Table of Contents
Foreword 13
Introduction 16
Chapter 1 What Factors Contribute to Islamophobia?
Overview: There Are Four Distinct Forms of Islamophobia J. Mark Halstead 20
The Mass Media Contributes to the Spread of Islamophobia Arthur F. Buehler 25
A Small Group of Right-Wing Zealots Is Responsible for Spreading Islamophobia Wajahat Ali et al. 36
Islamophobia Grew Following 9/11 Goal Auzeen Saedi 45
The Economic Crisis Has Contributed to Islamophobia Rachel Slajda 50
The Perceived Oppression of Muslim Women Is Used to Justify Islamophobia Leila Ahmed 54
Banning Face Veils Fuels Islamophobia Nancy Graham Holm 59
Chapter 2 Is America Islamophobic?
Chapter Preface 64
Yes: America Is Islamophobic
Anti-Muslim Sentiment Is Widespread in the United States Peter Beinart 66
Islamophobia Has Replaced Anti-Semitism in the United States Nadine Epstein 70
Bigots Are Responsible for the Spread of Islamophobia to Mainstream Americans Mosharraf Zaidi 75
Anti-Muslim Sentiment Is a Problem on College Campuses Akbar Ahmed Lawrence Rosen 82
No: America Is Not Islamophobic
Anti-Muslim Bigotry Is Exaggerated Russ Smith 87
There Was No Backlash of Anti-Muslim Sentiment After the 9/11 Attacks Jonathan S. Tobin 89
Being Opposed to the Islamic Cultural Center Is Not Being Islamophobic Rich Noyes 101
False Charges of Islamophobia Are Being Used by Radical Groups to Advance Their Cause Robert Spencer 106
Chapter 3 Is Suspicion of Islam Rational?
Overview: Both Conservatives and Liberals Have Valid Arguments About Islam Cathy Young 110
Yes: Suspicion of Islam Is Rational
Fundamentalist Muslims Are Violent and Pose a Real Threat Andrew C. McCarthy 116
Islamic Supremacists Pose a Clear and Present Danger Mark Tapson 125
No: Suspicion of Islam Is Not Rational
Islamophobia Is a Bigger Threat than Islam Melody Moezzi 138
An Irrational Fear of Islam Has Its Roots in the Time of the Crusades John Feffer 141
Chapter 4 Does Sharia Law Pose a Threat to America?
Overview: Background on Sharia Law Toni Johnson 154
Yes: Sharia Law Poses a Threat to America
There Is a Link Between Sharia Law and the Support of Violent Jihad Mordechai Kedar David Yerushalmi 161
Sharia Law in the United States Leads Americans One Step Closer to Islamist Conquest JanSuzanne Krasner 173
Sharia Law Is a Danger to Civil Society Cully Stimson 178
No: Sharia Law Does Not Pose a Threat to America
Demonizing Sharia Law Is Counterproductive Reuel Marc Gerecht 183
Attempts to Ban Sharia Law Are Based on Ignorance and Islamophobia Abed Awad Justin Elliott 189
The Us Legal System Would Never Adopt Sharia Law Wajahat Ali Matthew Duss 194
Organizations to Contact 203
Bibliography 208
Index 213
