Is Anti-Zionism the same as Antisemitism? | Abdullah Andalusi | Islam21c

Who is Abdullah Andalusi?
Abdullah al Andalusi is an international speaker, thinker and intellectual activist for Islam and Muslim affairs. His work involves explaining and demonstrating, by rational argument, the intellectual proofs for the Islamic belief system, and promoting the Islamic way of life and Islamic solutions for contemporary problems. In 2009, Al-Andalusi co-founded The Muslim Debate Initiative, a forum that promotes open dialogue and critical debate between thinkers, academics, politicians and public speakers of all backgrounds.

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What is Antisemitism?
Antisemitism is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who harbours it is called an antisemite. Antisemitic tendencies may be motivated primarily by negative sentiment towards Jews as a people or negative sentiment towards Jews with regard to Judaism. There are various ways in which antisemitism is manifested, ranging in the level of severity of Jewish persecution. On the more subtle end, it consists of expressions of hatred or discrimination against individual Jews and may or may not be accompanied by violence. At the extreme, it consists of pogroms or genocide, which may or may not be state-sponsored. Historically, most of the world's violent antisemitic events have taken place in Europe, where modern antisemitism began to emerge from antisemitism in Christian communities during the Middle Ages.

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Who are Islam21c?
We educate and inspire Muslims with divine guidance and solutions through transformational digital content. Islam21c has, since 2006, been inspiring Muslims to be confident in Islam and impact-driven by providing them with guidance, building their ability to articulate and actualise correct Islamic principles, in a modern context and address the unique situations and challenges faced by Muslims in the West.

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What is Zionism?
Zionism is a political movement that supports the self-determination and homeland for Jewish people in Israel. Zionists advocate for the existence and continuation of Israel, but is used by Israel's settler movement to justify expansion and occupation into internationally recognized Palestinian lands. The 'Greater Israel' project is a frequently contentious, right-wing Zionist project linked to settlement expansion and greater land annexation concepts for a Jewish state. The project may include the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea (including the West Bank and Gaza) to biblical, larger borders stretching from the River Nile to the Euphrates. Jewish, Christian and Muslim Zionists are those Jews, Christians and Muslims who support Israel in its objectives in the 'Greater Israel' project.

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What is Islam?
One of the major religions of the world, Islam literally translates to "submission," as a follower of Islam (Muslims) devotes their life to that of their God. The religion began with the teachings of Muhammad in the 7th century. The theology of Islam is based on the Qur'an, which was given to Muhammad by God. Some of the major fundamental principles of Islam include the Five Pillars, which hope to unite all Muslims into a community. Two different factions of Muslims exist - the majority are known as Sunni, with a small percentage known as Shi'a - both predominantly reside throughout the Middle East. Muhammad died in 632 AD and the religion of Islam formally started after his death. The Quran was formally compiled and finalised in 650 AD, prior to which it was 'memorised' and written across many parchments.

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