A Time for Reflection: My Disappointment With "Anti-Islamist" Right-Wingers and Their Racist Hypocrisy

Over the past few years since my apostasy, I have written a lot about Islam. Much of it has been very popular among "anti-Islamists" on the Internet and what you see on this blog is only a tiny fraction of the sum total. Throughout this time, I've been on a roller-coaster of a ride. Starting off as a staunch theist and ending up as an agnostic who just couldn't give a damn about whether God exists or not. But two thing that have been a constant is my dedication to speaking the truth unclouded by any sectarian biases, and the belief that we as human beings are all born equal, separated only by our adherence to unequal ideologies.

Naturally, I was aware that things I write may be used by individuals who I do not necessarily agree with. For example, something I wrote was once used by a Zionist Israeli politician. I wouldn't of minded this so much if they hadn't plagiarized my words without attribution. But, politicians, what else can you expect from them? What eventually did prompt some "soul searching" was when I noticed my work being linked to and used by white supremacists on stormfront.org and other similar sites. The reason I started writing about Islam was in solidarity for the millions of voiceless individuals who are relentlessly persecuted by its adherents. It was certainly not to be in league with right-wing white supremacists and neo-Nazis.

Partly in response to this soul searching, I created this blog. Keeping it within the framework of a site critical of Islam, I have used it at times as a platform to denounce the BNP (something that hasn't stopped their moronic supporters from linking to it), voice my disapproval of the EDL and to cover the media's slandering of Asians. All the while hoping that there will eventually appear a notable critic of Islam who does not carry the baggage and bigotry that accompanies almost every notable, and unfortunately very right-wing, critic of Islam. Then along came Eric Allen Bell.

Him being a critic of Islam from the left of the political spectrum, made me quite excited at the prospect of this new voice. Unfortunately, there seems to be an unwritten rule that every critic of Islam must be an intolerant right-wing Zionist, something that Eric is beginning to imitate frighteningly well. An ex-Muslim and close friend of mine who goes by the pseudonym, "Issy Jones", posted a couple of anti-Zionist comments denouncing the Israeli media's vilification of the Arab race/ethnicity (something similar to the UK media's vilification of Asians) on Eric's Facebook page. What do you think happened to them? Yes, you've guessed it. Even the uniquely American worship of freedom of speech didn't save it or him from the ban-hammer. So an anti-Zionist and anti-racist comment is not welcome, but the countless racist/bigoted comments from his followers are? One example of this hypocrisy would be the user Cindy Krobe, who refers to American Muslims on Eric's Facebook page as "turbine[sic] wearing, smelly people!" Someone seriously needs to tell this women that it is the Sikhs who wear turbans in America, not the Muslims. And considering it's the Muslims, not Western whites, who actually clean their backsides properly after defecation, it's hardly Muslims who are the "smelly" ones.

When it's pointed out that Asians are being maligned by the mainstream media by having religiously motivated hate-crimes attributed to their race, there is no objection from the "anti-Islamists". Unfortunately, this is not the case when the same is pointed out for the Arabs. The message I'm getting is that bigotry and racism is fine, so long as the source of this hatred is Jewish or Israeli. Today, when people kidnap and rape children as part of their "Eid celebrations", they are not "Asians". Today, when people riot on the Temple Mount to screams of "Allahu Akbar", they are equally not "Arabs". The use of their race to describe the perpetrators behind these crimes is inaccurate because their race, something that they cannot change, was irrelevant to their motivations. It is also a display of utter hypocrisy when critics of Islam who happen to be Christian are up in arms if a Muslim desecrates a Bible, attacks a fellow Christian or kills homosexuals, but remain silent when a Jew desecrates a copy of the New Testament, attacks a fellow Christian or kills homosexuals.

And then there is the issue of President Barack Obama (oops! Sorry right-wingers. I meant President Barack HUSSEIN Osama). As I noted previously, Muslims aren't alone when it comes to ridiculing Obama's race by referring to him as an "ape" (right-wing US loons and even the left-leaning New York Magazine have had their turn), but what also worries me is the use of "anti-Islamism" as one of the reasons to justify their hatred. I rarely participate in discussions on blogs or forums, but did start one on an obscure Wordpress blog when I took offense at a racist video about Obama. Ironically the video was produced by a Jewish white supremacist. You've probably also guessed that, being ignorant of the fact that I have spoken out against anti-Semitism on this blog, they tried to smear me (through my supposed silence) as a hypocrite.

