Islamophobia
Causes
Islamophobia is caused by a mixture of factors: experience and/or misinformation.
Some people came from abusive Muslim households, or societies where governments and members use Islamic beliefs to force their subjects to obey them. Some were also attacked or threatened by people who claim to be Muslims, or associate the whole Islamic religion with various infamous terrorist or militant attacks.
Others also dislike Islam due to how some Muslims distort the Quran’s passages (the holy book) to justify violence, total war, and cruelty; or how many Muslim societies practice strict forms of conservatism. Still others associate Islam with the loudest and most violent members (like Al Qaeda, Tehreek e Taliban, ISIS), who may be supported by some locals who wrongly see them as some sort of “resistance movement”.
Treatment
The best way to deal with Islamophobia is through information. One can speak with actual Muslims, or search online for proper information about how Islam is usually practiced.
You do not have to convert to Islam in order to find out how it works.
There are also Muslims who reject extremism and autocracy, but these ones may be targets of militant movements.
If Islamophobia may end up with panic attacks, trauma, or absolute fear, one should seek a counsellor or a doctor.
Usage notes
Extreme Muslim groups, known as “jihadis”, regard any criticism of them or Islam, or simply opposition to them, as “Islamophobia”, as if opposing them and their views is considered as attacks against Islam in general. They are wrong.
How to know what is really “Islamophobia”?
If such groups complain about Islamophobia, ask them who exactly is affected. Not “all Muslims”, “our honour”, or “God”, but any specific, real person. Like any victim, you may help the person with medical treatment or counselling.
The complainer should also seek counselling. If they still want to express any violence or threats against a blasphemer, one should stop or arrest them as soon as possible. People who have views about wanting to kill or do violence against blasphemers will be more likely to commit more violence, so they should be punished for becoming a threat to society.
As for the “Islamophobe”, ask them why are they doing that, and ask them to apologise. If their act may involve violence or threats (instead of just criticism), they may be punished by law for hate crimes, as they would if they targeted another religion.
Real Islamophobia is threatening Muslim persons or cursing at the Islamic religion; but stating that “this Muslim person or society did something wrong” is not Islamophobia, but honesty.
Jihadis and Muslim extremists must not be allowed to represent all Muslims.
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