Is Islamophobia In Europe A Growing Concern?

Cossy

It’s quite interesting isn’t it, one could argue that just before the time of the “Empire” and “Commonweath” that our own country actually wanted to dominate the world, wanting lots of other cultures and countries to embrace learning English and adopting Christianity.

One could argue that this was almost exactly the same back in the day, and I’m pretty sure this wasn’t all achieved solely by peaceful means.

Personally, I don’t wish to be taken over by ANY radical organisations, regardless of their ethos or origins.

"Personally, I don’t wish to be taken over by ANY radical organisations, regardless of their ethos or origins."

As mentioned well upthread, nowadays there is a POV where to be "pro" something means you are automatically assumed to be "anti" something else.

I want to find a space where its possible to be subtle, to weigh up situations trying to understand why they are as they are, to avoid the automatic apportioning of blame unless good reasons are laid out for specific examples.

zakouma66

I think some fundamental Christians are pretty scarey.

In America maybe, but not here in the UK.

I’m afraid I find this comment to be what aboutary and therefore unhelpful.

It’s quite interesting isn’t it, one could argue that just before the time of the “Empire” and “Commonweath” that our own country actually wanted to dominate the world, wanting lots of other cultures and countries to embrace learning English and adopting Christianity.

One could argue that this was almost exactly the same back in the day, and I’m pretty sure this wasn’t all achieved solely by peaceful means.

Personally, I don’t wish to be taken over by ANY radical organisations, regardless of their ethos or origins.

Dickens

Any fundamentalist of any creed or religion is a concern - those that hijack the doctrine for their own agenda.

Are there peaceful Muslims living in Europe who don't want or plan to 'take it over'? Of course there are. We have one such family in our street, integrated into our way of life and active in the local community like other families with children.

I think what concerns people is the frequent reports in the media after an 'incident' or a knife attack, that the perpetrator is known to the police. Which implies that there's individuals roaming around with radical ideas just being left to get on with it.

I don't know what the answer is - tarring all Muslims with the same brush certainly isn't one of them, but neither is ignoring the fact that there are those who hate the 'West' and our 'infidel' way of life.

I know they exist because I came up against one years ago on a social media site who made no bones about it - it was a deeply unpleasant experience. Especially as his comments - subtle though they were, got a huge amount of "likes".

I'm also very concerned at the conflation of being Muslim with being a terrorist, including on GN.

"I think what concerns people is the frequent reports in the media after an 'incident' or a knife attack, that the perpetrator is known to the police. Which implies that there's individuals roaming around with radical ideas just being left to get on with it."

Are there not a whole number of reasons a person is perpetrator is known to the police? Ie a criminal record of violence.

Certainly not to ignore the small minority - and I don't think they are being ignored.

Social media is a nasty place - fosters extreme and conspiracy theories from many POV. I imagine your neighbour would be as concerned as you, if not more, as hatred is dangerous for them.

Dickens

Any fundamentalist of any creed or religion is a concern - those that hijack the doctrine for their own agenda.

Are there peaceful Muslims living in Europe who don't want or plan to 'take it over'? Of course there are. We have one such family in our street, integrated into our way of life and active in the local community like other families with children.

I think what concerns people is the frequent reports in the media after an 'incident' or a knife attack, that the perpetrator is known to the police. Which implies that there's individuals roaming around with radical ideas just being left to get on with it.

I don't know what the answer is - tarring all Muslims with the same brush certainly isn't one of them, but neither is ignoring the fact that there are those who hate the 'West' and our 'infidel' way of life.

I know they exist because I came up against one years ago on a social media site who made no bones about it - it was a deeply unpleasant experience. Especially as his comments - subtle though they were, got a huge amount of "likes".

Very fair and balanced view and I agree.

I think anti Semitism and anti Christianity is even more worrying. Very real and definitely increasing.

Like Dickens, I’ve known a few Muslim people who hate the west. They buy into conspiracy theories eg 9/11 perpetrated by the US and The Jews, that Netanyahu allowed or even encouraged 7/11 to justify the a Gaza attacks
It worries me that these individuals I know, are all working, contributing, raising children indoctrinated in this way
Every community though has its extremists. We do seem to be becoming more polarised and separated

Cossy

Btw your use of the word Islamophobia in your heading directly contradicts the content.

