That doesn't make sense to me.

1) Islamophobia means 'fear of Islam'. What does being afraid of a religion have to do with racism?

2) Even if phobia meant 'hatred' or 'abuse', which particular race is being targeted?

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

Explain please.

That is the literal meaning of the word yes but most Muslims in Britain are non white so the constant demonisation of Islam in the mainstream media and the Government's McCarthyite Prevent agenda which labels Muslims as the enemy within are in effect a type of racism. Even racists in Britain today don't like to admit to it in public so attacks on Islam are a convenient cover. This is leading to racist attacks such as the acid attack on two Asians in Newham two weeks ago and the attack on worshippers at Finsbury Park mosque. Anti-Semitism began as discrimination against Jews on grounds of their religion but is generally accepted to be a type of racism today.

Nothing you can convert to is a race. It's a ridiculous warm worded nonsense.

I've always been pro-Jewish, particularly the secular form, but anyone who calls anti-semitism racism is entering troubled waters.

There is a genetic form of Jew I suppose....you can't convert to that....So in that limited sense it would work but to talk of it in general terms is another nonsense.

Also your 'racists under the bed' paranoia reminds me of the old 'reds under the bed' mentality of fifties America. Sure there is a half truth in there but it's also a considerable misapplying of language.

Edited by Stirlingsays (09 Jul 2017 4.24pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Well....I'd agree that most people who get called 'Islamophobic' dislike rather than fear the religion. Also, I think it's totally sensible to dislike its socially conservative form (which is a large chunk) and absolutely loathe its extremist ones.

Still, technically the word 'Phobia' is Latin and has been around far longer than the Oxford dictionary. It means an 'extreme fear or dislike' of something.

It's not inaccurate to say, 'I have a phobia against spiders' for example. Sure you really dislike them but it can also mean you fear them.

But I take your point about the word being a poor one for many of its uses.

Edited by Stirlingsays (09 Jul 2017 4.11pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Totally agree, it's an annoying nonsense.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)