It is incessant and unremitting. The prejudice and discrimination against Muslims has become truly a universal phenomenon. Month after month The Muslim News has been reporting, often exclusively, on a sample of Islamophobic attacks and hatred around the world whether it be a bombing of a mosque in the German city of Dresden or Islamic beliefs being undermined in a Tennessee school.

In Canada, Conservative MPs have even blocked a petition based motion denouncing Islamophobia, while in France, former centre-right President, Nicolas Sarkozy, has vowed to ban Muslim headscarves should he return to office in next year’s election. Back in London, a 21-year old student has described her ordeal of having her hijab ripped off her head in broad daylight in Tottenham and now lives in fear when going out.

Such is the extent of prejudice against Muslims, which has built up in recent years, based largely on misunderstanding, misinformation about their religion and the deceit about the causes of terrorism. Toxic air has been created, often deliberately, by some political leaders and sections of the press.

The danger signs are clearly apparent as a new form of radical authoritarian nationalism is spawning, similar to the fascism that came to prominence in the early 20th century with such disastrous consequences.