Indeed, some of the content is Islamophobic. In answer to the question posed in the title I think that Islamophobisa is deeply worrying.

There have been books written about this subject, for about the last 8 years.

Any fundamentalist of any creed or religion is a concern - those that hijack the doctrine for their own agenda.

Are there peaceful Muslims living in Europe who don't want or plan to 'take it over'? Of course there are. We have one such family in our street, integrated into our way of life and active in the local community like other families with children.

I think what concerns people is the frequent reports in the media after an 'incident' or a knife attack, that the perpetrator is known to the police. Which implies that there's individuals roaming around with radical ideas just being left to get on with it.

I don't know what the answer is - tarring all Muslims with the same brush certainly isn't one of them, but neither is ignoring the fact that there are those who hate the 'West' and our 'infidel' way of life.

I know they exist because I came up against one years ago on a social media site who made no bones about it - it was a deeply unpleasant experience. Especially as his comments - subtle though they were, got a huge amount of "likes".

zakouma66

I think some fundamental Christians are pretty scarey.

They absolutely are, but I have seen little concern here about them!

So I’ve read the OPs link and also researched The Muslim Brotherhood, of which Hamas is an offshoot.

My conclusion, yes “we” should be concerned, I’m pretty sure our intelligence services, along with many other European intel services, are very aware of these groups and monitoring them.

This group has been around since the late 1920’s, embraces Shariah Law and appears to be made up mainly of Sunni Muslims.

There are peace loving Muslims across the world who have absolutely no intentions of supporting or joining groups like this.

Cossy

Btw your use of the word Islamophobia in your heading directly contradicts the content.

I’m not sure it’s ’the Influence of the Muslim faith’ so much as the way the southern Asian approach to politics that is concerning.

I live in an area with a large Muslim community. They’re active in local charities to feed the growing homeless community - very few, if any of them are of any origin than white British. We have lived peacefully since the 1950’s when they started to arrive, invited to bring their skills to our cotton mills. Long may this continue

I think some fundamental Christians are pretty scarey.

Btw your use of the word Islamophobia in your heading directly contradicts the content.

I think it’s a worry and something of which we should all be aware and closely monitor, in the same way as we should all be concerned about the increase in members of the far right.

Any extremist group should be a worry.

I feel part of the OPs statement is aimed directly at people like me, who have indeed called out racism on here.

It is quite sensible to be very aware of any extremist groups who might be in a position of power or able to influence or intimidate others.

What I, and some others here, object to us when one cohort is continually targeted, as has happened here, ie “Muslims” “migrants” “young people”.

As I’ve stated so many times I genuinely do not believe any one entire cohort of people is all “bad”, humans can be bad, good or indifferent across all races, colour, creed, nationality and religion.

Of course, it’s an entirely different thing if said cohort is made up solely and entirely by extremists or terrorists.

I wonder of the purpose of posting this (as “others” apparently “wonder” about some of my posts!)

Starmer is losing the Muslim vote because he’s stood firm in support of the right of Israel to defend itself,

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David Cameron, when prime minister, was very aware of the threat posed by the
Muslim Brotherhood and in 2014/2015 held a review which is available to read.

I doubt that the Security Services in the Uk are complacent about the Muslim Brotherhood.

The first two responses to the question show how many people still refuse to face up to reality.
Haven't the recent elections taught you anything?

Dead right about Britain being naive. Too late now, however. Infiltration has already occurred.

If hate crimes and discrimination were not occuring there would be no need for a word that describes that situation

Exactly, just the same as misogyny and the rarer cases of misandry. Antisemitism seems to be on the rise, although it's been ever present, but suddenly it's OK to be openly antisemitic just so long as you frame it as being 'pro Palestine'. It was ever thus, frame your prejudice as being 'pro' another group and suddenly you're asbestos, absolutely untouchable.

As far as I am aware Muslims have the same protections under the equality act as any other religion which is as it should be.

Islamophobia is a descriptive word in the same way as Homophobia or racism. It describes discrimination against a specific group.

If hate crimes and discrimination were not occuring there would be no need for a word that describes that situation