Religious right's Islamophobic streak exposed

Riad Z. Abdelkarim, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Anaheim, California

Last week, noted television evangelist Pat Robertson raised some eyebrows when he proclaimed during a broadcast of "700 Club" that Islam "is not a peaceful religion that wants to coexist. They want to coexist until they can control, dominate and then if need be destroy." He continued by stating that "I have taken issue with our esteemed president in regard to his stand in saying Islam is a peaceful religion. It's just not. And the Koran makes it very clear, if you see an infidel, you are to kill him."

Perhaps not certain that he had made his feelings crystal clear, Robertson then turned his venom towards American Muslims, adding that "our immigration policies are now so skewed to the Middle East and away from Europe that we have introduced these people into our midst and undoubtedly there are terrorist cells all over them."

Two weeks ago, it was revealed that Attorney General John Ashcroft had made the following comments on Islam to syndicated columnist Cal Thomas during an interview last November: "Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for him. Christianity is a faith in which God sends his son to die for you."

After initially refusing to clarify or deny making these ridiculous, false comments-as requested by outraged American Muslim and Arab-American groups -- Ashcroft's office issued a brief, insufficient statement that confirmed that the remarks had indeed been made by the top law-enforcer in our nation, but claimed weakly that they had been taken out of context.

At a time when our government has strived to reassure Muslims worldwide that the war on terrorism is not a war against their faith, it is unfortunate that some among religious conservatives have chosen to engage in polemic name-calling against adherents of one of the world's great religions, and America's fastest growing faith. American Muslims are loyal, patriotic, enthusiastic participants in our great nation's democratic process. We have unequivocally and repeatedly condemned the barbaric terrorist attacks against our country on Sept. 11.

Unfortunately, the comments of Robertson and Ashcroft are only the most recent examples of the disturbing rise in anti-Muslim sentiment emanating from some conservative corners. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, preceded Pat Robertson in revealing his anti-Muslim feelings.

Graham refused to retract remarks in which he claimed: "The God of Islam is not the same God...It's a different God, and I believe it is a very evil and wicked religion." In the NBC report, Graham (who delivered the benediction at President Bush's inauguration) said, "I don't believe this (Islam) is this wonderful, peaceful religion." Concurring with Graham's comments, Rev. Chuck Colson, the founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries, said: "...I agree that Islam is a religion, which, if taken seriously, promotes violence" (USA Today, Nov. 21).

Among elected officials, Rep. C. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, takes the prize for most Islamophobic remarks. Chambliss told Georgia law enforcement personnel they should "just turn (the sheriff) loose and have him arrest every Muslim that crosses the state line" (Washington Post, Nov. 20).

In the Washington Times (Nov. 21), commentator Cal Thomas mocks Muslim prayers offered at an event marking the fast of Ramadhan held at the White House. Thomas wrote: "The (Muslim) ambassadors knelt and touched their foreheads to the floor of the East Reception Room. It's unlikely they were praying Lee Greenwood's lyrics for 'God Bless the USA." He also criticized Congress for having a Muslim leader offer an opening prayer. Syndicated columnist Ann Coulter made perhaps some of the most vicious comments, writing that America "should invade their (Muslim) countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. Coulter also called for the "mass deportation" of Muslims.

The anti-Islamic vitriol has also been spreading among conservative think tanks. Paul Weyrich, president of the Free Congress Foundation, called for the recently-released "Eid Greetings" postage stamp to be recalled and "overprinted with the image of the twin towers," because "America's most notable experience with Islam was the attacks on Sept. 11" (USA Today, Nov. 20). And William S. Lind, also with the FCF, remarked that Muslims "should be encouraged to leave...They are a fifth column in this country" (Washington Post, Nov. 19).

Writing in the neoconservative Jewish monthly Commentary, the Middle East Forum's Daniel Pipes goes so far as to recommend "vigilant application of social and political pressure to ensure that Islam is not accorded special status of any kind in this country." The "special status" Pipes refers to includes ordinary religious accommodations for Muslims in the workplace and "inclusion of Muslims in affirmative-action plans."

Of all the comments cited above, none are more troubling than those made by Attorney General John Ashcroft. His words of hate and ignorance are unbecoming of our nation's top law enforcement official -- an individual who is currently entrusted with initiating and administering wide-ranging policies that have a disproportionate impact on Muslims. His remarks are also in direct contradiction to President Bush's repeated statements of respect for Islam.

How are American Muslims and Arab-Americans supposed to trust our Justice Department to safeguard our civil liberties when a man who harbors anti-Muslim feelings is at the helm? Can we be sure that Ashcroft's bias against Islam is not translated into official government policy?

So far, President Bush has remained silent in the face of this anti-Islam onslaught by some who include his spiritual mentor and our nation's Attorney General, a man he appointed. American Muslims are waiting for the President to reassure them that the comments of Ashcroft, Robertson, Graham, and others are not welcomed by his administration. What does the President think? His silence so far is troubling.