Posted on 09/16/2018 3:08:29 PM PDT by lasereye
When I received a letter from a Shiite religious preacher from the United Kingdom, it did not surprise me. I receive many similar letters from extremist Muslims all over the world, as well as Western liberals, socialists, and others. Each time, opening these letters, I prepare for criticism of my careful scrutiny of my religion. As expected, the letter began with a familiar suggestion: "Stop criticizing your own religion."
The letter went on to support this instruction with promises of the media and Western progressives favoring me and becoming far more supportive of me, if I were to align my views with their preferred talking points:
"If you stop criticizing Islam, the West will certainly be more welcoming of you, and you will receive more offers and opportunities to further your career."
What is it that I say that rankles the left so much? I refuse to be apologetic for radical Islam in the West. I refuse to gloss over the darkest consequences to which rampant extremism has led. I do not waffle beneath the idea of multiculturalism or tolerance; some things are not meant to be tolerated. The message of the apologists is clear: Get in line. Send out the same messages that others are: about all aspects of Islam being a loving and benevolent religion. Focus on this and sweep the crimes against humanity under the carpet.
I truly wish I could.
Clearly, it is not hard to see why so many of my colleagues have succumbed to this pressure. My path would indeed have been much easier if I had picked up the politicized view and marched forward with the others who have chosen expediency over truth. But I found it impossible to fit in and merge with the mainstream Islamic apologists in the West. The memories of what I have seen, and the atrocities that I know are still being committed, haunt me, and drive me to speak for the voiceless. My purpose has never been to make the West like me or to receive personal benefits from sharing my experiences. My purpose has always been only to stop the torment that my people have endured at the hands of merciless tyrannical Islamist regimes and groups.
I was born and raised in majority-Muslim societies, in the two dominant sects of Islam, Sunni and Shiism, in both the Arab and Persian worlds. The experiences that my family and the people around us went through shaped me in a way that it is inconceivable not to realize how dangerous sharia and Islamist rule can be. As a result, my mission has been to address these underlying problems, explained in my books, in the hope that it might help to usher some reforms from within the religion. Muslims such as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser and Salim Mansur, to name just a few, have also been advocating reinterpretation.
What the Islamic apologists have to understand is that I, and others like me, are not going to strike a Faustian bargain in order to benefit and fit in with the mainstream. There are some values, such as raising awareness and helping subjugated women who are often effectively enslaved and tortured in many ways under Islamist rule, that are far more important than solely serving one's personal interests.
Another purpose behind these messages is to analyze the words "the West". It seems when people such as the Islamic preacher say that the West will like you and you will benefit more if you do not criticize Islamism, the "West" does not represent all Westerners, but seems mostly to refer to institutions and figures of the political far left. These extremist Muslims may also be referring to organizations or social media outlets that do not report facts but ideology. They appear to address matters as they wish they would be, rather than by looking at evidence. Unfortunately, many of these universities, institutions and outlets happen to be the giant and the dominant ones in the West.
When I first came to the U.S. to teach on a Fulbright scholarship during the Obama administration, it was intriguing to see how many institutions and figures did not like to hear or report any criticism of Islam. This flight seemed to represent a total double standard. While these Westerners appeared totally fine with strongly criticizing religions such as Christianity and Judaism, they did not treat Islam the same. It was a shock to discover, quite quickly, that it was acceptable for them to criticize their own religions, but not all right for me to criticize mine. It was not possible to make sense of it.
In Iran and Syria, where I grew up, one can get arrested, jailed, tortured and even executed for saying anything that may not be positive about the dominant religion of the land, Islam. On the surface, for those who wanted to reform Islam, the only place to do so appeared to be the West. After all, so many political leaders consistently boast about the value of freedom of speech and freedom of press. Where else could a reform of a highly restricted religion occur?
If something like this were attempted in a country where sharia law is enforced, one would face severe consequences for even attempting to criticize the religion. We all assumed that here in the West, it would be safe to question and criticize anything. Instead, so many institutions utilize a far more subtle method of silencing criticism. Some of these methods include labeling anyone who says anything remotely negative about Islam -- even those who offer constructive criticism and the opportunity for reform -- as promoting "Islamophobia."
Please just accept a simple message: If you think criticizing Christianity and Judaism is constructive, and a way to modernize and create reform, then please apply the same rule to Islam.
