More Examples of Notable Moderation Among Muslims

Because it's really not emphasized enough in the blogosphere, here are two pieces from the New York Times opinion pages demonstrating why the case for Islamophobia is often overstated. First, in France: Despite disagreeing with the French government's ban on head scarves in schools, Fouad Alami, secretary general of the Union of French Islamic Organizations, recommended that students observe the ban in response to the kidnappings of French journalists in Iraq:

Major French Islamic groups and the political opposition have rallied behind the government's defiance of Iraqi kidnappers who seized two French journalists last month and demanded that France revoke its ban on the wearing of Islamic head scarves in state schools. The display of unity was encouraging. The head-scarf ban may be ill conceived and discriminatory, but French education policy should not be set by terrorists. Islamic leaders in France are forcefully making that point, too.

This response undercuts the Iraqi militants' attempt to divide French society and the continent's reactionary fears about its immigrant populations. We hope it awakens French society to just how baseless the widespread anti-Muslim prejudices really are.

And here in the US, in one of the most eloquent arguments I've read on any topic in a long, long time, Tariq Ramadan answers his critics and explains why the State Department's sudden, unexplained revoking of his visa to teach at Notre Dame is unfounded. Here's a powerful passage:

For 20 years, I have dedicated myself to studying Islamic scripture, Western and Eastern philosophies and societies, and built an identity that is truly Western and truly Muslim. I make no apologies for taking a critical look at both Islam and the West; in doing so I am being true to my faith and to the ethics of my Swiss citizenship. I believe Muslims can remain faithful to their religion and be able, from within pluralistic and democratic societies, to oppose all injustices.

I also feel it is vital that Muslims stop blaming others and indulging in victimization. We are responsible for reforming our societies. On the other hand, blindly supporting American or European policies should not be the only acceptable political stance for Muslims who seek to be considered progressive and moderate.

In the Arab and Islamic world, one hears a great deal of legitimate criticism of American foreign policy. This is not to be confused with a rejection of American values. Rather, the misgivings are rooted in five specific grievances: the feeling that the United States role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is unbalanced; the longstanding American support of authoritarian regimes in Islamic states and indifference to genuine democratic movements (particularly those that have a religious bent); the belief that Washington's policies are driven by short-term economic and geostrategic interests; the willingness of some prominent Americans to tolerate Islam-bashing at home; and the use of military force as the primary means of establishing democracy.

Ramadan lists, and then disputes, his critics charges against him in this piece. I don't know if the list is exhaustive (and I don't know enough about him to vouch for him, so I won't), but there's a reassuring calmness to his prose that encourages me to give him the benefit of doubt that he's been wrongly denied entry into the US. The fact that the State Department refuses to explain why his visa was so suddenly revoked AND told Ramadan he was welcome to reapply if he so wished, makes the whole thing a bit suspect, as well. His response, in the face of this, is one of pure class and uncompromising conviction. He sounds like a very good example of the type of Muslim thinkers we should welcome here.

Comments

[Sebastian Holsclaw]

I can't find enough of his work in English, but Ramadan appears to be the kind of moderate Muslim voice that we ought to encourage. Letting him teach in the US would be a great thing.

For another excellent take on the issue, see Abiola

[Edward]

Excellent find Sebastian. Thanks!

e

[Jay C.]

