The Islamophobia Red Herring

Muslim who drove his car into a a Jewish Temple (IBT)

Suspecting Muslims of violence is not Islamophobia. It is a legitimate suspicion. And I’m getting tired of hearing the word. Not because Islamophobia isn’t real. Irrational fear and suspicion of Muslims certainly exist. But because the term is almost always invoked when progressives discuss antisemitic incidents. As though the two were equal. They are not.

Antisemitic attacks far exceed attacks against Muslims. By nearly a factor of ten. FBI statistics report about 1,938 anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2024 compared with roughly 200–230 anti-Muslim hate crimes.

That makes the fear of a Jew being attacked a far more serious concern. And the perpetrators are often Muslims. As was the case yesterday at a Jewish temple in Michigan. Nor are Jews the only targets. Virginia’s Old Dominion University was recently attacked by a convicted Islamic State supporter. Yet when hate crimes are discussed, the media reflexively pairs Islamophobia with antisemitism - as though the threats were comparable. They aren’t.

To be clear, most Muslims have no interest in terrorism and wouldn’t harm anyone, even if they oppose Israel. Some Muslims even support the Jewish state. Including those living in Israel – some of whom serve in the IDF.

But that should not prevent legitimate concern over radicalization within parts of the Muslim world. Certain interpretations of Islam have repeatedly produced deadly extremists.

Defenders argue that extremists are the exception and that Islam is a religion of peace...

To continue reading this post - and comment on it - click on this link: substack. You must subscribe to receive new posts. It's easy and it's free.