Don't get me wrong, I have no particular love for President Obama. In my humble opinion (as someone who has little interest or knowledge of American politics), his love affair with genuine Islamists and his "radical" policies have set American race-relations back a hundred years. That is not to say that I think all of his policies and stances are necessarily bad, I just wish this "change" hadn't come to America from its first ever black president. If there is anything positive to come out of Obama's victory in securing a second term in office, it is the knowledge that millions of white supremacists are now wallowing in self-pity.

In summation, I think it's about time that many in the "anti-Islamist" movement took part in some thorough soul-searching and spoke out against the never-ending conflation of race with religion, and religion with politics. Criticism of Islam is more important now than it has ever been, and the need to be responsible in our critique is even greater. We need to be aware that every action has a reaction and act accordingly. As good a place to start as any would be getting rid of our racist cheerleaders, and the Robert Spencers of this world finally washing there hands of organizations such as the EDL who may come across as "freedom-fighters" on paper but in practice are nothing more than violent, drunken, racist football hooligans.


Additional Notes

1. Issy Jones' comments were posted on an Eric Allen Bell's Facebook photo page (the picture in question was of Pam Geller's controversial "Support Israel, Defeat Jihad" ad http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=383203221757672&set=a.279367345474594.64794.173682399376423&type=1)

The exchange in full:

Issy Jones:

"I'll start supporting Israel when they stop labeling Palestinian/Muslim terrorists “Arabs” and stop treating Christians like shit." 

Erick Morgan:

"Issy Jones, thank you, Israel doesn't need the support of misinformed idiots. You can continue following Pallywood and Arab propaganda.

And speaking of people who treat Christians like shit...

http://www.sodahead.com/living/christianity-is-now-the-target-of-persecution/question-2868235/?link=ibaf&q=&imgurl=http://www.pittsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/205112_149906428408139_100001663472455_32097 "

Issy Jones:

"Misinformed idiot? I'm not some American idiot that cares more for Israel than my own country and ignores Israel's treatment of non-Jews. They are savages in their own country, just like Muslims, and liberal, terrorist sympathizers in America.  http://realchristianity.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/christian-persecution-in-israel/ " 

2. My comments concerning President Obama were posted on a Wordpress blog (the post in question has now been deleted, but the original URL was http://coffeeandsleeplessnights.wordpress.com/2012/11/03/the-mad-jewess-confronts-barack-hussein-osama/#comment-4675 ) 

Islamo-Criticism :

"0:31 …I hate your PURPLE LIPS…

1:03 …talking MONKEY boy…

Considering the fact that Jews are probably more hated than blacks, you’d think the “Mad Jewess” would choose her words more carefully. In another of her videos, Obama tells his wife she looks like a “GORILLA” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWMzC2mozXU). You should add an extra tag to this video: RACIST"

coffeeandsleeplessnights :

"If you’ve got a problem with the video feel free to take your offended liberal sensitivity issues up with her."

Islamo-Criticism:

"LOL. No, I have issues with racism, not an “offended liberal sensitivity issue”."

coffeeandsleeplessnights: 

"LOL Afraid of confronting the Mad Jewess?

And I don’t like racism either but race has been made into this huge fucking issue since Obama became president – all I have fucking heard the past 4 years is a bunch of stupid bullshit from fucking narrow-minded Democrats pertaining to race instead of addressing IMPORTANT characteristics like ethics, morals, and values.

Oh, and I’m not so sensitive that I can’t take a fucking joke or find humor in something like this video."

Islamo-Criticism :

"Afraid of confronting the Mad Jewess? Hardly. I watched that video HERE, not on YouTube. Also, my YouTube account has been suspended because I didn’t provide Google with my real name (I’m an ex-Muslim whose work is pretty well known among anti-Islamists, i.e. I don’t have a death wish).

I’m glad you “don’t like racism either”, but that’s hardly reflected by your comments to me. The bottom line is that video refers to Obama as a “talking MONKEY boy (1:03)”, a “GORILLA (0:54)” from Kenya, who has ugly “PURPLE LIPS”. If you are not racist, you would never refer to a black/brown person as any of those things (or at least I hope you wouldn’t). If you would never refer to a black/brown person as any of those things, why propagate this shite racist video?

Additionally, why brush off my legitimate objections with ad-hominem? So when I criticize Islam, I’m a “raving fundie”, and when I point out racism, I’m an “offended liberal” with sensitivity issues?. LOL I’m not a Democrat, I’m not an American. I’m not even “Western”. I can take a joke, but there’s nothing funny about a Jew referring to a black guy as a talking monkey. If you can’t see that, then it’s not me with the issues."

Redneck Dixie Warrior: 

"If it offends you then don’t watch it! If it offends you…suck it up and move on…..nobody has a gun to your head making you watch it over and over!

