Masood Farivar “fought in the anti-Soviet resistance in the late 1980s,” which means he was fighting among the Afghan jihadis. Like all those who claim that opposition to jihad violence and Sharia oppression is “anti-Muslim hate,” he writes here as if there is no such violence and oppression, and as if Muslims are gratuitously the victims of “hate,” simply for being “brown” or out of the evil Islamophobes’ desire for pecuniary gain (as if there really were any money in opposing jihad and getting smeared and defamed everywhere).
Farivar here never comes close to suggesting that the SPLC may not be an unbiased or reliable source. He doesn’t mention that even the Washington Post has reported on how unfair and inaccurate it is, or that USA Today has called it a “hate-based scam.”
Nevertheless, I have to express my appreciation for Masood Farivar. Even in these ridiculous times, when defending the rights of people not to be massacred a music festival, or murdered by their family for not wearing a hijab, is considered to be “anti-Muslim hate,” Farivar, who is clearly a dedicated propagandist, was still willing to engage in at least a pretense of actual journalism, and managed to summon up some distant memory of the fact that real journalism does require getting a comment from both sides. He actually asked me for comment on the SPLC’s libel that Jihad Watch is an “anti-Muslim hate group,” and I sent him this: “The SPLC is the real hate group. It smears and defames organizations that oppose its far-left political agenda by lumping them in with the likes of the KKK and neo-Nazis. Opposing jihad violence and Sharia oppression of women is not ‘hate,’ it is defense of principles of human rights recognized in the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Demonizing that opposition is the real ‘hate.'”
Unsurprisingly (very), Farivar did not use all of my comment. Out of what I sent him, as you can see below, this is what Farivar used: “In response to a VOA query, Jihad Watch’s Spencer accused the SPLC of smearing and defaming ‘organizations that oppose its far-left political agenda by lumping them in with the likes of the KKK and neo-Nazis.'”
Why did he leave out the rest of what I sent him? You and I, and Masood Farivar, know the answer to that: he wasn’t interested in an objective or accurate portrayal of the relevant facts. He is a propagandist with an agenda, and he wanted to make sure that his hapless readers came away from his story believing as he wanted them to, and not daring to think that his alleged “anti-Muslim hate groups” may actually have a point.
Note also Farivar’s repeated use of “anti-Muslim.” As if foes of the National Socialists during World War II were “anti-German.” Only someone on the National Socialists’ side would have characterized them in such a way.
Masood Farivar and VOA News have provided yet another example of why the establishment media isn’t a news source anymore, but just a propaganda outlet for the pro-jihad hard left, and cannot be trusted.
“Anti-Muslim hate groups in US surge back into spotlight,” by Masood Farivar, VOA News, June 13, 2024:
WASHINGTON — Once seemingly fading into obscurity, anti-Muslim hate groups in the United States have surged back into the spotlight in recent months, reinvigorated by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Many of these groups, such as Jihad Watch and ACT for America, emerged in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. and thrived on public fears of terrorism. But as those fears waned in recent years, so did the groups’ sway. Some disbanded, while others gravitated to other hot-button issues.
From a peak of 114 in 2017, their number dropped to a mere 34 last year, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit that tracks hate groups.
In early 2023, “Islamophobia was down to a slow trickle,” SPLC senior research analyst Caleb Kieffer said.
Then came the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel, which claimed about 1,200 lives and triggered a massive Israeli military response in Gaza.
Anti-Muslim groups that had “opportunistically” seized on divisive issues, such as critical race theory and LGBTQ-inclusive policies, swung back into action.
“These anti-Muslim groups went right back to their core messaging,” Kieffer said in an interview with VOA. “They’ve been going hard on the rhetoric since October last year.”…
Jihad Watch, a website run by prominent anti-Muslim figure Robert Spencer, published an article last October claiming, “We’re in a war between savages and civilization. Everything else is a detail.”
Eight days later, an affiliated political website called FrontPage Magazine ran a piece titled “It’s Islam, Stupid,” arguing that everything Hamas did “has been done by Muslims throughout history and is still being practiced today.”
Note that Farivar doesn’t even attempt to show that statement to be false. He knows that his ignorant readers will take it as egregious, and that’s all that matters.
FrontPage Magazine is published by the David Horowitz Freedom Center, another leading anti-Muslim group. Jihad Watch is a project of the center.
ACT for America, Jihad Watch and the David Horowitz Freedom Center are part of what experts describe as a well-funded, close-knit anti-Muslim industry, with each group playing a distinct role in the ecosystem….
