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Malay Muslim responds

Posted in Q & A on Oct 05, 2007

An insight about why my book is censored in Malaysia despite the self-proclaimed pluralistic values of that country’s prime minister:

I read your article regarding Malaysia’s PM progressive Islam stance. Well, being a Muslim Malay myself I couldn’t help but to feel rather critical about this issue. I would like to point out here that there’s nothing so much progressive about Malaysia. You should know very well the difference between practice and theory because I’m sure you will never make the mistake of confusing them. Personally, I feel that Malaysia is as progressive as Saudi Arabia. I think you should read this article here to judge for yourself.

I’m really glad that the Malay translation of your book is available online for free. But I still prefer the English version. Assalamualaykum and rock on ! - Farhan (a very proud Singaporean Muslim Malay)

Malay translation of my book

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Q & A on Oct 04, 2007

Among the exciting new features of this site is the Malay translation of my book, which you can download free of charge.

There’s a reason I’m bringing this to your attention. I’ve learned that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia, may be an ally of reform-minded Muslims. Badawi advocates Islam Hadhari – or Civilizational Islam. Rather than spouting the “leave-it-to-scholars” elitism that Muslim leaders so often promote, Badawi says that the “onus of delivery is on all of us” in brokering peace between Islam and the West. A good start.

Better still, in an address at New York University, Badawi calls for Muslim reform based on Islamic principles of justice, compassion, equality, peace, solidarity and pluralism. That last word, pluralism, is key. It means not just hand-holding multicultural jamborees, God help us. Pluralism also means diversity of ideas. Translation: discussion, debate and dissent. Islam can handle these things. Can more Muslims handle them?

I have faith that the answer is yes – which is why I’ve gotten my book translated in Malay. What I don’t understand is why publication of my book is prohibited in Malaysia, especially if Badawi is such an advocate for free thought. I sincerely invite Malaysian Muslims to explain the paradox. Please contact my office.

“Faith Without Fear” DVD launch tonight!

Posted in On The Road, Announcements on Oct 03, 2007

Yep, that’s me in a hijab. GOTTA PROBLEM WITH IT?

You’re seeing the disc of my brand new DVD. If you live in Toronto, I invite you to join me at the Canadian DVD launch of Faith Without Fear. This documentary chronicles my journey to reconcile Islam with human rights and freedom of conscience. (Cynical Muslim friends have suggested I call it Mission Impossible, but I’m far more optimistic.)

Faith Without Fear premiered in America on PBS this past spring. Then it aired on Global Television in Canada. It’s now screening throughout Europe and parts of the Islamic world — underground.

This evening I’ll be above the ground, appearing at Indigo Bookstore (Manulife Centre) at 7 pm. Heather Reisman, CEO of Indigo, will interview me on-stage. Of course, we’ll play parts of the film and hold a book-signing afterwards.

Can’t make it to the launch but want to watch the film and its special features? I humbly recommend buying the DVD. Bonus features include my interview with a young Muslim woman who’s also editor-in-chief of a major Middle East newspaper, a glimpse of the spirited debate in Turkey between Islamists and secularists, and behind-the-stage clips from my encounter with Muslims in Detroit. Can you say “entering the lion’s den”?

Memo to progressives re: Iran

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts on Oct 02, 2007

In the upper right-hand corner of this website is a box of revolving images. One of those images shows young Iranian men being hanged for homosexuality. Immediately after it is the black-and-white image of an Iranian woman being buried alive and readied for a stoning. And in the online source notes of my book is a video, authenticated by Human Rights Watch, of a man in Iran being killed with fist-sized rocks. Such atrocities have only worsened under the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.

Please - puhleez - read this searing commentary about the Iranian plight and fight for basic freedoms. It’s penned by my friend Payam Akhavan, a former UN war crimes prosecutor and now professor of international law at McGill U in Montreal. Admittedly short on concrete solutions (who can blame him?), the piece is blunt and breathtakingly articulate in its analysis.

Bottom line: Iranians deserve the support of all progressives who care more about loving human dignity than about hating the White House.

Celebrating Mahatma’s birthday

Posted in On The Road, Announcements on Oct 02, 2007

Tonight, I’ll be headlining a fund-raiser for World Literacy of Canada, an organization that promotes social justice and international development, particularly in India. The fund-raiser doubles as a birthday bash for Mahatma Gandhi. They love the Great Soul as much as I do. (In fact, World Literacy of Canada gave me the bright orange Gandhi shirt that I wear throughout my documentary, Faith Without Fear.)

This evening, I’ll be paying tribute to Gandhi by emphasizing his moral courage. What I mean is, Gandhi called out not only British imperialists, but also Indian ones. He spoke truth to power within his community, insisting that there’s no victory in replacing a white oligarchy with a brown oligarchy because it’s still an oligarchy.

