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'''Islamophobia''' is, literally, "fear of Islam" though the term can be used for a variety of purposes, and is sometimes used to criticize people opposed to Islam.  

'''Islamophobia''' is, literally, "fear of Islam" though the term can be used for a variety of purposes, and is sometimes used to criticize people opposed to Islam.  

Islamophobia is a neologism which defines xenophobia against Muslims and Islam as an irrational fear.

Islamophobia is a neologism which defines hatred of Muslims and Islam as an irrational fear.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known use of the term Islamophobia  was in 1976, though it has become more frequently used since the 1997 publication of ''Islamophobia: A Challenge For Us All'' by the Runnymede Trust, and even moreso to describe the backlash against Muslims following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/16/national/main563594.shtml</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4102389.stm</ref><ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_42_37/ai_79339769</ref><ref>http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=127fe2880e48951b564ac2f3e171242e</ref>

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known use of the term Islamophobia  was in 1976, though it has become more frequently used since the 1997 publication of ''Islamophobia: A Challenge For Us All'' by the Runnymede Trust, and even moreso to describe the backlash against Muslims following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/16/national/main563594.shtml</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4102389.stm</ref><ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_42_37/ai_79339769</ref><ref>http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=127fe2880e48951b564ac2f3e171242e</ref>

Rowan Atkinson, a British comic-actor has likewise stated that although criticizing another person based on their race is ridiculous and irrational, criticizing another's religion, which is a voluntary belief, is a right.  He further stated that laws should not be created which protect certain types of ideas from criticism and not others.

Rowan Atkinson, a British comic-actor has likewise stated that although criticizing another person based on their race is ridiculous and irrational, criticizing another's religion, which is a voluntary belief, is a right.  He further stated that laws should not be created which protect certain types of ideas from criticism and not others.

Stephen Schwartz, an American writer and critic of Wahabbism, has stated that although the charge of Islamophobia is sometimes leveled too quickly against an opponent, that it is still a real phenomenon<ref>http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=17874</ref>, which he defines as:

Stephen Schwartz, an American writer and critic of [[Wahabbism]], has stated that although the charge of Islamophobia is sometimes leveled too quickly against an opponent, that it is still a real phenomenon<ref>http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=17874</ref>, which he defines as:

:1) Attacking the entire religion of Islam as a problem for the world;  

:1) Attacking the entire religion of Islam as a problem for the world;