Keep ideology and taboo apart

I AM surprised that Scotland on Sunday appears not to have mentioned that we have just left “Islamophobia awareness month”.

I want to make it crystal clear that I oppose any form of hate crime, and I acknowledge that many Muslims have been the victims of such crimes. My contention is not with the veracity of the claims made, or the generosity of support shown, but the confusion of Muslim people with the ideology of Islam.

I wish to take issue with the use of the term “Islamophobia”. As far as I am aware, “Islam” is a religious ideology and should be open to critique as with any and all other ideologies.

I am also aware that many Muslims have chosen to move away from the term “Islamophobia” and replace it with the term “anti-Muslim bigotry”. This, to me, is much more ­appropriate.

We must not allow an ideology to become confused with people, nor must we allow it to become so taboo as to warrant its own “phobia”.

I will stand shoulder to shoulder with Muslims around the world to protect their freedoms, and those of all other people, but the ideology of Islam must remain on the table for debate.

Gary McLelland, Glasgow