Political Islamo-Phobia Alert

The word Islamophobia rife thrown in the mix by the anti-racist activists who do not like Islam. Islamic demonology conducted by the anti-Islam, tend to view Islam as a threat and raises a bad impression about the dangers of Islam. Demonology itself is the study of demons and everything related to it. In certain religions, demonology examined in the search for knowledge about who the devil, then what job, what to do with the believer and so on.

But accusations of Islamophobia often used not to highlight racism but to silence critics of Islam. The phenomenon of Islamophobia is growing and growing by promoting the climate of fear that is unwarranted to Islam.

However, a political analyst Middle East expert, Dr Ismali Salami in his article published by Press TV said that Islamophobia is a new type of "political colonialism" and "ideological war" being waged by the United States and allies of the Zionists against Islam and the Muslims. According to Dr Ismali Salami, Islamophobia is a form of colonialism political, ideological war against Islam and the Muslims. War against Islam began in 2001 when US President George Bush made a rude reference to the so-called war on terror as 'crusade'. Gradually, American instill a sensation of anti-Islamism in America and Europe by connecting the tragedy of September 11 and subsequent terrorist operations to the Muslims.

Even Dr Ismali Salami dare to conclude, the project of Islamophobia which has cost more than 40 million USD over the last ten years has been funded by seven foundations in the United States: Richard Mellon Scaife Foundation, Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Newton Newton and Rochelle Becker Foundation, Russell Berrie Foundation Anchorage Charitable Fund and William Rosenwald, Family Fund, Fairbrook Foundation.

Understanding Islamophobia in Wikipedia was written is a controversial term that refers to prejudice and discrimination towards Islam and Muslims. The term has been around since the 1980s, but became more popular after the attacks of 11 September 2001. Even in 1997, the Runnymede Trust, a British defines Islamophobia as "fear and hatred of Islam and therefore also on all Muslims”, stated that it also refers to the practice of discrimination against Muslims by separating them from the economic, social, and civic nation. Inside there is also a perception that Islam does not have the appropriate norm with other cultures, is lower than the Western culture and more a violent political ideology rather than in the form of a religion.

Various sources have suggested that the tendency of an increase in Islamophobia, partly due to the September 11 attacks, while others relate to the increasing number of Muslims in the western world. In May 2002, the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) issued a report entitled "Summary report on Islamophobia in the EU after 11 September 2001", which represents an increase of Islamophobia in Europe after 11 September 2001. However, the buffer criticized the concept, there is suspected abuse when digging a legitimate criticism of Islam, and called it a "myth".
 Novelist Salman Rushdie and his friends signed a manifesto entitled "Together facing the new totalitarianism" in March 2006 citing poor Islamophobia is a concept that mixes criticism of Islam as a religion with stigmatization of its adherents.

Islamophobia that infects America and Europe apparently penetrated into the ground water with very fine dust bath. It is very surprising to remind Indonesia's status as a country with the largest number of Muslims in the world. Of course it odd when in the Islamic community, there is the fear of Islam itself. Negative view of Islam in this country is getting very pronounced when the propaganda and the struggle to defend the religion associated with political issues. Various negative stereotypes emerge and trigger skepticism greater community that raises the possibility of prejudice Islamophobia.

Maneuver the politicization of Islam, especially during the conduct of the elections is very thick felt, and even used to attract public sympathy. Despite the common theme in political Islam is resistance against western imperialism and the application of Sharia law in any way, both democratically and in a military struggle. However, the use of Islam as a theme driving in any mobilization of the masses to conduct demonstrations, forcing the will reject the leader of non-Muslims, as well as to increase the appeal of Islamic movements, particularly in the context of dissatisfaction with the leadership of the secular in the Muslim world, did not rule out the more Islamophobia euphoria opportunities in Indonesia.

Chairman of the NahdlatulUlama (NU), Said Agil Siradj urge that no party can exploit religious issues during the local election campaign. Said Agil assess the issue of religion should not be dragged into the vortex of politics and political issues should not be confused with religion. Even more emphatic Said Agil said God should not be invited to the campaign.

NU coriander statement signaled concern with a number of groups that often exploit religion for political appetite satisfaction. In addition to tarnish the image of religion, the attitude is a reflection of selfishness puts the name of religion. Involve specific interests such as religion for political campaigns to influence public is sympathetic excessive action. Meanwhile, in the frame of the Republic of Indonesia and by constitution, every citizen must choose a leader without looking at the background of religion, but saw the figure of a capable leader, smart, proven, and can bring the change the region to a better direction.

Indonesia is a democratic country, and not a Muslim country, so the issue of religion should not be rolled into the political maelstrom even to the provocative nuances, which actually reflects an attitude that is not in accordance with Islamic teachings Rahmatan Lil Alamin and values of the Indonesian nation. If this is not immediately wary, worried increasingly causing public cynicism attitude towards Islam, which is caused by the behavior of some groups who knowingly rowdy atmosphere, and are unconsciously develop the phenomenon of Islamophobia is deliberately initiated at the level of national politics.

Therefore, it is time to start from ourselves and to be delivered to another person, so that efforts need to open up a broader view and depth of Islam by continuing to learn about this religion. Do not be easily washed away in the opinion of someone with a variety of prejudices. Do not be easily provoked to finally be exploited by certain groups to the action of political interests of religion. Tepis all issues and negative stereotypes by not spreading hatred against others as well as promoting the harmonization of social harmony in the frame of the Homeland.

*) Social and Politics Observer.