The more you conceal or disregard constructive criticism of Islam, the harder you are making it for reforms to occur and the easier you are making it for Muslim radicals to prevail. There are currently, around the world, atrocities being committed every moment of every day in the name of Islam; your goal should not be to be politically correct or fiercely protect this religion, but to heal its wounded and offer support to those that want to eliminate the abuses. Glossing over the often unspeakable acts to which sharia can lead will only empower those individuals who have malevolent intentions, while subjugating the most vulnerable to their cruelty.
If, as you claim, your core values are upholding freedom of speech, freedom of press and open discussions about Christianity and Judaism, these values should apply to Islam as well. Support the voices of those who have experienced sharia law first-hand, and call for reform.
The reason I criticize the radical elements of my religion is not because I have hatred in my heart, but because I desire to protect those who have been abused and abandoned by their leaders. With open eyes, I am not willing to hide from the truth, no matter how great the benefit or profit.
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated scholar, businessman, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has authored several books on Islam and US Foreign Policy. He can be reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu
Except jews and christians don’t put out a contract on you when you criticiize them.
The Mohammad Factor
If you condemn murder you condemn Mohammad.
If you condemn thievery you condemn Mohammad.
If you condemn rape you condemn Mohammad.
If you condemn pedophilia you condemn Mohammad.
If you condemn terrorism you condemn Mohammad.
If you condemn slavery you condemn Mohammad.
If you condemn Mohammad you condemn Islam.
Is it a phobia when you know their religion says that you should be killed for not believing?
The highest authority in Islam is the teachings of Mohammad in the Islamic scripture. He clearly teaches to kill those who show any resistance to his teaching. He also makes it clear to kill those who only pretend to follow his teachings. Its not like reforming other religions. The whole murderous doctrine is accepted or rejected, they do not tolerate those who do not completely submit to Mohammad or who they *think* may not have completely submitted. Of course this has been a recipe for 1400 years of brutal bloodshed between different sects who think the others are apostates. Of course, rejecting the religion is also dangerous. The penalty is either death or if the conquering Islamic forces allow it, life as a dhimmi paying half of everything you make to the Islamic conquerors on your knees with humble submission. The only safety from Islam is when Islam is out of power where you live. Even then, they are inspired by their insane scripture to attack innocent people in order to convert people through terror. Sadly this seems to be working on Leftists, who become more and more sympathetic and wonder what those nasty Right wingers must have done to make the poor innocent Jihadists so angry at everyone.
If you criticize mass murdering war lords you criticize islam.
Western progs are louder jihadi apologists than jihadis themselves. They see them as kindred spirits and fellow authoritarian travelers who despise Christianity, Israel, and our God-given freedoms. Hence, their bedfellow status. And bedfellows they’ll remain up until libs’ heads fall upon the Islamic chopping block.
Just more Islamic lies -made to sound good for people who want to feel good about themselves. Islam cannot be ‘reformed unless they remove Mohammad who murdered many captives.
What this Muslim heretic describes as radicals, I believe are Muslim fundamentalists who are following the religion the way Allah and his prophet Muhammad want it done.
If you don't believe in the fundamentals, then get out of Islam, and don't try to reshape it to your worldly ways because it is to tough a row for you to hoe. - Tom.
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Islam is not “Religion.”
It is a global conquest agenda, and nothing more.
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Criticism of Islam, even by those born into it who later reject it, is considered hateful and bigoted, and can even lose you your job or get you denied entry into some European countries, but criticism of Christianity is considered brave and noble, and is welcomed.
My advice: get out of islam.
"There is no moderate Islam, only Islam." - Turkey President Erdoğan
Well, you can always convert to Scientology. Oh, wait...
Muslims have a belief in a supernatural being and want to do what Allah wants done. That to me is a religious belief. - Tom
Muslims have a belief in a supernatural being and want to do what Allah wants done. That to me is a religious belief. - Tom
I've seen it written that "A radical moslem wants to kill you.A moderate moslem wants a radical moslem to kill you".
And BTW...it's one thing to criticize Erdoğan but calling him a turkey is over the top!
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“Muslims” do not necessarily believe anything.
By definition, anyone born under Islam is a “Muslim.”
They do what they are told under threat of torture, amputation and death at the hands of their Mullah.
That is not belief.
It’s a criminal enterprise
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