(IPT) Like most Islamist gatherings, “Islamophobia” was a big topic at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)’s annual convention during Labor Day weekend. For example, author Khaled Beydoun linked Islamophobia’s origins to white supremacy, while pollster Dalia Mogahed cited concern over Islamic honor crimes as a form of liberal Islamophobia.
But commentator and comedian Amer Zahr — an adjunct law professor — broadened the concept of “Islamophobia” dramatically, using the often ambiguous and blanket label to describe any criticism of Palestinian incitement that encourages anti-Semitism or terrorism.
Invoking Investigative Project on Terrorism founder and executive director Steven Emerson, Zahr alleged that “for 70 years the pro-Israel lobby has been saying things like the Palestinians teach their children to hate. That’s a form of Islamophobia. That they send themselves out to kill people. That is a form of Islamophobia.”
