Islamophobia is too real

Re: “Islamophobia a guilt trip,” by Melanie Nelson, Letters, Sept. 27. I accept Melanie Nelson’s view that criticism is free speech. But when a film is used to criticize the Prophet Muhammad, who is revered by millions across the globe, should the film not at least be based on facts instead of fraud and deceit?

Islamophobia is the essence of Nelson’s letter. Ali M. Syed, a moderate Muslim, is using free speech to plead for mutual respect, and Nelson is angered by this.

Islamophobia is not a figment of our imaginations or a ploy by Muslims to gain pity. It is real.

Nelson urges moderate Muslims to denounce the violence sparked by this latest attempt to defame the Prophet. If she just Googled this, she would see that leaders such as Mirza Masroor Ahmed from the Ahamdiyya Muslim Organization, local and foreign Muslim journalists, and even the controversial leader of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have denounced this violence.

The problem is the Islamophobia that prevails in Western media will never capture these images or record those voices of condemnation because that would just put an end to this hype.

Islamophobia fuels the fire of ignorance and allows derogatory, defamatory films such as Innocence of Muslims to be passed off as a symbol of Western free speech.

Muslims who love their Prophet should follow his example and behave with patience and reserve. And people who value free speech should give Muslims the equal right to peacefully condemn this film and not write it off as a bid for pity.

Humda Malik, Edmonton