French PM Denounces the Term 'Islamphobia'; Berkeley's Bazian Keeps Pushing It

Hatem Bazian

In the wake of this month’s Islamic terrorist attacks in Paris, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, to his credit, has declared that:

I refuse to use this term “Islamophobia,” because those who use this word are trying to invalidate any criticism at all of Islamist ideology. The charge of “Islamophobia” is used to silence people.

Valls will have to contend with the legion of Middle East studies academics employing this very strategy, particularly Hatem Bazian, director of UC Berkeley’s Islamophobia Research & Documentation Project (IRDP), who, when asked by ABC News to comment on the Charlie Hebdo massacre, conveniently noted that he had been in Paris recently for an “Islamophobia conference.” Indeed, Bazian and IRDP are at the forefront of the attempt to create an international field of “Islamphobia studies.” It’s a good bet Valls won’t be on the roster of invited speakers.

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Cinnamon Stillwell

Cinnamon Stillwell analyzes Middle East studies academia in West Coast colleges and universities for Campus Watch. A San Francisco Bay Area native and graduate of San Francisco State University, she is a columnist, blogger, and social media analyst. Ms. Stillwell, a former contributing political columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, has written on a wide variety of topics, including the political atmosphere in American higher education, and has appeared as a guest on television and talk radio.

French PM Denounces the Term ‘Islamphobia'; Berkeley’s Bazian Keeps Pushing It