Conservative thinktanks are in a bit of a bind when it comes to responding to the rise of Islamophobia. On the one hand they want to condemn the BNP and the English Defence League for their racism and violence, but on the other they want to downplay the extent and existence of anti-Muslim racism because it might deflect attention from "Islamism" – the catch-all term for politically active Muslims, which they see as the main problem facing the UK.
[A COMMENT] Can I just clarify what is meant by Islamaphobia here because it appears to mean thinking, saying or otherwise holding an opinion about Islam in any way, shape or form that isn't entirely positive.
[A COMMENT] Lots of reasonable people have objections to Islam for a lot of reasons. Most of these reasons are not racist or due to fearmongering, but caused by what they see with their own eyes. [Guardian Cif] Read more
