phobia, the Abha-based Al-Watan said the phenomenon of Islam-phobia has surfaced in a worrying manner inside America under the leadership of the extremist right-wingers. "Such a development was not known in a country which has been holding high the banner of democracy and claiming that it is the oasis of freedom," said the daily. The paper believes that this phenomenon is not a new one because Islam and Muslims were subjected to fierce media campaign following the incidents of September 11. "But, the new thing is that the American right-wingers have started to stage demonstrations in an unprecedented manner in some American cities against building a mosque in New York and these demonstrators have raised anti-Islamic slogans. Moreover, an American church has called for setting on fire the Holy Quran on the anniversary of incidents of September 11 and launched an organized campaign against Islam," the daily observed. These developments make us feel worried about this dangerous phenomenon of Islam-phobia which is no longer confined to some politicians and media men and has become a popular phenomenon," the daily noted, adding that it is high time for the Arab diplomatic quarters inside America to confront this phenomenon through peaceful and political means .
