Islamophobia > A poorly defined word that does more harm than good

 

UK: Sikh group campaigns against

‘flawed’ definition of ‘Islamophobia’

Oct 3, 2024 11:00 am By Robert Spencer

“If the government chooses to incorporate this definition into law, then discussing the history of the Indian subcontinent, and the persecution of religious minorities across the world today, in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria will be absurdly equated to ‘racism.'”

Indeed. This initiative is already well underway. I’m Exhibit A.

Boost for British Sikh group’s campaign against

‘flawed’ definition of Islamophobia

by Aditi Khanna, PTI, September 29, 2024 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):

London, Sep 29 (PTI) A British Sikh organisation campaigning against a “flawed” definition of Islamophobia adopted by the Labour Party a few years ago being made legal has received a boost as the government admitted the proposal would not be in line with the UK’s Equality Act.

The Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO) had written to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and the government Faith Minister Lord Wajid Khan earlier this month to caution that the proposed definition would jeopardise even a factual discussion of the history of the Indian subcontinent.

OMG! Britain's Faith Minister's name is Wajid Khan!!!! Has the Church of England spoken out about this? Does AB of Canterbury, Justin Welby, think this is a good idea?

Back in 2018, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims had defined Islamophobia as a “type of racism” that targets expressions of Muslimness.

“As you have mentioned, the definition proposed by the APPG is not in line with the Equality Act 2010, which defines race in terms of colour, nationality and national or ethnic origins,” reads Lords Khan’s reply to the NSO released this week….

In its letter, the NSO had warned that the adoption of a “contested definition” into law would have serious implications on “free speech, not least the ability to discuss historical truths”. It also feared that “seminal moments” in Sikh history would be “censored” and considered “racist”.

“If the government chooses to incorporate this definition into law, then discussing the history of the Indian subcontinent, and the persecution of religious minorities across the world today, in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria will be absurdly equated to ‘racism’. This would be counterproductive, cause disquiet and perversely persecute truth tellers,” the NSO noted….

“The recent violent disorder exposed deep weaknesses in our society and, as you have mentioned, much of the violence was rooted in anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant hatred… The government will never tolerate those who seek to sow divisions and wreak intimidation across our communities, and we remain absolutely committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practice their religion at their chosen place of worship,” Lord Khan added in his reply to NSO.

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Islam Fastest Growing Religion in India

Hindu population in decline; Christianity growing slowly

As per the religious census data of 2011, released by the Registrar General and
Census Commissioner on Tuesday, the total population in the country
in 2011 was 1.21 billion.

Gulf News
PTI

New Delhi: The Muslim community has registered a moderate 0.8 per cent growth (as a percentage of the entire population) to touch 172.2 million in the 10 year period between 2001 and 2011, up from 138 million, while Hindus population showed a decline by 0.7 per cent at 966.3 million during the period, according to the latest census data on religion.

While the census figure on religion was released on Tuesday, more than four years after compilation of the data, the caste data is yet to be made public.

It's unfortunate that India is still collecting caste data; it ought to be abolished.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal (United)(JD(U)), Samajwadi Party (SP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and some other parties have been asking the government to release the caste census figure. The data on socio economic status of the population was released on July 3.

As per the religious census data of 2011, released by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner on Tuesday, the total population in the country in 2011 was 1.21 billion.

Christianity is the third most popular religion in India making up only 2.3% of the population as a whole.

Hindu population is 966.3 million (79.8 per cent); Muslim 172.2 million (14.2 per cent); Christian 27.8 million (2.3 per cent); Sikh 20.8 million (1.7 per cent); Buddhist 8.4 million (0.7 per cent); Jain 4.5 million (0.4 per cent), Other religions and persuasions (ORP) 7.9 million (0.7 per cent) and religion not stated 2.9 million (0.2 per cent).

The proportion of Muslim population to total population has increased by 0.8 percentage point (PP) in 2011, the census data said.

The proportion of Hindu population to total population in 2011 has declined by 0.7 PP; the proportion of Sikh population has declined by 0.2 PP and the Buddhist population has declined by 0.1 PP during the decade 2001-2011.

There has been no significant change in the proportion of Christians and Jains.

Jainism is one of the oldest Indian religions. It teaches non-violence to all living things and asceticism. It has similarities to Buddhism.

As per 2001 census, India’s total population was 1.02 billion of which Hindu population comprised of 827.5 million (80.45 per cent) and Muslims were 138 million (13.4 per cent).

The growth rate of population in the decade 2001-2011 was 17.7 per cent. The growth rate of population of the different religious communities in the same period was as Hindus: 16.8 per cent; Muslim: 24.6 per cent; Christian: 15.5 per cent; Sikh: 8.4 per cent; Buddhist: 6.1 per cent and Jain: 5.4 per cent.

The distribution is total population by six major religious communities namely, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain besides ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ and ‘Religion not stated’.

Obviously, Islam is doing a better job of evangelizing India than Christianity. We Christians ought to take note and pray about how we can reverse this trend.