Islamophobia vs. Freedomophobia: The Battle for Free Speech (Video)

More than ten years ago, Brother Rashid, a former Muslim turned outspoken critic of Islamic ideology, released a video that carried a bold warning to the West. In this video, he detailed how Islam silences dissenters in the East through persecution, imprisonment, and execution while weaponizing the term “Islamophobia” to stifle criticism in the West.

“Islam is a set of doctrines. We have the right to criticize it like any other ideology,” Brother Rashid declared. His words are rooted in firsthand experience of oppression under Islamic rule in Morocco—a nation often described as a “moderate” Muslim country.

The Cost of Speaking Out

Brother Rashid fled Morocco after converting to Christianity, leaving behind a life where even basic freedoms were denied. “We were not allowed to have Bibles in Arabic, meet openly, or even name our children with Christian names,” he recounted. For eating publicly during Ramadan, a six-month prison sentence awaited. His story wasn’t unique but emblematic of the systematic repression faced by ex-Muslims, atheists, Christians, and others in Islamic countries.

But Rashid’s message wasn’t confined to the Middle East. He warned of an insidious strategy unfolding in the West: the use of the term “Islamophobia” to silence any criticism of Islam. “Islamophobia? I never heard that term in Morocco,” he said. “There, they just said apostates should be killed.”

A Warning Ignored

When Brother Rashid released his video, the West was largely preoccupied with other battles—economic crises, political polarization, and the aftermath of the War on Terror. His warning went unnoticed by many, dismissed by others as alarmist. Yet, in the years since, his predictions have manifested with chilling accuracy.

From the Charlie Hebdo massacre in France to the persecution of critics like Salman Rushdie and secular activists worldwide, the silencing of dissent against Islam has become a global phenomenon. In the West, labels like “Islamophobia” are increasingly used to equate ideological critique with bigotry, stifling open discourse and dissent.

Freedomophobia: The Real Threat

Rashid’s message carried an important distinction: “Criticizing Islam is not hate speech. It’s not racism. Islam is a set of ideas. Hating Islam is not the same as hating Muslims.” He urged the West to reject the conflation of ideological critique with attacks on people.

He also introduced a powerful term: Freedomophobia.

“Islam is afraid of freedom—afraid of people meeting in a home to pray, afraid of women uncovering their hair, afraid of people eating during Ramadan. Freedom never killed anyone.”

This fear of liberty, Rashid argued, is the root cause of the systematic oppression and violence carried out in the name of Islam. It’s a fear that not only stifles dissent in Islamic countries but seeks to impose its chilling effect on the freedoms enjoyed in the West.

A Decade Later: Lessons to Learn

The question now is whether the West will heed Rashid’s message, even ten years later. The stakes are higher than ever. The battle is not one of race or religion but of ideas and the foundational principle of free speech. As Rashid warned, “Freedom goes both ways. It’s not only good when it serves you.”

In an era where labels and accusations are too often used to silence debate, Brother Rashid’s words remind us of the importance of standing firm against any ideology that seeks to curtail freedom. His message from over a decade ago is more urgent than ever: Criticize without fear. Defend freedom without apology.

The West cannot afford to ignore this warning any longer.

For an even deeper look into Brother Rashid’s insights and warnings, see his exclusive interview with RAIR Foundation USA: “Muslims Will Be the Majority; They Will Govern the West”. In this powerful conversation, Rashid expands on his vision of the West’s future under Islamic rule and the urgency of standing against this trajectory. Don’t miss it.

Islamophobia vs. Freedomophobia: The Battle for Free Speech

“Islam silences us in the East by threats, arrests, and killings. In the West, it uses the weapon of ‘Islamophobia’ to silence criticism.” – Brother Rashid

Freedom of speech is under attack. As Brother Rashid boldly states, the term “Islamophobia” is a tool wielded to intimidate and suppress those who dare to critique Islam as an ideology. Criticizing ideas is not hate—it is the foundation of freedom.

Rashid’s journey highlights this struggle. Forced to flee Morocco for leaving Islam, he encountered not just rejection from family and society but persecution simply for choosing a different faith. In the so-called “moderate” Muslim world, he and others like him were prohibited from marrying, naming their children, or even owning Bibles in their own language.

“People have the right to be afraid of Islam. This is not a phobia; this is a reasonable fear,” Rashid declares, pointing to the atrocities committed in the name of Islam—beheadings, stonings, terrorism, and systematic oppression across the globe.

Freedomophobia is the real danger. Fear of liberty, of people gathering to pray in their homes, of women uncovering their hair, or of individuals speaking openly about their beliefs—this fear thrives in regimes where Islam dominates.

“Islam gives itself the right to criticize other religions, especially Christianity and Judaism. It should accept criticism in return.”

Criticism of Islam is not racism; it is a rejection of oppressive doctrines. As Brother Rashid reminds us, loving Muslim people and opposing Islamic ideology are not contradictions. True freedom demands that no idea, no religion, no ideology, is above scrutiny.

Stand firm. Speak freely. Reject labels designed to stifle your voice. This is not Islamophobia—it is the defense of liberty against Freedomophobia.