>Taking millions of Africans and even one million Europeans as slaves doesn't quite mesh with the popular perception of Arabs as poor, helpless victims of Western imperialism.

Even in the bbc article you posted they're being apologetic and trying to convince the reader that Islamic slavery was somehow exceptional. Great example of why Western narratives are essentially tone-deaf to Eastern Europeans. Can you imagine a respectable publication taking such a tone towards Southern slave owners and not getting into hot water for it?