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Your letters - posted March 12, 2007

Posted in Q & A on Mar 12, 2007

 

Irshad and Muntasir, fellow Muslim, at Secular Islam Summit

Irshad defending faith at Secular Islam Summit

Posted March 12, 2007

Friends and foes: I recently spoke at the Secular Islam Summit, as many of you know. To watch my speech, click here. Many of you didn’t realize I’d be delivering a pro-faith, pro-Islam message. You blasted me for attending, on the assumption that secularism means atheism or that people who are hostile to Islam should not be engaged with.

I respectfully challenge both assumptions. On the popular Muslim blog eteraz.org, I explain why I went. Click here to read my explanation and participate in the debate.

So why have I not endorsed the St. Petersburg Declaration, the manifesto that came out of this summit? Below is my statement on behalf of Project Ijtihad, the network of reform-minded Muslims that I represented at the summit. This statement is also signed by Raquel Evita Saraswati, vice-president of Project Ijtihad…

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Project Ijtihad Statement Regarding the Manifesto of the Secular Islam Summit

The Manifesto of the Secular Islam Summit (known as the St. Petersburg Declaration) calls for some things that are necessary and completely compatible with Islam: separation of mosque and state, protection of universal human rights, and the promotion of intellectual diversity.

But in order to be a unifying, effective call to action, the Declaration must include, unapologetically, the voices of faithful Muslims. As Irshad Manji said at the end of her address, ‘this summit cannot be used to alienate people of faith who are on the side of secularism. The question is, how will we ensure that we are on their side?’

In our view, the summit Declaration fails to meet this challenge. It should clarify that secular Muslims are not necessarily atheists or people who have renounced the faith; rather, secular Muslims believe in separating clerics and politics, and this isn’t any less loving of Allah, respectful of the Prophet Muhammad, or appreciative of the Quran.

Our offer to amend the Declaration met with silence. However, Summit organizers have told us that the Declaration could evolve in the coming months. To that end, we propose the following statement be added:

‘Practicing Muslims are an integral and valuable part of the global community, as well as essential to any movement for secular, faith-respecting states that work toward universal human rights. We acknowledge the peaceful observance of Islam to be a legitimate choice for many. We stand by those who embrace an Islam that defends critical thinking, empathy, justice, and non-violence. They are our allies, and we are theirs.’

Irshad Manji
Founder and President, Project Ijtihad

Raquel Evita Saraswati
Vice-President, Project Ijtihad