Published in National Review Online That France is moving toward banning the burqa is a positive development on several fronts: For starters, while many are the arguments against the burqa — it is anachronistic, misogynistic, etc. — the fact is there have been many instances worldwide where criminals and Islamic terrorists have facilitated their activities by concealing their … [Read more...]
Top Muslim Cleric Qaradawi Urges Western Muslims to ‘Liberalize’ (Outwardly, Anyway)
Published in Pajamas Media Translations of this item: Dutch A recent episode of the popular Arabic show al-Sharia wa al-Haya (Law and Life), which airs weekly on Al Jazeera and features renowned Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, addressed the important yet little known Muslim concept of taysir (pronounced "tey-seer"). Qaradawi, who is touted by the likes … [Read more...]
The Strange — and Tragic — Case of Nagla Imam
Published in Pajamas Media Uncovering the truth is always a convoluted affair when it comes to the Middle East. Consider the case of the Egyptian Nagla Iman. Is she a Muslim woman who advocates the sexual harassment of Jewish women, or a Christian woman, who advocates human rights — especially for fellow women of all faiths? The story begins last June 24, when I was a guest … [Read more...]
The Two Faces of the Ground Zero Mosque
Published in Pajamas Media Depending on whether Islamists address Americans or fellow Muslims, the same exact words they use often relay diametrically opposed meanings. One example: when Americans hear Muslims evoke "justice," the former envision Western-style justice, whereas Muslims naturally have Sharia law justice in mind. Islamists obviously use this to their advantage: … [Read more...]
Obama’s Top Counterterror Adviser’s Inability to Think Outside the Box Bodes Disaster
Published in Pajamas Media "The greatest hurdle Americans need to get over in order to properly respond to the growing threat of radical Islam is purely intellectual in nature; specifically, it is epistemological, and revolves around the abstract realm of 'knowledge.' Before attempting to formulate a long-term strategy to counter radical Islam, Americans must first and … [Read more...]