Thanks for the post on Tariq Ramadan's NYT Op-Ed piece - I had seen some mention of the dustup over his visa rejection on a few blogs: most of the commentary, though, were vicious jabs at Ramadan and his defenders (mainly, it seems, on the grounds that if Daniel Pipes says he's a dangerous Islamofascist-apologist, then he damn well MUST be one, so keep his ass out!) - it's good to see the NYT providing a fair forum for someone like T.R. to stand up for himself, at least - and, more importantly, IMO, prick a few holes in the inflated self-importance of some of the non-mainstream media "echo chambers" (e.g., bloggers) - to whom frequency of repetition MUST be stressed as a metric of influence - since all they really are megaphones of one person's opinion (i.e., truth tinted by ego).
One thing in Ramadan's Op-Ed piece bothered me a little, though: his fourth point:
"...the willingness of some prominent Americans to tolerate Islam-bashing at home...",/i>
I wonder what he is referring to here?
Not there is no such thing as "Islam-bashing" extant in America, of course, but in general, outside of a few fringe cranks (Ann Coulter, Gen. Boykin, etc.: I dunno, maybe Ramadan thinks these people are "prominent"), most of "official" America has pretty much eschewed anti-Islamic rhetoric/action, and, in fact, has gone out of its way to make the distinction between "Islam" in general, and its bloody terrorist-jihadist faction, Just like he does.

[Jay C.]

Ooops!
Sorry for the italics: Now I will have to go write "Preview is your friend" over and over til I get it right!

[Edward]

Jay C, I wondered about that as well. I came to the same list of potential people Ramadan meant (and also to the same conclusion that they are not exactly big wigs), but when you're over in Europe or the Middle East, an American General probably sounds like an influential person.

[Edward]

I COMMAND YOU TO UNITALICIZE!!!!

[Edward]

heh heh...

[Sebastian Holsclaw]

There is also a scathing takedown of Pipe's defense of the State Department decision over at Fistful of Euros. I found it very convincing so far as public information available on Ramadan. Pipes doesn't come out looking good, at all.

[Jay C.]

Hey, it's YOUR blog, YOU unitalicize! (De-italicize? Reverse-italicize?)
In any case, (or typeface) I am definitely of the opinion that Tariq Ramadan's presence in the US as a lecturer (and at Notre Dame, no less) would be a Good Thing in and of itself. If his opinions and ideas are really anything like the precis's of them I have read on the Web, he sounds like a serious and articulate thinker about the problems of the Islamic world - and most importantly, one who has not fallen into the easy trap of mindless "Islamicism" as a be-all and end-all answer.
Even I, a mere blog-commenter, could find points of contention with some of Ramadan's theses; I'm sure that heavier thinkers than I could frame a more serious debate: but not having him over here to debate in person does no one any favors, IMO.

[Jay C.]

Hey, it's YOUR blog, YOU unitalicize! (De-italicize? Reverse-italicize?)
In any case, (or typeface) I am definitely of the opinion that Tariq Ramadan's presence in the US as a lecturer (and at Notre Dame, no less) would be a Good Thing in and of itself. If his opinions and ideas are really anything like the precis's of them I have read on the Web, he sounds like a serious and articulate thinker about the problems of the Islamic world - and most importantly, one who has not fallen into the easy trap of mindless "Islamicism" as a be-all and end-all answer.
Even I, a mere blog-commenter, could find points of contention with some of Ramadan's theses; I'm sure that heavier thinkers than I could frame a more serious debate: but not having him over here to debate in person does no one any favors, IMO.

[Sebastian Holsclaw]

Jay, edward was joking. He was commanding the blog. ;)

[Jay C.]

Then he should have commanded it to not to duplicate my 4:02 post!

[Edward]

Hey, it's YOUR blog, YOU unitalicize!

Actually, that was a command to the server, not you.

And I agree with the other points you make, too. Until we open up the dialog to articulate critics (rather than proceed as if the West is 100% stainless in the clash of cultures*) we stand to only strengthen the beliefs of those convinced we intend to "conquer" them. Ramadan, being staunchly Muslim, but highly educated in Western thought seems a perfect conduit to me.

*I know any concession at all here strikes some as "blaming America first" but I've decided to leave such minded folks behind, draped in their flags, deluded that their approach is more patriotic, as I search for more rational opinions.

[Moe Lane]

Unitalicize for Giblets! Unitalicize noooowwww!

(pause)

Wow. They really have become, like, major-league blogospheric icons and stuff, haven't they? :)