Islamophobia?

Mark Steyn writes,

In a pitiful attempt at last-minute pandering, the Labour leader Ed Miliband has told Muslim News that, if he wins next week's election, he will "outlaw Islamophobia". Douglas Murray observes:

If Ed Miliband does become Prime Minister and chooses to make 'Islamophobia' illegal would he mind letting us know what he thinks 'Islamophobia' is? After all a 'phobia' is an irrational fear. The Charlie Hebdo staff were often called 'Islamophobes' before (and after) two Islamists went into their magazine's office and shot most of them in the head. If there is such a thing as 'Islamophobia' and it is indeed an 'irrational' fear, would Ed mind telling us whether it was 'rational' or 'irrational' of the Charlie Hebdo staff to be fearful of elements of Islam? An answer before 7 May would be helpful.

Indeed. A fear of Islam is highly rational: just ask those PEN novelists who don't want to go to any awards ceremony honoring Charlie Hebdo.

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