#Islam When you can't question your religion...You leave it. This is why Christianity is increasing in Iran..Because Christians can question thier religion. Western Leftists are actually helping in producing more Christians by suffocating Muslim Liberals. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10215013809691858&id=1628215314
Why Can't I Criticize My Religion?
by Majid Rafizadeh
September 16, 2018 at 5:00 am
On the surface, for those who wanted to reform Islam, the only place to do so appeared to be the West. We all assumed that here in the West, it would be safe to question and criticize. Instead, so many institutions utilize a far more subtle method of silencing criticism.
The more you conceal or disregard constructive criticism of Islam, the harder you are making it for reforms to occur in the religion and the easier you are making it for Muslim radicals to prevail.
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.
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 atDr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu
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14 Reader Comments
Peter Buckley • Sep 16, 2018 at 14:23
"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."
No doubt Majid Rafizadeh is a sincere person, but I think he needs to ask himself some serious questions:
"Re-interpretation" is not really the same as "reformation" is it? If the words of the Quran remain the same, in the same order, no amount of "re-interpretation" will stop the "radical" elements of the faith. Such "radicals" indeed are the reason Islam survived in the first place, before going on its killing spree across North Africa, Persia etc.
Ironically, if Majid Rafizadeh is honest with himself, he will be forced to admit that the only reason he was born into a Muslim family is precisely because of the "radical" actions of earlier Muslims. Also, the mere mention of the word "interpretation" contradicts the Quran itself.
Assuming Majid Rafizadeh has read his holy book, he should be aware that it claims in more than one place to be a "clear book"-not open to interpretation. He might ponder on why, if the Quran is what it claims ("clear"), why is that for over 1400 years muslims have been unable to agree on any true interpretation, to the extent that even today muslim on muslim killing in the name of Islam continues unabated.
Finally, he might wonder if, in view of his own obvious doubts about the truth/ morality of his religion, he might be more honest with himself and join the millions of decent people who have given up trying to defend the indefensible, and left the faith in recent years:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-pYPWc26Gk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbFc8zhLwyw&t=263s
In future we will be able to ask: "If you are a good person, what on earth are you doing calling yourself muslim"?
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SaEFan • Sep 16, 2018 at 12:54
Dear Mr Majid Rafizadeh, the evolution of Religion occurs at its own pace, impeded by humanities' conservative instincts. For a means to accelerate the modernization of Islamic societies, I suggest you read "Consumerism, or Capitalism Without Crises", a short book of mud and ivory tall thoughts creating deep changes in cultures that promote "our way, no other way, nothing else". It is also practical!
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Julie Maltagliati • Sep 16, 2018 at 12:47
Much admiration for this man of conscience who refuses to join the sociopolitical lemmings. In this age of promoting "tolerance" as an unconditional good, one of his most notable statements was, "...some things are not meant to be tolerated."
A thinking person would expect that to be a given, but sadly, it hasn't been for some time. In 1985, one of my letters to the editor published in a D.C. newspaper was given a "title", lifted from my letter: "Some things demand intolerance." That had been written in relation to pornography, when I'd never have believed there would be apologists even for murderous brutality.
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Carlene • Sep 16, 2018 at 12:39
I have read two of his books, and have a very good understanding of this man's motivation and highly respect his person.
This article is so good it should be framed and placed at the entrance of all western government parliament/state legislature buildings.
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Michael Waugh • Sep 16, 2018 at 12:09
Christianity is an "adult mature" religion and we can criticise it ourselves or accept criticism from others without expecting the other party to be shot, bombed or stoned to death. We rarely take offence and cannot comprehend the inferiority attitude of other religions. Religions generally is the root of most violence and suffering in the World.
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Efrem Danieli • Sep 16, 2018 at 12:05
Here you are : a) double standards of the western educated elite, b) finances
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CeCelia Squires • Sep 16, 2018 at 11:08
So glad to hear from a reasonable Muslim! As a Christian I agree that criticizing the things that you see as wrong in your religion will only improve and strength it! Hate speech laws make this impossible to do!
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DockyWocky • Sep 16, 2018 at 10:15
The ideal "religion" for despots, dictators, and ignorant folks who are entirely comfortable living in the medieval Stone Age. Somehow can't shake the fact that the world has passed them by.
