Why is love persecuted?

I was reading an article by Elizabeth Kendal titled “Fitna in Morocco.” She explains why Christian orphanage workers in Morocco were accused of proselytizing, even though the Christians never pressured the children to convert:

Fitna, which is equated with persecution, involves anything that could cause a Muslim to leave Islam—anything from vile torture to magnetic grace. The whole purpose of jihad was to eliminate fitna. . . . For according to the Islamic order, Muslims are superior—the most noble/best community ever raised up for mankind (Q3:110)—and therefore must dominate. It is the Muslims who are called to success. Thus a thriving dhimmi would be a source of fitna for the Muslim community. Of course a thriving apostate is the most threatening embodiment of fitna imaginable. This is why the dictators of Islam are so desperately apostaphobic. . . . The fundamentalists know that in order to really eliminate fitna, they must eliminate every demonstration of Christian sacrificial love, Christian mercy, Christian grace, Christian joy and Christian assurance/peace—for these amount to the most devastating fitna of all!

The church’s love is seen as persecution of Muslims, so the church is persecuted. This inversion boggles my mind. Why would people persecute love? I am reminded of Jesus’ words in John 3:19,

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

But this is no reason for the church to give up; rather, it is a reason for it to persevere. 1 Peter 2:20-21 reads,

For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.

May God’s light shine through the darkness.