Islamophobia Disease Afflicting West

TEHRAN, December 31,(BASIRAT)- I think Muslims in the West have to play a role in fighting extremism, violence and terrorism. I am saddened by the fact that young Muslims are leaving Europe to joins terrorist groups such as ISIS. Moderate Muslims have a role to play in advising their children and families on the right path of Islam and not the distorted image of Islam

Islamophobic attacks in the West have seen a dramatic surge following the Paris atrocities with countries such as Britain witnessing a sharp rise in attack on Muslims. A study by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) recently noted that the British government policies are fueling a worsening "environment of hate" in which abuse, discrimination, and even the threat of violent assault have become the "normal experience and expectation" for Muslims living in the UK.
The study into the day-to-day experiences of British Muslims, carried out by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), found a sharp rise in the number of people reporting verbal abuse and an increase in the number of physical attacks since the survey was last undertaken in 2010. Muslims have criticized the government and the media for stoking Islamophobia. To get a brief analysis on this issue The Alwaght news website has conducted and interview with Dr.Kamal al-Helbawy, founder of the Muslim League in Britain, secretary-general of the Islamic Unity Forum.
Alwaght: Over the recent years there has been an upsurge in Islamophobia in the West especially in Britain including the ban on Muslims from traveling to the US.
Al-Helbawy: I would like to say that Islamophobia is a disease afflicting the Western world and if not treated there will be consequences. For instance recently in France the government decided to close some Mosques. Such measures will not solve the problem of terrorism or violence. My advice is that instead of closing the Mosques they should change the preachers or Imams. The second point is that, there is need to respect the beliefs of others. For instance the government in France imposes a ban on Hijab while it claims to follow the French principles of "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity" (Liberté, Equalité, Fraternité). Therefore, freedom should apply for everyone.
Alwaght: Muslims in Britain have reportedly been boycotting a key government anti-extremism program known as prevent, why is this so?
Al-Helbawy: I think Muslims in the West have to play a role in fighting extremism, violence and terrorism. I am saddened by the fact that young Muslims are leaving Europe to joins terrorist groups such as ISIS. Moderate Muslims have a role to play in advising their children and families on the right path of Islam and not the distorted image of Islam.
Alwaght: Do you think government policies in the West are pushing young people to extremism and joining terrorist groups?
Al-Helbawy: There are some matters that need to be addressed. One such issue which makes Muslims feel insulted is the issue of Palestine. The Western countries stand by the Israeli regime which kills and oppresses Palestinians on a daily basis, destroys their farms, usurping their land etc. So it is very unfortunate that Western countries fail to understand that they are following a policy of double standards when it comes to the issue of Palestine. Such a policy is driving young Muslims to say the West is hypocritical in its approach and this makes them to look for wrong ways to vent their anger..(Alwaght).