UC Riverside Op-Ed Distorts Facts About Islamophobia Debate

This post originally appeared in Eagle Rising.


Hat tip the Highlander

The Bill Maher speaking engagement at UC Berkeley scheduled for December is sparking commentary throughout the University of California system. For example, the UC Riverside campus paper, The Highlander, is featuring this op-ed on Maher and Islamophobia.

With all due respect to the writer (Honeiah Karimi) who is entitled to her opinion about anti-Muslim bias (Islamophobia-depending on how you define this tricky term), the debate about Islam goes far beyond the question of religion because Islam is not only a religion, but a political ideology as well, one that seeks to dominate non-Muslims and spread the religion and sharia law worldwide. That concerns us all. UC Riverside activist and Islamist professor Reza Aslan (quoted above) is one we should exercise caution in quoting.

In addition, the "increasing hate crimes against Muslims" is a myth. Karimi should read up on the annual FBI hate crime statistics. They are minimal and pale in comparison to the number of anti-Jewish incidents. If they are unreported by the media as Karimi claims, it is because they are not happening. 

But more importantly, a factual correction is in order here. The above-referenced San Diego Muslim woman who was murdered in her home (El Cajon) was not a victim of a hate crime as the linked news story early in the investigation implies. Subsequent investigation revealed that Shaima Alawadi was murdered by her husband because she wanted a divorce. The scene was made to appear that an intruder had killed her and left an anti-Islamic note. Alawadi's husband was convicted of her murder. To raise that case and an early news report is beyond misleading.

In spite of what Aslan is quoted as saying, we must be concerned about Islam not only as a religion, but also as a political ideology, which is hardly neutral. It does not accept a division between religion and the state. As to its relationship to all the horrific violence we see around the world including persecution of Christians, why should we not openly discuss it while respecting the rights of peaceful Muslims among us?

I am no admirer of Bill Maher or his intolerance towards all religions. Yet, as a Christian, I must respect his right to say what he will about Christianity. Up till now that's exactly what Christians and Jews have done. Why should Muslims be any different in America?