Republican rhetoric against Islam could inspire people to commit acts of violence against Muslim-Americans, Arab American Institute Director James Zogby said Wednesday.
“We saw it play out in Murfreesboro, saw it play out over Park 51, saw it play out — we’re seeing it play out — in the Republican presidential primary,” Zogby said.
“And let’s be clear: the use of religious hatred as a wedge issue in politics is something we saw it 2010, it hasn’t gone away in 2011, and it’s something we all have to be aware of because that kind of hate leads people to violence,” Zogby said at a conference in Washington on discrimination post-September 11.
“We’ve learned in history that it happens, and having the validator be a guy running for president is a sure-fire impetus to some people to take action,” Zogby said. “We have to be very careful of this. It’s with us, and it’s real, and it’s something that I think we need to address.”
“There’s an industry of hate, and it is fermenting hate, and it hasn’t gone away,” Zogby said.
In fact, Zogby said that Islamophobia is growing because it is being exploited as a political issue.
“This is not a partisan statement, it’s a reality check. In the last poll we did on American attitudes towards Muslims: Democrats — 55 percent favorable, 35 percent unfavorable. Republicans — 12 percent favorable, 85 percent unfavorable,” Zogby said.
“There are consequences to when people exploit fear and use it as a political issue,” Zogby said.
“When you have Republican candidates saying the stuff they’re saying, they’re playing to a base. It’s like the gay marriage of 2010 and 2012 cycle, it’s an issue that’s being used — as are the Sharia law proposals before several state legislatures, etc. — it’s an effort to exploit that fear for political gain. As long as it’s there, you’re going to continue to see it to be used,” Zogby said.
Zogby added that targeting Islam is a “convenient way” for Republicans to nod at the rumors that President Barack Obama is a Muslim.
“Look, if you’ve got a third of the folks on one side who think he’s Muslim and don’t think he’s born here, he’s not one of us, etc., this is a convenient way around getting at that issue,” Zogby said.
“We need someone of the Republican side to be an adult as George Bush was in September and October of 2001 and stand up and say ‘for God’s sake, stop it. This is not who we are.’ But nobody on that side has stepped forward,” Zogby said.
