Fear of Islam is based on reality, not lies

Your correspondent Charles Frederickson suggests the worldwide concern over the global imposition of Islam is a phobia.

A phobia is an illogical, groundless fear. The word does not apply to the situation faced by so many countries around the world suffering appalling atrocities perpetrated in the name of Islam. The barbarism of ISIS in Syria and Iraq is a fact, something to be condemned by anybody with a sound, reasoning mind. This also applies to the murderous activities by al Shebab in Kenya, the abduction of school girls by Boko Haram in Nigeria and the shooting of girls in Afghanistan by the Taleban to deny them an education. These are facts, not lies.

In the UK very recently, Islamists almost took control of a school in a bid to indoctrinate its children. In the name of Islam, mobs threaten people on the streets of London if they carry alcohol. 

The fear instilled by Islam is real. The repeat of such atrocities as 9/11 and 7/7 is something to be feared by all except those totally without sentience. In the US, the Council for American Islamic Relations, CAIR, affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood (recently banned in Egypt), has openly declared its intention to taking control of the whole country and impose Sharia law there. This well-documented pledge is a reality, not a phobia-inducing lie.

Hamas in Palestine openly declares its intention to erase Israel from the face of the Earth. Iran, the main Islamic state, has made the same declaration. It is reasonable to accept that Israel is fighting for its very existence.

There is a difference between Islam and Muslims. Many Muslims disagree with al-Qaeda and are genuinely peaceful people. But the driving force towards world domination is Islam. It is a political ideology whose tactic is to instil fear worldwide to deter criticism. It is both weak and naive to deny this truth or to defend your denial with the claim of Islamophobia.

JC Wilcox