Here is a superb takedown by Bruce Bawer of the Islamic “moderate” Mustafa Akyol, whose disingenuousness we have exposed here at Jihad Watch many times. “The New York Times’s Islamic Flimflam Man,” by Bruce Bawer, PJ Media, February 21, 2019: On February 18, in keeping with its apparent goal of remaining America’s most reliable source […]
UK: “Moderate” imam Usama Hasan claims he would “deradicalize” ISIS bride by using work of jihadist scholar
Usama Hasan of the UK’s Quilliam Foundation gives the impression in this article that Ibn Taymiyya was a moderate. Hasan fails to mention that Ibn Taymiyya also said: “Since lawful warfare is essentially jihad and since its aim is that the religion is God’s entirely and God’s word is uppermost, therefore according to all Muslims, […]
Maajid Nawaz Has an Image to Protect
Asked Thursday whether he would debate Maajid Nawaz, Robert Spencer replied: “Yes, of course I would. But Maajid Nawaz won’t debate me.” It isn’t hard to understand why that is true. Maajid Nawaz has an image to protect: that of being an all-knowing Muslim reformist who’s never wrong. He presents himself as a softer, gentler, […]
Hugh Fitzgerald: “Islamic Modernist” Mustafa Akyol Betrays More of His Worldview Than He Likely Intended (Part 4)
Whereas the West views many Middle Eastern countries as medieval, Akyol said, Middle Eastern countries view the West as exploitative and hypocritical. He said the best way for Western countries to promote secularization in Middle Eastern countries is to remain principled and set an example through their actions. The West does not think of Middle […]
Hugh Fitzgerald: “Islamic Modernist” Mustafa Akyol Betrays More of His Worldview Than He Likely Intended (Part 3)
Akyol paints a picture of progress, steady but very slow, in encouraging change in Islam. But in fact, there has been backsliding in the very place where a secular Muslim society had been taken the farthest: Kemalist Turkey. Erdogan turns out to be the anti-Ataturk, he and his aides appearing proudly with their hijabbed wives […]
Hugh Fitzgerald: “Islamic Modernist” Mustafa Akyol Betrays More of His Worldview Than He Likely Intended (Part 2)
Since this point in history, however, Akyol said the Islamic world has begun to fall behind in the development of human rights. The implication here is that the Islamic world was at one time equal to, or perhaps even superior to, the West in its recognition of human rights. When was this ever the case? […]
Hugh Fitzgerald: “Islamic Modernist” Mustafa Akyol Betrays More of His Worldview Than He Likely Intended (Part 1)
The instructive and revealing piece was published about ten weeks ago, but with Mustafa Akyol again spreading his deceptions around Christmastime, it is worth recalling: “Lecture explores religious freedom in Islam,” by Thomas Murphy, The Observer, October 24, 2018: Mustafa Akyol, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity and […]
Hugh Fitzgerald: A Few Questions for Shahid Shafi
These questions should ideally be addressed to Dr. Shahid Shafi at a public hearing, in the most courteous, non-confrontational, we-just-want-to-clarify-a-few-things manner — not that, given his pattern thus far, he is likely to answer them. Here are some questions that come to mind: 1. Dr. Shafi, in saying your five daily prayers, you — and […]
Hugh Fitzgerald: Shahid Shafi’s Texas Morality Tale
The media line, which has nothing to do with reality, goes like this: some Know-Nothings — Texans and Republicans (need we say more?), the kind of people whom the Southern Poverty Law Center will denounce in a New York minute — are at it again, calling into question a fine fellow and all-round nice guy, […]
Tariq Ramadan: The Lowdown On His Downloads
The brief story from Al-Arabiya gives us the lowdown on his downloads: “Police find 776 pornographic photos on Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan’s laptops,” Al Arabiya, December 2, 2018: In the latest scandal to hit Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan, 776 pornographic photos – including some purportedly of the women currently suing him on sexual and rape […]