The Dresden protests are illegitimate and the attitude of German politicians towards false fears of ‘Islamisation’ needs to change.
Islamophobia is on the rise in Germany. That is troubling enough. But what’s even more concerning is that many of those whom I would define as Islamophobic feel very good about it. They see themselves not as racist or xenophobic, but as defenders of democracy and human rights against the adherents of a religion they believe is incompatible with both.
.... This needs to change – now. It needs to be made clear that Islamophobia in Germany is no legitimate expression of anger or frustration and most certainly nothing to be proud of. It’s racism, plain and simple.
[TOP RATED COMMENT 843 votes] You may well argue that it is a bigotry, or a prejudice, but it is not racism, since muslims come in all colours.
[SECOND 704v] Right, so the sole premise of the argument is that Islamophobia is wrong because Islamophobia is racism.
Since that statement is quite clearly false, the argument is junk.
[THIRD 672v] Islam is a belief system, I believe that this belief system is largely regressive, if I want to criticise it then that doesn't make me a racist. People shouting racist and islamaphobe and trying to shut down any debate are damaging democracy.
[FOURTH 671v] Islam is not race.
[FIFTH 606v] If it were my faith I would want to know why the word 'phobia' never seems to be attached to any other of the worlds religions.
[SIXTH 535v] "Islamophobia is racism."
It isn't. And labelling it as such feels like an attempt to shut down any criticism of Islam - reasonable or not - by simply yelling 'RACIST!'
[SEVENTH 498v] Sigh. Islam is not a race. [Guardian Cif] Read more