In response to a VOA query, Jihad Watch’s Spencer accused the SPLC of smearing and defaming “organizations that oppose its far-left political agenda by lumping them in with the likes of the KKK and neo-Nazis.”…
Statler says
Dear sir,
You rightly state that one of the excuses of mohamedans for agression towards the kufar is ‘simply for being “brown”. Well let’s see: are Iranians ‘brown’? No, they pride themselves for being Indo-European blond Aryans (and hate Arabs, by the way). Are Arabs more brown than Jews? Not originally. They’re both semitic. Is Hindu opposition to mohamedanism whiter than the Indian mohamedans? I would think not.
So this is all poppycock. But that’s no surprise.
lawrence estavan says
Is it Jihad Watch that is “surging”, or is it Hamas?
Is Brigette Gabriel leading tens of thousands in the streets?
“In early 2023, “Islamophobia was down to a slow trickle,” SPLC senior research analyst Caleb Kieffer said.” But, that is not what CAIR says. They claim 2023 was the worst year on record for Islamophobia.
“Then came the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel, . . . Anti-Muslim groups . . . swung back into action.”
I think he means those groups, like JihadWatch became relevent. And, that was because Hamas’ action made them so.
This is the same thing that happeded when ISIS was broadcasting their atrocities across the world. Even though people would say “ISIS” while assaulting Muslims, Donald Trump was blamed. – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnU6fOOrx5w
I think it is very significant the Masood Farivar was a jihadi, because he appearently still is one.
somehistory says
If mozlums don’t wish to be hated, they should not try to murder us for being someone they hate.
As long as mozlums hate us, rape, kidnap, torture and murder us, they are open to some hatred coming back on them.
But even if some infidels hate mozlums It’s the mozlums who are doing the evil works against those they hate
The raping, kidnapping, torturing, murdering and lying about it is happening due to the hatred mozlums feel and express toward the rest of us.
To be fair, since they hate us, we can hate them in return. Even if we don’t.
bagsgroove says
We don’t need a reason to hate muslims. Genesis 16 in the bible describes arabs as thorns in the side of mankind(and womankind too )
somehistory says
I read Proverbs 6 about the things Jehovah hates, the seven things which are disgusting to Him.
I see those things in mozlums…and some other humans….and naturally hate them, just as the Psalm says, “Oh, you lovers of Jehovah, hate what is bad.”
SC says
We are merely a consequence of their behavior both historical and current. We know our enemy unlike the worthless imbeciles elected, appointed or employed to protect the country and the people.
40 rounds says
Good point. Christians are actually very tolerant despite their reputation and the media’s repeated attacks on them as being intolerant. As Jesus said he who is without sin cast the first stone. That is so contrary to Islam which is a religion of hate, intolerance, sexism, and murder. Christians, and for that matter, most sane people are very tolerant and just want to get along.
T.jefferson says
Maybe if more of the world’s population starts demonstrating more hatred towards Islam…. then perhaps the murderous demon followers of the “ religion of peace” will finally be knocked down a notch with their arrogance of thinking they can rob, rape, murder, behead whoever the hell they want to.
It’s like when a bully bullies someone again and again until one day the victim decides to stand up….. in my experience, the bullying stops.
OLD GUY says
Millions and Millions of islamic dollars corrupt our higher education system and our political class in Washington. These so called Educated leaders are controlled by those who provide the BIG BUCKS, not the citizens they are sworn to serve and protect.
OLD GUY says
Millions and Millions of islamic dollars corrupt our higher education system and our political class in Washington. These so called Educated leaders are controlled by those who provide the BIG BUCKS, not the citizens they are sworn to serve and protect.
James Lincoln says
According to the feature article:
“…Jihad Watch’s Spencer accused the SPLC of smearing and defaming “organizations that oppose its far-left political agenda by lumping them in with the likes of the KKK and neo-Nazis.”…”
Robert Spencer is correct.
The Southern Poverty Law Center SPLC is a leftist hate group.
Lilith Wept says
I believe that it would take a Oct 7 level attack on politicans families and friends, to make them really understand what Islam is capable of. Complete with high level politicans families being held hostage and some brutally killed and raped and the whole thing videoed or live-streamed for the world to see…….and the resulting celebrations by the Islamic world and even American Muslims ( the ones they consider “moderate”.
Once it’s personal, then they might see. And even then I’m not certain they would see that the problem is Islam, the ideology, the doctrine, the religion,…..and not just come up with the usual excuses for Islamic terrorism.