Islamophobia: Thought Crime of the Totalitarian Future

by David Horowitz, Robert Spencer

In 1989, the Ayatollah Khomeni, ruler of Islamic Iran issued a fatwa calling on all Muslims worldwide to murder the novelist Salman Rushdie for insulting the Prophet Muhammad and Islam. Rushdie’s crime? Blasphemy or “Islamophobia,” as it has come to be known. Since then we have seen worldwide violent Muslim protests over cartoons, blasphemy laws in Europe, prosecutions of notable opponents of Islamic terror like Oriana Fallaci and Geert Wilders, and the demonization of courageous opponents of Islamic imperialism and terror in the West. David Horowitz and Robert Spencer describe the origins of the word “Islamophobia” as a coinage of the Muslim Brotherhood and show how the Brotherhood launched a campaign, by ginning up “Islamophobia” as a hate crime, to stigmatize mention of such issues as radical Islam’s violence against women and murder of homosexuals, and the constant incitement of many imams to terrorism. The authors make the case that “Islamophobia” is a dagger aimed at the heart of free speech and also at the heart of our national security.

Genres: Religion, Politics, Islam, Nonfiction, Israel, Islamism, Islamic Terrorism

39 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2011

About the author

David Joel Horowitz was an American conservative writer and activist. He was a founder and president of the David Horowitz Freedom Center (DHFC); editor of the Center's website FrontPage Magazine; and director of Discover the Networks, a website that tracks individuals and groups on the political left. Horowitz also founded the organization Students for Academic Freedom.
Horowitz wrote several books with author Peter Collier, including four on prominent 20th-century American families. He and Collier have collaborated on books about cultural criticism. Horowitz worked as a columnist for Salon.
From 1956 to 1975, Horowitz was an outspoken adherent of the New Left. He later rejected progressive ideas and became a defender of neoconservatism. Horowitz recounted his ideological journey in a series of retrospective books, culminating with his 1996 memoir Radical Son: A Generational Odyssey.

Reviews

[John Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something of a rant which I tended to skim read, particularly the extensive footnotes and source references. But amongst it all they make some worthwhile points. I liked the line: “ A crime of violence is a crime whatever the motivation. Making it a ‘hate crime’ merely criminalises the alleged motive.”

I hate being “told” how I should think and loathe legislation which seeks to force me into doing just that. I believe it to be totally counter-productive.

It is my right to distrust radical interpretations of creeds or philosophies which seek to harm my interests as I perceive them, whether that be from an Islamist, Zionist or whoever’s mouth and/or pen. If, as a result of that, you want to label me an Islamophobe and an Anti-Semite, go on! You won’t stop me thinking my own thoughts, though you may encourage me more than you’d wish to. At least you won’t be able to label me blind, deaf, weak and un-thinking!

[Michael Connolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The term Islamophobia was invented by the Islamists themselves. This surprised me, having thought it was invented by Western leftists. Islamophobia conflates two different things: irrational fear of Muslims, and rational disagreement with the beliefs of Islam. The concept of Islamophobia is an example of an improperly formed concept, which Ayn Rand called an anti-concepts or package deal. Another example is McCarthyism, which conflates falsely accusing innocent people of being Communist spies, and correctly identifying actual Communist spies. The purpose of the concept of Islamophobia is to silence critics of Islam.

[Gonzalo Corvera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un poco diatribesco pero fundamentado. Su tesis esencial es que no puedes coartar la libertad de expresión alegando difamación, cuando las alegaciones son ciertas. Por otra parte intenta documentar un esfuerzo coordinado de autoridades islámicas para frenar la libertad de expresión cuando se refiere al Islam, lo cual si bien debe ser cierto en todos los ejemplos mostrados, no necesariamente implica que no existan quienes verdaderamente quieran evitar expresiones de odio que puedan generar mas violencia.

[PolicemanPrawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short book, describing how the concept of 'Islamophobia' was invented and pushed by Islamic groups, with the backing of psuedo-left organisations. We like to pretend we love morality and ethics, when really we like power and propaganda. One has to chop off heads to get respect, and this is the perfect illustration. This book is more a list of incidents rather than detailed analysis, which is a slight shortcoming.