BTW…..when Michelle Obama wears a t-shirt with “Get Whitey” on it then it’s about race isn’t it? Why don’t you write her and tell her she’s being racist!

Since you are not Western, not American and not a democrat ….what business is it of yours if someone is voicing their frustration over their President? Jews have been called many names lately by Muslims and others alike. Anti-semitism is on the rise! Do you call people out over that also?

Take your issues with the video up with the Mad Jewess…..let her know what you think of her video. You don’t have to go to youTube to do it….You just have to go to her Blog! Google it!"

Islamo-Criticism:

""If it offends you then don’t watch it!"

I watched it because I thought it would be funny. I see no warning on the title saying: Dont watch this video if you're offended by overt racism towards black people.

"If it offends you…suck it up and move on…..nobody has a gun to your head making you watch it over and over!"

This blog states, 'Comments Are Appreciated'. If it offends me, and if the blog owner allows me to, I will voice my thoughts. Rather than tell me to not 'watch it' or 'suck it up and move on', maybe you should listen to some of your own advise?

"BTW…..when Michelle Obama wears a t-shirt with “Get Whitey” on it then it’s about race isn’t it?"

Yes, that sounds racist to me. American politics is not a subject I'm well versed in or overly interested in, hence I had no idea she done that. But how is that relevant to this racist video? If you don't know what a "Tu quoque" argument is, you should read my blog. I cover that a lot.

"Why don’t you write her and tell her she’s being racist!"

Because I don't read her blog. That's why. Again, how is any of this relevant to this racist video? And just so your Royal Ignorance is aware, I also object to racism against whites on my blog (see here: http://islamo-criticism.blogspot.com/2012/03/muslimwiki-narsaksaslee-and-jagged-85.html )

"Since you are not Western, not American and not a democrat ….what business is it of yours if someone is voicing their frustration over their President?"

It's my "business" because this blog supposedly allows and appreciates comments. And it's not simply "voicing their frustrations", it's overtly racist. Do you now understand, or do I have to spell it out to you in some other language?

"Jews have been called many names lately by Muslims and others alike. Anti-semitism is on the rise! Do you call people out over that also?"

Your ignorance is sickening. Read my blog before making your self look like an ignorant fool (e.g. see here: http://islamo-criticism.blogspot.com/2012/03/jew-quoque-truth-about-infidels-lying.html.)

"Take your issues with the video up with the Mad Jewess…..let her know what you think of her video. You don’t have to go to youTube to do it….You just have to go to her Blog! Google it!"

Thanks."

The following comment was something I was going to post the next day but the blog post in question was deleted before I could:

"Well, I found the right page on her site after you (coffeeandsleeplessnights) edited your post to include a link to it. My comments would obviously not be welcome. In fact it would be against the the site's policies (See: "RULES FOR LEFT WING LUNATICS" http://themadjewess.com/2009/06/08/muslim-woman-punches-street-preacher-in-the-face/), so why is everyone telling me to post there?

I also notice you posted on her blog about her "unhappy fan" (i.e. me), but considering she has no problem openly referring to black people as "N!GGERS" ( http://themadjewess.com/2010/04/27/message-to-people-that-read-my-site-the-mad-jewess/ ) I highly doubt she gives a crap about someone calling her video racist....

Anyway, what a waste of time it would be to tell a racist what she obviously already knows (that her video is racist)."

3. "Inside the Christians United for Israel rally: Unconditional support for Israel" & "Settler admits to murder, series of bomb attacks"

4. "Arabs Riot for Third Day on Temple Mount" & "Five men jailed for sex attacks on two teenage girls in Birmingham"

Effects of Muslim Intolerance & Violence in the West: Greek Politician Reveals his Apostasy... After Death

Come across this whilst browsing TROP (one of the best sites out there for up-to-date news and information on Islam).

From Mystagogy:

Abet Hasman, the deputy mayor of Patras and head of the municipal social services, left a secret revealed only in his obituary, read at his funeral by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras - that he was secretly baptized an Orthodox Christian. Abet, who was born a Muslim and came to Greece from Jordan to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Thessaloniki and finally settled in Patras in 1985, was baptized secretly by Metropolitan Chrysostomos when he was 57 years old. According to the Metropolitan: "He did not say it anywhere. But one day he approached me and asked me to baptize him. He chose the name Alexander, and we baptized a little while later his son. I baptized him in the Chapel of St. John the Theologian of the Diocese." He goes on to mention that he was married in the Church of Saint Andrew, and his son was also baptized with the name Alexander at the Church of Panagia of Paralias. He loved Greek history and especially Alexander the Great, which is why he chose the name for himself and for his son.