By daring to ruffle the feathers of his “tribe,” Gandhi displayed a level of integrity that’s increasingly rare among activists. It’s relatively easy to confront outsiders. There’s honor in doing so. Far more dangerous to stand up to your own because the emotional risks, from accusations of selling out to marginalization of your loved ones, are that much higher.

But Gandhi firmly lived up to a simple principle: “Be the change you wish to see.” That ideal is worth celebrating even more than his birthday is. If you can join us at his party tonight, click here for tickets.

Is John McCain a bigot?

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts on Oct 01, 2007

Republican presidential aspirant John McCain says that he prefers a Christian president to a Muslim one. Is he a bigot for making that choice — or, more to the point, for making it public? The short answer is no. At least no more of a bigot than any of us is.
           
When we vote for our political leaders, we’re wise to choose those who represent the values we hold dear. That’s rational. And that’s what McCain was trying to convey - albeit clumsily. Yes, I know he’s been sucking up to the religious right. But I don’t accuse him of pandering in this particular case because he also made clear that he’d vote for a Mormon — not exactly a favored denomination with America’s evangelicals.

Moreover, McCain said something fascinating and, well, hopeful when he added that he knows many Mormons who’ve been magnificent people.                       

This comment suggests that McCain doesn’t know too many Muslims who’ve been magnificent. With the likes of Ibrahim Hooper and CAIR reflexively jumping down his throat, can you blame him for not being impressed with us Muslims?

Memo to Brother Hooper: a more constructive approach would be to invite McCain to “get to know” other Muslims — including truly reform-minded ones such as Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy. It turns out that Dr. Jasser lives in Arizona, which is McCain’s own state.                  
             
I figure that if McCain knew more of the Jassers and fewer of the Hoopers, he’d see that Muslims are capable of being magnificent — pluralistic, self-critical, and proudly American. I’d certainly vote for Dr. Jasser. I’m willing to bet that McCain would too. Keep in mind, as a faithful Muslim, I don’t gamble.

Looking up to Frank McCourt

Posted in On The Road on Sep 30, 2007

Just had the pleasure of meeting Frank McCourt, internationally best-selling author of Angela’s Ashes and, more recently, Teacher Man. We both spoke at the first annual Carmel Festival of Authors and Ideas, which wraps up today. (Photo: Adam Marks)

Are Muslim women used cars?

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts on Sep 28, 2007

In Saudi Arabia, by law, women can be passed down from their fathers to their husbands, sons, or brothers. In other words, Saudi women have the legal status of a used car — and yet, they’re not even allowed to drive a used car. How’s that for justice.

Not good enough, it turns out, for more and more daughters of Saudi Arabia. Saudi women are petitioning their government for the right to drive. Women have sent a petition straight to King Abdullah – bearing 1,100 signatures and citing the lack of religious reasoning behind the current regulations. They even have the support of some men, who recognize that women’s full participation in the economy is necessary.

You see, Saudi Arabian women are participating more and more in the public sector. Due to a struggling economy, women have headed into the workforce in droves- steering the country’s financial situation in a more positive direction. Just last year, two Saudi businesswomen were elected to the Kingdom’s chamber of commerce, their election earning mention in Forbes’ “Most Powerful Women in Politics” feature this year.

But how can Saudi Arabia’s women- and the Saudi economy- reach their full potential when many women spend up to half of their income on hiring male drivers?

See this piece in the International Herald Tribune, and head on over to Project Ijtihad’s myspace page to discuss your views.

Me and Mahmoud

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts on Sep 28, 2007

Fallout from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech at Columbia U:

The debate rages about who gets to gab at American universities. James “Skip” Rutherford, Dean of the Clinton School of Public Service, names me (among others) as having the right to speak on campus. Phew. Maybe the Dean can smuggle me into Iran. Then we’ll see if that country has “no homosexuals,”as  President Ahmadinejad claimed at Columbia.

In that spirit, check out the Persian translation of my book - free of charge. Mahmoud should honor a girl who spurns the decadent profit motive, don’t you think?

Petition against death threats

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts on Sep 28, 2007

Action alert:

One way you can get involved in the fight for Muslim reform and moral courage is to sign the petition against death threats.  These are threats that I and others have received from Islamists in Britain.  Every so often, I update the list of who’s signing.  It’s amazing to see where the petitioners are coming from.  This time around: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Malaysia, India, Japan, Blackfeet Nation of New Mexico… Thank you for your guts.  Going public by signing the petition is a sure way of telling the Islamists that we refuse to cower.

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