announcements

The French government: Agents of Moral Courage (for now)

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Announcements on Feb 11, 2008

A message to all atheists: There really is a God. Read on.

I never thought I’d be able to call France’s government an Agent of Moral Courage, but today it’s taken a step in the right direction. Rama Yade, the French Secretary of State for Human Rights, has announced official support for the physical protection of dissident Muslims who are living under death threats.

Specifically, France will advocate a European fund to provide personal security for reformist Muslims.  Among the beneficiaries will be Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the former member of Dutch parliament and vocal ex-Muslim who has just appealed for citizenship in France. Minister Yade has suggested that Ayaan will get that, too.

What I deeply appreciate about this announcement is that  it’s not strictly about Ayaan.  Lesser known Muslim dissidents will also benefit. They need the help even more than Ayaan does, since they’re not empowered by boatloads of media coverage.

Consider, for example, Mohamed Sifaoui. Never heard of him, right?  Let’s fix that.  He’s  a documentary-maker who risks his life to enter radical mosques and chronicle what happens in them. For his pains, he’s received more than his share of death threats.

French police haven’t exactly helped, mouthing the old mantra that they can’t do anything until he’s killed.  At which point, what’s the point? Isn’t too late by then? I thought we went over this when feminists made the case about why police need to be pro-active in defending battered wives. Plus ςa change, plus c’est la même chose.

Yet it may be that things really are changing.  Last month, on a visit to Paris, I spoke with Minster Yade’s office about this issue.  Even then, I sensed their sympathy — but would it translate into action?

The pressure continued.  Thanks to non-Muslim intellectuals such as Bernard-Henri Levy and Caroline Fourest, who don’t fear being labeled “racists” for supporting progressive Muslims and ex-Muslims, along with organizations like the European Foundation for Democracy, which gives a platform to reform-minded Muslims (including me), the French government “got” it.

Starting tomorrow, our challenge is to ensure that European forces of denial don’t dilute today’s announcement with endless bureaucratic attrition. Europe does many things well. Red tape is one of them.

For now, félicitations to President Sarkozy who appears to be serious about his statement, made on the eve of his election, that France must stand by the tormented women of the world.  Add men to that list.  Anybody who challenges the silence of Muslim moderates is bound to be targeted, whatever their gender.  In an era of cultural relativism, it’s an act of moral courage to ally yourself with despised champions of universal values — rationality, humanity and individuality.

Please, Monsieur le Président, don’t make me retract this congratulatory note.  Just deliver on today’s announcement and let’s get on with building a better Europe.  Merci bien and give my regards to Carla.

United Kingdom premieres Faith Without Fear

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Announcements on Jan 22, 2008

Q & A at the London launch of my film (Photo: Jessica Dean)

‘Why do Muslims revere a book that says it’s ok to sleep with animals?’

‘You’re clearly angry and you hate men. Tell us a bit about your background.’

I’m paraphrasing. Hence the single quotation marks. But — and I swear on the book that supposedly tells Muslims to get intimate with goats — these were the first two questions posed to me on Monday night.

The Frontline Club, a locus of independent journalism in London, joined the European Foundation for Democracy in hosting the British debut of Faith Without Fear. An energetic Q & A followed. I was up past midnight engaging with various people both in the theater and, after we got kicked out, in the café.

As I explained to the packed house at the start of the event, my film is about transcending fears of various kinds — the fear of of being ostracized (or worse) by your community; the fear of offending minorities in a multicultural world; and, above all, the fear of asking questions out loud.

Questions are the life-blood of open societies. We can’t stop posing them. But one can still hope that the questions I receive at my film’s next screening will be much more mature.

And where will that next screening be? At the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Some would argue that in the bastion of dogma that is SOAS, mature questions will be trumped by strident statements. Let’s find out together. It’s a public event. Join me at 3 pm this Friday. Here’s more info.

My piece in NY Times Book Review

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Announcements on Jan 06, 2008

This weekend, The New York Times Book Review is focusing on Islam. Here’s my contribution to it — a look at one professor’s fascinating analysis of Muslims and violence.

Want more discussion?  Download the podcast that I taped with a Times editor.

Imagine a stadium full of students…

Posted in On The Road, Announcements on Oct 18, 2007

… and they’re not drunk on anything but their capacity to change the world for good.

Sound like a Christian rock concert or a visit from the Pope? Well, maybe we progressives should learn a thing or two from the religious types.

I’m happy to report that we are learning. On Friday, I and other evangelists for human rights will speak to thousands of Toronto students and teachers about transforming our society. The event is called “Me to We” and you can watch it - LIVE - on MTV online starting at 9 am Eastern time.

The line-up of speakers includes Romeo Dallaire, former head of peacekeeping forces in Rwanda. He repeatedly warned the United Nations about an impending genocide. Under Secretary General Kofi Annan, the UN ignored him. But that didn’t stop Dallaire’s mission of compassion. He’ll be on around 10:30 EST.

With Betty at “Students Effecting Change” conference

As for me, I’ll go on at about 12:50 pm EST. My theme? Tune in and find out! You can grab a hint - but it’s only a hint - by reading the Toronto Star.

By the way, I’m taking a red-eye flight to Toronto so I can arrive at the event on time. The reason I care so deeply is that I’m moved by students like this, who recently wrote to me:

im a 14 year old girl and i find everything you do and have done with your studies amazing. you will be speaking on october 19 at me to we day and i greatly look forward to it. i also have your book the trouble with islam today and im constantly reviewing it. i am serbian croation and bosnian and my backgrounds fight like there is no tomorrow about stupid issues. i love the fact that you are out-spoken. - andrea

She’s a powerhouse of leadership potential. I, for one, will do everything I can so that percolating potential becomes kinetic energy.

Tonight, Faith Without Fear at New York University

Posted in On The Road, Announcements on Oct 10, 2007

Note to New Yorkers: I’d love to see you tonight at NYU’s Cantor Film Center (36 East 8th Street). That’s where I’ll hold a screening and discussion about my PBS documentary Faith Without Fear.

We’ll watch the film from 7-8 pm, followed by my on-stage interview with the Wall Street Journal’s foreign affairs columnist, Bret Stephens. After grilling me, Bret will moderate questions from the audience. I’ll wrap the night by signing books and DVDs.

The event is co-sponsored by NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and the School of Continuing/Professional Studies’ Programs in Writing, Humanities and Arts. Seating is free but limited, so show up by 6:45 pm if you want a good space. Need more information? Here you go.

By the way, I’ll soon be joining NYU to initiate and direct “The Moral Courage Project.” To find out more, sign up to my confidential mailing list through the GET UPDATES box on the right-hand side of this page.

“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”?

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.

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