Dhimmitude

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This article is about a neologism. For the Islamic legal concept, see Dhimmi.

The word dhimmitude is a neologism, imported from the French language, and derived from the Arabic language word dhimmi. The term has at least two distinct but related meanings describing a certain position of a non-Muslim in relation to the Islamic world — notably it is a characterization of non-Muslims as submitting to Muslim authority or intimidation.

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[edit] Etymology

Dhimmi (also zimmi, Arabic ذمي, often translated as "protected") is the legal status of a free non-Muslim subject of a state governed in accordance with sharia — Islamic law. The word dhimmi is an adjective (but used like a noun in English). It is derived from the noun dhimma, which means "pact of liability", and denotes the legal relationship between non-Muslim subjects and the Islamic state. "Dhimmitude" adds the productive suffix "-tude" to the adjective dhimmi, thus creating a new noun with a meaning (arguably) distinct from dhimma.

The term entered English-language use after the 1996 publication of the book "The Decline of Eastern Christianity under Islam. From Jihad to Dhimmitude. Seventh-Twentieth Century"[1] and the 2003 followup "Islam and Dhimmitude: Where Civilizations Collide"[2] by Bat Ye'or. She is widely thought to have invented the word[3] but she credits assassinated Lebanese Maronite leader Bashir Gemayel for the term.

[edit] Bashir Gemayel coins the term dhimmitude

Christian leader Bashir Gemayel first coined the term dhimmitude in 1982
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Christian leader Bashir Gemayel first coined the term dhimmitude in 1982
In the name of all Christians of the Middle East, and as Lebanese Christians, let us proclaim that if Lebanon is not to be a Christian national homeland, it will nonetheless remain a homeland for Christians. Above all a homeland for Christians, though one for others as well if they so choose a homeland to be protected and preserved, in which our churches may be rebuilt at the time and in the manner we desire
Yasser Arafat has transformed the church of Damour into a garage. We forgive him, and though they defiled, sullied, and pillaged the church of Damour, we will rebuild it. Had we been in Egypt or Syria, perhaps we would not even have had the right to rebuild a destroyed church.
Our desire is to remain in the Middle East so that our church bells may ring out our joys and sorrow whenever we wish! We want to continue to christen, to celebrate our rites and traditions, our faith and our creed whenever we wish! We want to be able to assume and testify to our Christianity in the Middle East!
And whatever may be the difficulty in offering this testimony, we will never renounce it. We will testify to our Christianity in Lebanon. We will testify to our Christianity in the Middle East!… :Henceforth, we refuse to live in any dhimmitude!
We no longer wish to be under any protection! Our martyrs have defended us! Our martyrs have defended our cause!
For eight years, our martyrs have defended our freedom and our presence in the Middle East, during which the whole world repudiated us, during which the whole world disinherited us, during which the whole world ignored us; and when we emerged victorious, all became our friends, all sought to befriend us.
In the future, it is our duty to deal with the whole world devoid of any sort of complex.:No one can outwit us!
No one can outrank us in bravery! And no one has defended his country more than we have defended ours!
We want to live here in dignity! We no longer wish people to preach morality or philosophy to us, to give money or inform us of the proper manner in which to act.
We alone knew what was expected of us, for had we not done what we did, we would not be here today and there would not have remained a single nun, priest, or cross!

From the speech of Bashir Gemayel, 14 September 1982[4]. (bold typeface not in original)

[edit] Associations and usage

The associations of the word "dhimmitude" vary between users:

  • Bat Ye'or originally defined dhimmitude as the condition and experience of those who are subject to dhimma, and thus not synonymous to, but rather a subset of the dhimma phenomenon.
  • It may be simply a replacement for the — compared to dhimmi — relatively little known noun dhimma and carry the same meaning. This has already widely happened in French usage (where "-tude" is a productive suffix, too)
  • A more recent pejorative usage variant of "dhimmi" and "dhimmitude" divorces the words from the historical context of jihad and applies them to situations where non-Muslims in the West are allegedly championing Islamic causes above others’; "dhimmi" is synonymous with "Quisling" within this context. See, for example, the site Dhimmi Watch by Robert Spencer.