[james smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straightforward and unbiased

Will the West wake up in time? It does appear that our own "intelligensia" is being complicit in the coming darkness, determined to stifle free speech at every turn.

[Christopher Armani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good introduction to the ongoing efforts to criminalize free speech in the name of protecting the tender sensibilities of a particular religious group and their political movement.

[Darjeeling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun fact: The definition of Islamophobia is Islamophobic according to it's own definition.

The writing is clunky, but I detected no lies, & sources are given.

[Bracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate to write a review of a book that I think should be read by everyone in the US but is not. This is as chilling as a book that I have ever read. The reality is that thought crimes and the possibility of losing the ability to freely share ideas is already happening in our country. The PC police (the media and many within Hollywood) is out on the prowl against anyone who is not thinking in accordance to the talking points of the 'intelligentsia.' When you watch the media react to the genuine concerns of what one group is doing throughout the entire world you will, if you are honest and objective, notice that the they (the media) create a fear, make the phobia bigger than what it appears and accuse anyone and everyone until thinking certain thoughts are crimes. Once this is in effect they are quick to shout you down and make you the enemy while trying to convince everyone that they don't take sides.

[Christopher Tookey · Rating 4 out of 5]

How clear thinking has become criminalised.

Here is a short but pithy essay on how totalitarianism is dominating political thought without enough people realising it. Liberal fascism is not only on the rise. It has taken over vast areas of academic life and the media. People who call attention to unpleasant realities are being slurred as phobic and effectively banned from public discourse. And I write as a former liberal and Islamophile (when it comes to arts and culture) but one who doesn’t want Sharia law to carry weight in the UK, or anywhere else in the west.

[Alejandro Heracles al-Mu'minin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bombarding Western Culture

New age thought crime in America is observed as blasphemy laws and violent ideals are exposed in this short leaflet

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading especially if you are from UK

Homophobia a made up term from the left us being used to silence Islamic founder take over of the west, especially in the UK

[Mario Sergio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neste livro Robert Spencer e David Horowitz colecionam uma séria de fatos e pronunciamentos tentando definir e estabelecer os efeitos do termo islamofobia.

Os autores conseguem provar seu intento e tornam claro que o termo foi criado com a finalidade de intimidar e constranger as pessoas que se aventuram a fazer críticas contra o Islã. É absolutamente evidente que a islamofobia, um sub-produto da ditadura do politicamente correto, procura esconder tudo aquilo que o islamismo realmente é: Uma doutrina política cujo intento é a dominação mundial com a implantação da Sharia.

Eu daria uma pontuação de 4 pontos, mas dei três porque o livro peca um pouco pela formatação, com as notas espalhadas ao longo do texto em vez de aparecerem ao final de cada seção ou, preferencialmente, no final do livro com conectadas por links. Esta formatação torna a leitura um tanto desagradável.

[Richie Kercenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not only is it a rant, it is a superficial rant, made by a person hardly capable of diving deep into what he criticizes. The author takes a fifth of what makes Islam and manipulates his reader into thinking this is the full doctrine and religion.

Let me quote this part: "The OIC has succeeded in having Israel condemned more than 200 times in formal UN resolutions, more than all of the other member states combined. But the same Islamic voting bloc has ensured that the terrorist regimes in Iran, Gaza and the West Bank have not been censured even once"

Right, because Israel is a victim and Gaza and the West Bank are swarming with terrorists who want to end it. Nevermind that they are mere children, helpless men and women, starving and dying of disease and malnutrition. This is the level of propaganda that can't even be taken seriously.

[Steve Parcell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short sharp shock and very informative on the general myth of Islamaphobia.

[James Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read


Interesting read I like how it has references for you to check yourself. who needs to read horror when reality is far more scary

[Jan-Len · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent enough essay. Food for thought. Would not necessarily recommend it unless the topic is of particular interest.

[Faizan Tasnim]

hjhjh

[Mr Antony Stocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isolamophobia

Excellent book that explains the problems faced today. It explains how the west has been a sleep and how it has allowed this to happen.