Islamophobia has become a major topic of discussion among people in Muslim societies around the world, including in Indonesia. The word has a broad meaning and often serves as an umbrella term to encapsulate negative sentiments against Muslims.
Speaking to Indonesian hajj pilgrims in Mina on Wednesday, Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin encouraged Indonesian Muslims, including the hajj pilgrims to counter Islamophobia by projecting the image of Islam as a religion of peace.
The greatest contribution that Muslims around the world, including in Indonesia, must do, according to Minister Saifuddin, is that must be at the forefront of efforts to project a true representation of Islam as a religion that encourages peace and harmony.
He acknowledged certain parties see Islam in a way that is not entirely correct, giving rise to Islamophobia, and therefore, called upon Muslims to introspect and do some self-reflection.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word means intense dislike or fear of Islam, especially as a political force, or hostility or prejudice towards Muslims and is found occurring in the English language as early as 1923.
Islamophobia is defined as "socially reproduced prejudices and aversion to Islam and Muslims, as well as actions and practices that attack, exclude or discriminate against persons on the basis that they are or perceived to be Muslim and be associated with Islam.
The Berkeley University Islamophobia Research & Documentation Project suggested this working definition: "Islamophobia is a contrived fear or prejudice fomented by the existing Eurocentric and Orientalist global power structure."
It is directed at a perceived or real Muslim threat through the maintenance and extension of existing disparities in economic, political, social and cultural relations, while rationalizing the necessity to deploy violence as a tool to achieve 'civilizational rehab' of the target communities (Muslim or otherwise).
Islamophobia reintroduces and reaffirms a global racial structure through which resource distribution disparities are maintained and extended.
In addition, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a phobia as an exaggerated, usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation.
In recent years, a specific phobia has gripped Western societies - Islamophobia.
Researchers and policy groups define Islamophobia in differing detail, but the term's essence is essentially the same, irrespective of the source.
An exaggerated fear, hatred and hostility towards Islam and Muslims that is perpetuated by negative stereotypes results in bias, discrimination and marginalization and exclusion of Muslims from social, political and civic life.
Islamophobia existed in premise before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but it increased in frequency and notoriety during the past decade.
In a 2011 meeting, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, as well as the League of Arab States, a key partner, identified Islamophobia as an important area of concern.
"Therefore, what is required of us, the Muslims, is how we provide an explanation and a good image with a good example, instead of describing Islam as something scary," the Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister noted.
Saifuddin also asked the independent parties to see Islam in a comprehensive manner.
He also asked any independent observer to see Islam in a comprehensive manner, and not through one or two cases and then generalize.
In recent months, the issue of Islamophobia has resurfaced in Western countries with the flow of migrants to Europe, the incidence of attacks in France, the endless conflict in Syria and Yemen as well as the statement of one of the US presidential candidates.
Further, the Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister also invited Muslim countries to unite to reject radicalism and extremism because, according to him, radicalism and extremism together form despicable ideology, both in terms of law and logic.
Saifuddin noted that if the ideology of radicalism and extremism remained pervasive in the lives of Muslims, it will destroy the glory and the future of Muslims in the eyes of the international community.
"There is no other way to get out of this morass, except by turning to the teachings of Islam and strengthen the unity of Muslims," he said.
In the meantime, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, in a meeting with Indonesian hajj leaders, admitted he was concerned with the conflict, division and wars in Islamic countries, in spite of the fact that Islam is a religion of peace and justice that upholds brotherhood, compassion and virtue.
Therefore, the king of Saudi Arabia called on Muslim leaders worldwide to close ranks in order to achieve unity and find collective solutions to the protracted conflict among Muslims.
He affirmed that the Saudi government was very concerned and backed all efforts to achieve peace and bring goodness to the Islamic countries and the world as a whole.(*)
Pewarta: Otniel TamindaelEditor : Chandra Hamdani Noer
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