Below is a video of the funeral, which took place on 15 May 2012 with Metropolitan Chrysostomos remembering him:

4,000 people showed up for his funeral and burial at First Cemetery, which showed how much loved he was by the people.

Moderate Malaysia: PAS Spiritual Leader says Prime Minister Must be a Muslim

He said this in the context of giving his approval to non-ethnic Malays becoming PM, provided they adhere to Islam. The fact that he would need to make such a declaration underscores how prevalent racism is in Muslim societies.

Apologists would have you believe Islam somehow magically removes racist tendencies, but in today's world, nowhere is racism more widely accepted than among Muslim majority nations.

For example; if you're a racist far-right bigot who wants to be cheered by thousands for calling President Obama an ape but don't want the mainstream media to hassle you, why not convert to Islam and fly to post "Arab Spring" Tunisia? Problem solved!

From Bernama:

The question of race need not be disputed for a person to become a prime minister provided he is a Muslim, said PAS Spiritual Leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Nik Aziz said the leader must be from among Muslims because he would be heading the government and leading Muslims in the country.

"Okay to be non-Malay, so long as he is a Muslim. How to lead Muslims if he is not a Muslim? Will a democratic nation give the post to a communist?

"And in the same vein, will a Communist country accommodate a democratic leader? No such thing! A Communist country will be helmed by a Communist, a democratic country will be led by a democratic leader," he said.

"So, a Muslim nation must be led by a Muslim, regardless of race."

He said this to reporters after opening a Kelantan Pas Ulama Congress at the Labok Dewan Ulama Headquarters, here, today.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh, prior to this, was reported to have said that he would continue his fight to ensure a non-Malay could became a prime minister of the country on the basis that there was no law against it.

Moderate Malaysia: Government to Force Buddhist Building to Incorporate Islamic Designs

Can you feel the peace and tolerance of moderate Islam yet? Neither can they.

From The Jakarta Post‎:

A controversy is brewing over the proposal for the construction of a Buddhist building here after the PAS-led state government ruled that new buildings should include Islamic designs to reflect the state capital’s status as an Islamic city.

State Local Government, Culture, Arts and Tourism committee chairman Takiyuddin Hassan said developers must incorporate some Islamic elements in their plans or the proposals would be rejected.

“We will ensure development will be based on Islamic principles and features,” he told a press conference here.

He claimed the ruling was well-accepted by the majority of developers, including non-Muslim developers.

“I do not see it as an issue or something that could cause religious tension, as it only involves architecture and design,” he said.

“They have accepted the new ruling well.”

Takiyuddin was commenting on an appeal by the Kelantan Buddhist Association for the state government to approve its building, to be constructed with Chinese features at Jl. Sultan Zainal Abidin here.

It is understood that the association had been told that its building design should have dome-shaped motifs, which have created a controversy in the Chinese media.

In an immediate reaction, Kota Baru MCA division chief Tan Ken Ten slammed the directive, which he said was an infringement of the rights of non-Muslims in the state.

“The ruling is an extreme attempt to impose one’s beliefs into other people’s culture or religious beliefs,” Tan said.

“The PAS government must be mindful that Malaysia is a multi-cultural and multi-religious society that respects the differences of each community. It should appreciate this diversity which makes this country unique,” Tan added.

State MCA Youth chief Gan Han Chuan said the Kelantan government was showing disrespect towards the non-Muslims with its new policy.

“With the new directive, PAS is trying to create discord by destroying the harmonious relations between the communities that had been built by the Barisan Nasional over the years,” he added.

“One can only wonder what type of archaic policies PAS will introduce if Pakatan Rakyat manages to take over the Federal Government,” Gan said.

New York Times‎ Op-Ed: "Moderate" Indonesia Not so Moderate

I've made several posts about this in relation to Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey who are all continually mislabeled by the media and apologists as "moderate".

Their logic goes something like this; what? Malaysia has banned homosexuals and the portrayal of homosexual characters from appearing on television, radio or in movies? Well, Iran has executed 4,000 homosexuals between 1979-1999, so Malaysia is moderate!

As you're probably all aware, apologists often try to paint critics (even non-white critics such as myself) as racist bigots. But the truth is, it is them who are the bigots for holding followers of Islam and Islam-dominated governments to a much lower moral standard than the rest of us.

Thankfully, the tide appears to be turning.

Someone else (I forget who) noted that Turkey had recently been referred to as "semi-democratic" by a mainstream media outlet, and now this by Andreas Harsono (a researcher for the Asia division at Human Rights Watch) on Indonesia.