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JM • Sep 16, 2018 at 10:13
Excellent article. I wish there were far more people like Dr Rafizadeh because Islam is badly in need of reform if it to cease being the death cult promoted in the Qu'ran and the Hadith. The world would then be a more peaceful place. However, how can Muslims stop seeing the violent teachings of their holy book as applicable in all place and for all time, with permanent war betweeen Dar al Islam and Dar al Harb until "all is for Allah"? That is the sticking point. Also, the West needs to stop pussyfooting around and to see Islam for what it is, not for the anodyne "religion of peace " nonsense that it thinks Islam is.
More power and courage to the brave Dr Rafizadeh! He will need it! He will have my Christian prayers.
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elee • Sep 16, 2018 at 09:52
There was a time when your forbears made this decision for you. I'm not a historian but I think it was around the millennium. Around then a Muslim wrote The Incoherence of the Philosophers. Worse, the book lent itself to the political ends of the powerful, and has ever since. So, the west embarked on the road of scholasticism, Renaissance, industrial revolution, scientific revolution, &c &c &c. As a westerner I frequently complain that the rest of the world learns nothing from the lessons for which we have paid dearly. Will it take Islam a millennium to allow you to criticize it?
Right now your scriptures must be read, on pain of death as an apostate or an innovator, as a commission for organized or individual sociopathy. As an outsider I'd suggest an infusion of human rights, for Muslims at least, then for kafirs and women and innovators. You might want to jettison the whole Muslim identity in the meantime, before your imams turn the world back to 7th century Arabia (minus the indigenous Jews of course). Oh and I hope you didn't use your real name to publicly advocate innovation if not outright apostasy. The eternal and unalterably perfect prescriptions for these acts are contained in your scriptures, as well as the commands for every Muslim to execute them. Just don't try to make me live under Islam.
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David Emery • Sep 16, 2018 at 09:46
Without being offensive, I have a problem understanding just how one would reform Islam. One would have to do a lot more than re-write the Koran. Of course, if you tried to, you would be put to death for apostasy.
The Koran calls for the death of all infidels - non believers over one hundred times. It calls for the extermination of Jews. It condones old men marrying seven year old children and it instructs men to beat their wives.
Women in Islamic countries are treated as second class citizens and made to wear burqas or at least a hijab. Marriages are arranged. Little girls are mutilated, Muslim men cannot shake hands with a woman.
Women are often stoned to death. Thieves have their hands cut off and worst of all, anyone who tries to either leave the religion or reform it are executed for apostasy.
The above list is far from complete, there is more, much more. After reading the koran, I have a lot of trouble understanding how anyone could ever embrace Islam. To me it would be the equivalent of joining a satanic cult.
Any attempt to change Islam will also be met with resistance by the globalists. They have chosen Islam as the one world religion that they have had planned. Why Islam? The answer to that is that there is no expectation of personal freedom under its rule. This is perfect for the globalists. They can more easily impose their tyranny on such people. This is why Europe, the UK and Canada have brand new laws against criticizing Islam or its profit.
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Terry Gain • Sep 16, 2018 at 09:28
Zhudi Jasser's attempt to reform Islam has gone nowhere. And with good reason. Trying to reform Islam is a fool's errand. Mohammed is God's messenger and everything he said came from God. And he is the perfect example of how to live. So if you are offended by murder, mass murder, slave-taking, sexual slave-taking, rape, pedophilia and laws against apostasy and blasphemy then man up. Stop deluding yourself. Do what is honest. Leave Islam.
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Hamish MacDonald • Sep 16, 2018 at 06:32
If you are a Christian, it is easy to criticise Islam, because the basic reasons are clear, why Islam is wrong, why it was wrong to start with. But if you are not a Christian there is no basis for being able to criticise at all.
This why being a Christian is very important, and why the EU has made a fatal mistake in attempting to correct Christian countries from a base of the ideological foundation. It now has identified with tyranny, and Islam in adopting the views of the EU is also following in the wake of this tyranny.
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Albert Reingewirtz • Sep 16, 2018 at 05:31
Islam in my eyes is rotten to the core since killing Jews is central to this religion. Take out anti-Semitism and all the edifice of Islam falls apart. Advancing Islam by burning churches, raping Christian women as a right of Muslim men? Time to reverse the trend. Push back Islam into Arabia to have peace. World wide.
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