Islamophobia or Racism?

[pierre-augustin_habrih]

Conservatives criticized the use of the term ‘‘Islamophobia’’ in Bill M-103, as they claimed it would lead to censorship of criticisms of Islam. However, this argument is not valid as some Muslims criticize Islam themselves. In fact, Muslims tend to be critical of different branches of Islam. Sufis are critical of Salafi Islam and vice-versa. Sunnis and Shia Muslims are mutually critical toward each other. Even politically, Liberal and Conservative Muslims are critical toward each other. There is a difference between criticizing Islam as a religion or a system of beliefs and having hatred toward Muslim people as a whole. One can criticize Judaism or Christianity without being antisemitic or anti-Christian. There is a difference between criticism and evident hatred. Trying to decrease disproportionate amounts of hate will not limit freedom of speech, it will only lead to more conscious speech.
According to Rana, Islamophobia is a form of racism, since the racialization of Islam took place as the foundation of race theory took root (Rana, 28). He claims that Muslims were a ‘‘geographically external other’’ because they come from elsewhere. While Jewish people were perceived as an internal enemy, existing within Euro-American states, Muslims were perceived as an external enemy, coming from competing states (Rana, 46). In the American context, Islam is a liberatory identity for African Americans because many of the enslaved Africans were Muslim and continued to practice their faith in America. Furthermore, Muslims slaves in the Americas revolted themselves against slavery. There was a series of slave revolts in Brazil which culminated in a major rebellion in 1835 (Rana, 40). The term ‘‘Islamophobia’’ was used to address the increasing animosity and violence that Muslim migrants faced in European countries, which was accentuated by the rise of Zionism. Islamophobia also rose through the revitalization of American Imperialism in Afghanistan and Iraq (Rana, 29).
According to Arora, anti-Sikh violence is linked to Islamophobia, as although it originated before 9/11, it became much worse afterwards (Arora, 1). Sikh people were constantly suspected at airports and people made racist remarks about their turbans (Arora, 2). Arora claims that racialized people, including Muslims and Sikhs, are constantly judged by how much they contribute to society. However, in front of racists, all their accomplishments mean absolutely nothing (Arora, 3). She also states that Sikh men and Hijabi women are united by the fact that they are visibly religious, which is the reason that they are targeted by hateful attacks (Arora, 4). Thus, Islamophobia and anti-Sikh violence are linked to racism, as these groups are not only hated because of their faiths, but also because of how they look.
In his song ‘‘Soup Boys’’, Heems starts by saying ‘‘You’re eating stones, I’m seeing drones up top’’. This claim illustrates the fact that Western countries bomb innocent civilians in Middle Eastern countries, while the only weapon they have in order to retaliate is rocks. In the music video, Muslims are represented as peaceful. They appear to be praying or walking around in markets. We even see a man doing the Adhan (call to prayer). However, Americans are represented as violent. We see warplanes, and soldiers bursting into people’s homes. Who are the real terrorists, the innocent civilians, or the governments ordering their deaths?