But for a quick-and-dirty answer look at the Muslim world's campaigns against the non-Muslims within its borders. Well, that's a lot of countries. Some treat the non-Muslims horribly, in others non-Muslims thrive. In those that mistreat their non-Muslims citizens it is very much like the treatment non-Catholics, or non-Church of England citizens received in the Bronze Age, as you correctly point out.
The only current blood libel of which I am aware is the one against Jews by Muslims that they, the Jews, use the blood of Muslim and Christian children in Passover matzos.
Many different groups have been accused, including Jews, Christians, Cathars, Knights Templar, Witches, Christian heretics, Roman Catholics, Gypsies, Wiccans, Druids, neopagans, Satanic cultists, and evangelical Protestant missionaries. (Wikipedia)
Current status of the blood libel myths (Religious Tolerence.org):
There are four main blood libel myths circulating at this time:
- Neo-nazis and Christian Identity groups vs. Jews. Some examples:
- "Nazi Alert: Propaganda 1997" at: http://www.jdl.org/nazipropaganda97.html (A collection of Neo-Nazi hate images assembled by the Jewish Defense League. It is no longer online).
- "Renaissance Press," at: http://home.onestop.net/rpress/index.html (Booksellers specializing in Nazi propaganda. The good news is that they only average about 73 hits a month)
- Aryan Nations home page at: http://www.nidlink.com/~aryanvic/
- Some Fundamentalist Christians vs. a wide range of faith groups (Wiccans, Druids, other Neopagans, Satanists), on the Internet, in books and seminars. Some examples:
- LOGOS Communication Consortium, "Unmasking the Truth about Witches," at: http://www.execpc.com/~dlbrown/logos/truthwit.htm
- Balaam's Ass Publishing, "Witchcraft, Satanism and the New Age, at: http://balaams-ass.com/journal/warnings/witchcrf.htm (Particularly vicious against Druids)
- Jay Rogers, "Child Sacrifice in the New Age: Salem's Witch Cult and America's Abortion Industry," at: http://forerunner.com/champion/X0039_Child_Sacrifice_in_t.html (This essay describes abortion as a standard New Age/Wiccan ritual)
- Some feminists promoting ritual abuse beliefs accusations vs. criminal gangs, government agencies, day care centers, preschools, numerous faith groups, etc. Some examples:
- Doris E. Sanford, "Don't Make Me Go Back, Mommy: A Child's Book About Satanic Ritual Abuse," Questar Pub, (1990). You can buy this book from Amazon.com bookstore
- Emilie P. Rose, "Reaching for the Light: A Guide for Ritual Abuse Survivors and Their Therapists," Pilgrim Press, (1996). Order it from Amazon.com bookstore
- Judith Spencer, "Satan's High Priest," Pocket Books, (1997) Order it from Amazon.com bookstore
- Some Muslim media in the Middle East vs. Jews: Columnist Dr. Umayma Ahmad Al-Jalahma of King Faysal University in Al-Dammam, Saudi Arabia wrote an article in the Saudi daily newspaper on "The Jewish Holiday of Purim." In it, he stated that: "During this holiday, the Jew must prepare very special pastries, the filling of which is ... human blood... the Jews' spilling human blood to prepare pastry for their holidays is a well-established fact, historically and legally, all throughout history. This was one of the main reasons for the persecution and exile that were their lot in Europe and Asia at various times." According to columnist Joseph Farah, "The article goes on to describe how the Jews drain the blood from their young victims and the pleasure these 'Jewish vampires' derive from these actions." 1,2
On 2002-MAR-22, Turki al-Sudairi, editor-in-chief of the newspaper repudiated the article. He denounced it in an editorial, saying: "What has been mentioned by this writer is wrong. It neither reflects the opinion of Al-Riyadh newspaper nor the Saudi government. We have full respect for all religions." He was allegedly out of the country when the article was published. He also terminated his newspaper's contract with the freelance author. 3
A book by the defense minister of Syria has reached its eighth printing. It is a best-seller in the Arab world. The author accuses Jews of murdering Christians and using their blood to bake matzahs for Passover. 4
I'm concerned that we don't create a "blood libel" of Muslims murdering Christian and Jewish children - labeling all Muslims rather than the terrorists/jihadists.
The anti-Jewish blood libel peddled by the Christian Identity/neo-Nazi goons is of a piece with that advanced by the Muslims.
As for the others, they are so obscure as to be inconsequential.
As far as creating a blood libel against Muslims, there is no evidence that this is taking place.
We must not be so solicitous of Muslims that we supress or distort the truth in an effort to protect them against public disapproval.
The Muslims themselves could prevent any such backlash against themselves by speaking out clearly and unambiguously against the terrorists and anti-Semites within their ranks.
That they have not done so peaks volumes to me.
If Muslims constitute a potential Fifth Column here in the U.S. — and I believe that a certain percentage of them do — then we as a society should be aware of the fact so that we can be on guard against it.