Debate:Islam, Fear of

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Is Islam something to be feared as a threat to global peace and stability?

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Background and Context of Debate:

THIS TOPIC WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. IT WILL BE REVISED AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE. Islam, more than any other religion seems to inspire images of fear in the Western world. The actual threat of Militant Islam has many manifestations. Its main dangers in the 20th Century have been manifested by the following: a) Anti-Zionism b. Internal division (Between Sunni and Shi’a) c) Revolutionary creation of Islamic States (e.g. Iran and Afghanistan) d) International Terrorism Each of these areas will be analysed with the most pertinent examples, but do note that each of these can form an independent debate and reading of the additional literature is strongly encouraged.

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Argument #1

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Yes

Militant Islam has been responsible for destabilising numerous regions in the World in different ways.

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No

I think some people have right to afraid of Islam because it's faster growing religion in the world and many people convert to Islam every day BUT people fear of what they do not know and when they will know Islam from right point of view they will understand that Islam is system of worshiping just like any other religions but it`s the most logical religion and Qu`ran is the only Scripture on the earth which have no version! And that make its followers strong believers and make more people convert to Islam too

Islam, as a religion, has become a victim of western stereotyping and misconception. The emphasis has shifted from underlining the causes leading to terrorism in the name of Islam to a religion that is militant by definition. This is a great injustice to Islam and to Muslims all over the world.

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Argument #2

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Yes

The greatest threat to Israel since its foundation has been attacks from its Arab neighbours. Israel has fought full-scale wars against them in 1948, 1967 and 1973. Even when there is no war, they are constantly subject to attacks from the Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad. Even as recently as the Gulf War, the refusal of its Arab neighbours to recognise it gave Saddam Hussein an excuse to attack it. The refusal of it’s Moslem neighbours to give it the recognition the world community has will mean that Israel will continue to live in fear of Islam.

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No

The causes of the Arab-Israeli tensions are as much territorial and economic as they are religious. As it stands now, it is more a fight for land that was taken away from the Palestinians and various Arab neighbours during the wars then it is a dispute about religion. More importantly given that Israel actually won all the wars against the Arabs and is assured of US help, it is the Palestinians who are trapped in Israel who have more to fear than the Israeli’s themselves.

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Argument #3

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Yes

Militant Islam is also a destabilising force within the Moslem world. Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces subsequently crushed westernizing liberal elements. Militant Iranians seized the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979 until 1981. The 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war was fought on account of a historic division between the Sunni and Shi’a branches of Islam.

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No

Iran was fervently militant and anti-Western after the 1979 Revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeni, but this was because the West was supporting the Shah of Iran who had been misruling the country for decades. The current head, President Khatami, is much more moderate, and has even authorised political parties. He has also restored indirect ties with the US through the Pakistani Embassy. The militant zeal has been replaced with a desire to modernise.

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Argument #4

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Yes

In Afghanistan, the fundamentalist Islamic Taleban movement has been able to seize most of the country. Not only are they violating the human rights of their own people by taking away the civil liberties of women and killing political opponents, but they are also a base for international terrorism from the likes of Osama bin Laden.

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No

The biggest problem with Afghanistan is that it is engulfed in a civil war and in this respect is not much different from say the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. Yet when the Tamil Tigers assassinated Rajiv Gandhi, there was no talk of militant ‘hinduism’. The religion ‘Islam’ should not be blamed for the acts of terrorists. The solution would be perhaps to recognise the Taleban and start engaging it as was done in Iran, rather than imposing sanctions on it as is currently done.

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Argument #5

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Yes

Islamic terrorism is also a threat to the world at large. The World Trade Center in 1993 and the 1991 assassination of therabbi, Meir Kahane, have been attributed to Islamic groups.

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No

Both these incidents have been attributed to a single group led by Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman. The bombing of the World Trade Centre was a single incident for which the culprits have been found and tried. Most militant Islamic groups have a specific mission and will not randomly attack people who have nothing to do with their cause.

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References:

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Motions:

• This House fears Islam
• This House regrets the rise of the Islamic state
• This House believes that fundamentalism is the problem.

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In legislation, policy, and the real world:

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See also on Debatepedia:

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External links and resources:

• Islam Online
• Sheffield Hallam University: Islam and Politics Site
• Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy
• Islamic Fundamentalism
• The Nixon Centre: Islam and Central Asia

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Books:

• Militant Islam : Godfrey Jansen
• The Challenge of Fundamentalism : Political Islam and the New World Disorder (Comparative Studies in Religion and Society, No 9) : Bassam Tibi
• Contemporary Debates in Islam : An Anthology of Modernist and Fundamentalist Thought : Mansoor Moaddel
• The Rise of the Islamic Empire and the Threat to the West : Anthony Dennis