Dhimmi

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{{Islam}}
Historically speaking, '''dhimmi''' (Arabic: ذِمِيّ), a term meaning "protected people," was used to describe non-Muslims living under [[Islam]]ic rule. Dhimmi status conferred protection and allowed the individual to live peaceably if they met various requirements. Under [[sharia]], the status of dhimmi could originally be conferred only upon "[[Abrahamic religion|People of the Book]]," i.e. [[Christian]]s and [[Jew]]s. Islamic scholars later expanded it to include religions such as [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], and [[Zoroastrianism]]. Dhimmi were exempt from military service and required to pay a tax known as the ''jizyah''. 

Nowadays, [[Islamophobia|Islamophobes]] use the term to refer to [[useful idiots]] (mainly white Westerners) who do not realize the threat that sharia poses to [[liberty]], [[United States|America]], and [[God]].

==Modern use==
The [[far right]] has co-opted the term to describe anyone who is not a Muslim, but does as much as possible to undermine Western civilization. People who use this term are generally scared of things like madrassas entering their neighborhoods and mosques being built on the ruins of the World Trade Center.

So potent is this [[weasel word]] that it is now part of an entire concept of ''dhimmitude'', with which the right wing is (mostly) unsuccessfully using to try to squelch the Left. The word dhimmitude was claimed to have been coined by islamophobe [[Bat Ye'or]], and was first publicly used by the Christian president of [[Lebanon]], Bashir Gemayel, during the Lebanese Civil War.<ref>"Bat Ye'or and Eurabia" by Sindre Bangstad (2019) In: ''Key Thinkers of the Radical Right: Behind the New Threat to Liberal Democracy'', edited by Mark Sedgwick. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190877590. Pages 170-183.</ref>{{rp|173}}

==Legitimate criticism?==
The propensity for an individual to use this term is usually directly proportional to their [[xenophobia]] and hatred of Muslims. However, this is no reason not to hear out reasoned criticisms of Islam as articulated by rational folks.

There is much [[evidence]] to support the idea that certain Islamic doctrines are particularly opposed to many of the [[Enlightenment]] values which made modern [[science]] possible, and deserves censure in this regard. These criticisms go against the ''ideas'' that Islam puts forth and are not meant as a personal attack on any particular Muslim (as long as they're not a [[terrorist]]).

This idea confuses many on both sides of the political spectrum, who [[irony|ironically]] share the common [[stereotype]] that Muslims are brown. [[liberalism|Lefties]] use this as a wedge for [[social justice]] to argue for the oppression of Muslims{{cn}}, while [[wingnut]]s are clearly just being [[racism|racist]] and use it to fuel their hatred of everything Muslim-related.

At the end of the day, Islam ''does'' promote some bad things, but it shouldn't be left to [[Terry Jones|unhinged, hypocritical Christians]] to attack these things.

==List of so-called dhimmis==
Every year, the readers of Robert Spencer's blog Jihad Watch nominate a Dhimmi of the Year. Here are some of the candidates and winners of previous years along with other random accusations of of dhimmitude:
*[[Michael Bloomberg]]<ref>[http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/12/vote-for-american-dhimmi-of-the-year-2010, ''Robert Spencer'', June 27, 2012]</ref>
*[[Barack Obama]] (when he's not a Muslim) <ref>[http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/12/the-2010-jihad-watch-award-winners, "The 2010 Jihad Watch Award Winners!", ''Robert Spencer'', Dec 15, 2010]</ref>
*[[Jimmy Carter]] (three years running!) <ref>[http://www.jihadwatch.org/2009/12/jihad-watch-awards-2009-nominations-are-now-open, "Jihad Watch Awards 2009: Nominations are now open!", ''Robert Spencer'', Dec 1, 2009]</ref>
*[[Tony Blair]]
*{{wpl|Rowan Williams}}
*[[Jews]] (yes, all of them)<ref>[http://pamelageller.com/2012/06/los-angeles-jewish-federation-defines-the-modern-dhimmi-jew.html/ "Los Angeles Jewish Federation defines “the modern dhimmi Jew”", ''Pamela Geller'', June 27, 2012]</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:Qur'an]]

Categories: Qur'an