As another blogger pointed out, "yet again, the mainstream media is behind the game, for the trampling of minority religions by this, the largest Muslim majority nation in the world, has been regularly reported in blogs for years now. Still, it's good to see some straight reporting from 'the newspaper of record'"

From The New York Times:

IT is fashionable these days for Western leaders to praise Indonesia as a model Muslim democracy. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has declared, “If you want to know whether Islam, democracy, modernity and women’s rights can coexist, go to Indonesia.” And last month Britain’s prime minister, David Cameron, lauded Indonesia for showing that “religion and democracy need not be in conflict.”

Tell that to Asia Lumbantoruan, a Christian elder whose congregation outside Jakarta has recently had two of its partially built churches burned down by Islamist militants. He was stabbed by these extremists while defending a third site from attack in September 2010.

This week in Geneva, the United Nations is reviewing Indonesia’s human rights record. It should call on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to crack down on extremists and protect minorities. While Indonesia has made great strides in consolidating a stable, democratic government after five decades of authoritarian rule, the country is by no means a bastion of tolerance. The rights of religious and ethnic minorities are routinely trampled. While Indonesia’s Constitution protects freedom of religion, regulations against blasphemy and proselytizing are routinely used to prosecute atheists, Bahais, Christians, Shiites, Sufis and members of the Ahmadiyya faith — a Muslim sect declared to be deviant in many Islamic countries. By 2010, Indonesia had over 150 religiously motivated regulations restricting minorities’ rights.

In 2006, Mr. Yudhoyono, in a new decree on “religious harmony,” tightened criteria for building a house of worship. The decree is enforced only on religious minorities — often when Islamists pressure local officials not to authorize the construction of Christian churches or to harass and intimidate those worshiping in “illegal” churches, which lack official registration. More than 400 such churches have been closed since Mr. Yudhoyono took office in 2004.

Although the government has cracked down on Jemaah Islamiyah, an Al Qaeda affiliate that has bombed hotels, bars and embassies, it has not intervened to stop other Islamist militants who regularly commit less publicized crimes against religious minorities. Mr. Yudhoyono’s government is reluctant to take them on because it rules Indonesia in a coalition with intolerant Islamist political parties.

Mr. Yudhoyono is not simply turning a blind eye; he has actively courted conservative Islamist elements and relies on them to maintain his majority in Parliament, even granting them key cabinet positions. These appointments send a message to Indonesia’s population and embolden Islamist extremists to use violence against minorities.

In August 2011, for example, Muslim militants burned down three Christian churches on Sumatra. No one was charged and officials have prevented the congregations from rebuilding their churches. And on the outskirts of Jakarta, two municipalities have refused to obey Supreme Court orders to reopen two sealed churches; Mr. Yudhoyono claimed he had no authority to intervene.

Christians are not the only targets. In June 2008, the Yudhoyono administration issued a decree requiring the Ahmadiyya sect to “stop spreading interpretations and activities that deviate from the principal teachings of Islam,” including its fundamental belief that there was a prophet after Muhammad. The government said the decree was necessary to prevent violence against the sect. But provincial and local governments used the decree to write even stricter regulations. Muslim militants, who consider the Ahmadiyya heretics, then forcibly shut down more than 30 Ahmadiyya mosques.

In the deadliest attack, in western Java in February 2011, three Ahmadiyya men were killed. A cameraman recorded the violence, and versions of it were posted on YouTube. An Indonesian court eventually prosecuted 12 militants for the crime, but handed down paltry sentences of only four to six months. Mr. Yudhoyono has also failed to protect ethnic minorities who have peacefully called for independence in the country’s eastern regions of Papua and the Molucca Islands. During demonstrations in Papua on May 1, one protester was killed and 13 were arrested. And last October, the government brutally suppressed the Papuan People’s Congress, beating dozens and killing three people. While protesters were jailed and charged with treason, the police chief in charge of security that day was promoted.

Almost 100 people remain in prison for peacefully protesting. Dozens are ill, but the government has denied them proper treatment, claiming it lacks the money. Even the Suharto dictatorship allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit political prisoners, yet the Yudhoyono government has banned the I.C.R.C. from working in Papua.

Instead of praising Indonesia, nations that support tolerance and free speech should publicly demand that Indonesia respect religious freedom, release political prisoners and lift restrictions on media and human rights groups in Papua.

Mr. Yudhoyono needs to take charge of this situation by revoking discriminatory regulations, demanding that his coalition partners respect the religious freedom of all minorities in word and in deed, and enforcing the constitutional protection of freedom of worship. He must also make it crystal clear that Islamist hard-liners who commit or incite violence and the police who fail to protect the victims will be punished. Only then will Indonesia be deserving of Mr. Cameron and Mrs. Clinton’s praise.