[edit] Sample views

Bat Yeor's definition:

"As for the concept of dhimmitude, it represents a behavior dictated by fear (terrorism), pacifism when aggressed, rather than resistance, servility because of cowardice and vulnerability. The origin of this concept is to be found in the condition of the Infidel people who submit to the Islamic rule without fighting in order to avoid the onslaught of jihad. By their peaceful surrender to the Islamic army, they obtained the security for their life, belongings and religion, but they had to accept a condition of inferiority, spoliation and humiliation. As they were forbidden to possess weapons and give testimony against a Muslim, they were put in a position of vulnerability and humility."[5]

Bernard Lewis, Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University, states that

"If we look at the considerable literature available about the position of Jews in the Islamic world, we find two well-established myths. One is the story of a golden age of equality, of mutual respect and cooperation, especially but not exclusively in Moorish Spain; the other is of “dhimmi”-tude, of subservience and persecution and ill treatment. Both are myths. Like many myths, both contain significant elements of truth, and the historic truth is in its usual place, somewhere in the middle between the extremes."[6]

Robert Spencer author of the The Myth of Islamic Tolerance defines dhimmitude as :

Dhimmitude is the status that Islamic law, the Sharia, mandates for non-Muslims, primarily Jews and Christians. Dhimmis, “protected” or “guilty” people, are free to practice their religion in a Sharia regime, but are made subject to a number of humiliating regulations designed to enforce the Qur'an's command that they "feel themselves subdued" (Sura 9:29). This denial of equality of rights and dignity remains part of the Sharia, and, as such, are part of the legal superstructure that global jihadists are laboring through violence to restore everywhere in the Islamic world, and wish ultimately to impose on the entire human race.[7]

[edit] Anti Dhimmitude

Oriana Fallaci 1929-2006, was a notable advocate of anti-dhimmitude
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Oriana Fallaci 1929-2006, was a notable advocate of anti-dhimmitude

Anti Dhimmitude, a related term, is a neologism coined by Dhimmi Watch founder and author Robert Spencer. The term describes behavior that is the reverse of dhimmitude, a state of social and human subservience and cowed conduct that, according to writers such as Bat Ye'or, characterises non-Muslim minorities who live in Muslim majority areas. The term is generally used by people who oppose Islamist groups' efforts to change public policy or subvert human rights such as free speech.

[edit] Usage

The term "anti-dhimmitude" has gained a great deal of traction in the blogging community to describe the behavior of individuals who uphold the values of free speech and free press despite the concerted efforts by fundamentalists to intimidate or silence them. Writer Diana West writes in Townhall magazine :[8]

The publication of the Mohammed cartoons solicited by Denmark's Jyllands Posten was an act of anti-dhimmitude. Since no Danish artist would dare illustrate a PC children's book about Mohammed for fear of Islamic law (and Islamic violence), the newspaper boldly set out to reassert the rule of (non-Islamic) Danish law. It's as simple as that. And as vital. The cartoons ran to establish -- or re-establish -- Denmark as bastion of Western-style liberty.

Anti-Dhimmitude is increasingly being seen as a social response to Fundamentalist attempts to reverse the values of free societies[9] or revise history[10].

[edit] Notable personalities associated with the term

A number of notable authors have been characterized by the term , such as Oriana Fallaci[11][12], Australian prime minister John Howard, Bat Ye'or and Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bat Ye'or (1996). The Decline of Eastern Christianity under Islam. From Jihad to Dhimmitude. Seventh-Twentieth Century. Madison/Teaneck, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press/Associated University Presses. ISBN 0-8386-3688-8.
  2. ^ Bat Ye'or (2003). Islam and Dhimmitude. Where Civilizations Collide. Madison/Teaneck, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press/Associated University Presses. ISBN 0-8386-3943-7.
  3. ^ "Brief Reviews", Mordechai Nisan in: Middle East Quarterly, Fall 2002 • Vol. IX: No. 4
  4. ^ Bat Ye'or (1985). The Dhimmi Jews and Christians under Islam. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press/Associated University Presses. ISBN 0-8386-3262-9.
  5. ^ John W. Whitehead: Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis, 05 September 2005
  6. ^ Bernard Lewis, 'The New Anti-Semitism', The American Scholar Journal - Volume 75 No. 1 Winter 2006 pp. 25-36.
  7. ^ Spencer, Robert: Billboard
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ [2]
  10. ^ [3]
  11. ^ [4]
  12. ^ [5]

[edit] External links

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