

When I was a member of an anti-racist group formed in 1996 to combat a racist MP here (Pauline Hanson), I put my problem with Islam to the group for discussion. I was upset about misogyny, forced marriages and other problems associated with, but not exclusive to, Islam. But I didn't want to become racist, obviously.

We came to the conclusion that the criteria for acceptable behaviour in religious and ethnic groups should be whether or not they contravene the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and that it is not racist or islamophobic to fight such contraventions.

I still use the UDHR to decide whether something is OK or objectionable.

Good idea Joan. There will be Muslims, e.g. Malala and her family, who disagree with the extremists so it is better to place arguments clearly outside the religion/philosophy and place it with the deeds/actions.

Joan, you have given me an excellent riposte to people who think my objection to the treatment of women in many cultures makes me a racist or bigot.

Gosh, I wish I could write like Stephen Fry! He puts into words, so eloquently, exactly how I, and many others, feel about this whole subject.

Thanks Greatnan and Penstemmon.

Yes, it's great when people in the media reflect your own words and feelings,henetha and you know your deeply held opinions are out there for all to see.

Very well said!

Here is another take about such issues.

The British Jewish MP. Gerald Kaufman was heavily criticised for making these remarks against Israel's actions in Palestine. He is speaking for those Jews who do not go along with Israel's extremist attitudes towards Palestine.

One amazing speech.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMGuYjt6CP8

There is a tendency among us to think that members of any group, religion or nationality, automatically go along with the most headline grabbing opinions of that particular group.

Kaufman's remarks made by any non Jew would possibly be strongly accused of being anti-semitic by criticising the actions of the Jewish State and the right wing Zionist lobby.