Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A non-Muslim subject of a state governed according to the shari'a who is granted the freedom to worship and is entitled to the protection of life and property by the state, although constrained to pay a special tax and not granted the full legal status accorded to Muslim subjects. The status of dhimmi was originally limited to Christians and Jews but has occasionally been extended to Hindus, Zoroastrians, and others.
  • noun Offensive Used as a disparaging term for a non-Muslim who is perceived as behaving in a conciliatory manner toward Islam.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun historical A protected and specially taxed non-Muslim subject of a state governed in accordance with sharia law, under dhimma, a form of social contract.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Arabic ḏimmī, from Arabic ḏimma, protected status of a dhimmi, from Arabic ḏamma, to blame (so called because those with dhimmi status are entitled to blame their protectors and demand justice if their protectors do not fulfill their obligations); see ḏmm in Semitic roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French dhimmi, from Arabic ذمي‎ (dhimmi, "a dhimmi"), from ذمة‎ (dhimma, "protection, custody"), from ذم‎ (dhamma, "to blame")

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Examples

  • Yet, he took what I call a dhimmi view in his question - how far can Westergaard go in his work before endangering Christians who live in Muslim countries?

    Gates of Vienna 2009

  • The BBC has already banned (yes, banned) the Arabic word 'dhimmi'.

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2009

  • Straw should have the word dhimmi tattoed to his forehead, but perhaps this is not necessary as nothing can conceal his craven folly.

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2009

  • Since my understanding of dhimmi is that the term properly only refers to non-Muslims, let me call this community the pseudo-dhimmis.

    Moderate Muslims as Dhimmi Richard Nokes 2006

  • I must confess that I was unfamiliar with the term dhimmi, so all of my information regarding it comes from the links she provides.

    Moderate Muslims as Dhimmi Richard Nokes 2006

  • They are referred to as dhimmi (people of contract), which means they are equal citizens with the Muslims and enjoy the full rights of citizenship.

    The Caliphate and The New Republican Scare Tactic 2006

  • Oh wait, I do: I'm really, really done with people who speak up in support of Muslims or Islam being labelled "dhimmi".

    draw mohammed day. shewhohashope 2010

  • Muslim countries – called the "dhimmi" – coined the term "Eurabia" to describe the fate toward which Europe is moving.

    Islam 2009

  • The "dhimmi" attitude of Tower Hamlets Council over this matter and the similar behaviour of many other Councils and authorities in this Country will accelerate what Dr Rowan Williams described as "unavoidable" - the introduction of Sharia law into the UK.

    Archive 2008-08-01 Not a sheep 2008

  • Whereas Christianity instructs "love thy neighbour as yourself", "do unto others as you would do unto yourself" etc, and the Christian States give equal rights to all citizens, Islam is a supremacist religion that instructs that Jews are related to pigs and apes, and that believers of other religions, the infidel, are given less citizens 'rights as "dhimmi".

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2009

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