Historical Roots of Contemporary Literary Islamophobia

Abstract

In line with their ill-informed understanding of Islam and its fundamentals, Western writers and Orientalist scholars who attempt to cover or depict the prevailing and steadily exacerbating antagonism towards Islam—islamophobia, to be precise— try to explore its roots, seeds and foundations in the 20^th century as an ultimate retrospect. Concentrating disproportionately on seemingly highly impactful happenings in recent past, they unduly ignore or undermine some more fundamental past events and attitudes that shaped and moulded the contemporary Islamophobia, both factual and fictional.  With few exceptions, these modern Orientalists who either promote or contest Islamophobia are largely inclined to ignore or undermine the pre-world wars factors.  With a focus on literary texts and critical discourses, this paper attempts to transcend the contemporary canvas of Islamophobia, tracing its roots in much earlier ideological conflicts as well as socio-political events.

Keywords: Islam, Muslims, Islamophobia, Crusades, Literary Depiction, Post-9/11 image