Changes

'''Islamophobia''' is, literally, "fear of Islam" though the term can be used for a variety of purposes, like: ''fear or hatred of [[Islam]] and Muslims'', 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, like: ''fear or hatred of [[Islam]] and Muslims'', and is often used to criticize people opposed to Islam.  

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

Islamophobia is a neologism which defines hatred of [[Muslims]] and Islam as an irrational fear. It is generally used to intimidate critics of Islam in America and prosecute critics in Europe.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11464025 |title=Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders goes on trial|date=2010-10-04|publisher=BBC News Europe}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://michellemalkin.com/2006/06/12/the-trial-of-oriana-fallaci/|title=The Trial of Oriana Fallaci|author=Michelle Malkin|date=2006-06-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://frontpagemag.com/2011/11/30/the-political-persecution-of-elisabeth-sabaditsch-wolff/|title=The Political Persecution of Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff|date=2011-11-30|author=Ned May|publisher=Front Page Magazine}}</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 more so 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 more so to describe the backlash against Muslims following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/16/national/main563594.shtml|title=Anti-Muslim Discriination On Rise|author=Jennifer C. Kerr|date=2009-05-18|publisher=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4102389.stm|title=‘Rise’ in Muslim discrimination|author-Dominic Casciani|publisher=BBC News|date=2004-12-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_42_37/ai_79339769/ |title=Interfaith group deplores anti-Muslim violence|date=2001-10-05|newspaper=National Catholic Reporter|accessdate=2012-05-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=127fe2880e48951b564ac2f3e171242e|title=Big Jump in Hate Crimes Against Muslims Documented|date=2006-10-10|author=Jim Lobe|publication=New America Media}}</ref>

The Runnymede Trust defines Islamophobia as having the following characteristics:

The Runnymede Trust defines Islamophobia as having the following characteristics: