May God protect the innocent and deliver justice to the oppressors and terrorists.

Mona,
You couldn’t have been more right!
You were blessed with the ability to harshly criticize without “leaving the camp”, to say what’s wrong from within without excluding your self from the criticized. I find this admirable and just wish we had many more who does it like you!
Well done and keep on being a role-model!
Idan Barir, TLV/IL
(Hope to see you soon…)

Idan

Thank you very much for your kind words.

For my next column, I’ll be highlighting a very interesting debate that took place in the Middle East recently that will hopefully show the diversity of Muslim opinion and other ways that Muslims have been self-critical.

See you soon!
Salamaat

you know whats sad? they republished the artworks again, and people fell for that trick all over again.

It seems to me that by assuming that (unlike adherents of other religions) Muslims cannot be expected to behave in a civilized and peaceful manner when upset, the apologists for extremist Muslim violence are the ones who are TRULY insulting Muslims and Islam.

Anyone who has even a shred of respect for one of the world’s great religions ought to hold Muslims to the same standards to which he or she holds everyone else. There are plenty of peaceful ways to express disapproval when someone publishes cartoons that one does not like.

Well said, Zvi. Justifying violence doesn’t help anyone but the dictators, the radicals and the right wing.

Muslims aren’t 5-year-olds whose temper tantrums must be appeased or else!

Moey – the media in the Arab world is still largely state-controlled or owned and so continues to focus most attention abroad, outside, anywhere but inside where there are problems and injustices that are much more offensive to Islam and the memory of the prophet.

Wonderful article. You have cut to the point exactly. We as Muslims spend far too much time complaining about trivial things such as these ridiculous cartoons and just turn a blind eye to the more important problems…if we can address terrorism, inter-religious fighting and civil war ten maybe we could have ground to complain on

I suppose it is the “fierce” part that is most important here: peace-oriented Muslims have to be fierce to reclaim their religion from the violent. A paradox that baffles the moral relativists of this world, but not I.

Amira

Thank you.

I’ve heard from quite a few Muslim writer friends who told they’ve just wrote articles similiar in theme so I hope we build enough momentum to “keep pounding heads” as a friend put it.

Self-criticism takes strenght and confidence so it’s much easier of course to critcise others. Unfortunately, when we do criticise ourselves, some call us sell-outs.

I like to think I’m helping the community with self-criticism.

Solomon

To be fierce is an absolute must. The radicals and the violent are determined and organised and have the worst kind of conviction.

It’s absolutely essential to avoid what W.B. Yeats complained of in “The Second Coming” when he said “the best lack all conviction”.

Those of us who belives in choice and respect the choice of others sometimes have a hard time coming down hard on an issue because we’re so busy trying to respect everyone else, if you know what I mean.

The radicals have no such compulsions.

We must be fierce in our self-criticism, in our defense of freedom, in our opposition to violence at all times.

Mona, what messages will you try to send, and to which audience?

What do you say to the radically educated hate-filled Islamist who wishes to terrorize and conquer for Allah?

What do you say to peace-oriented Muslims who shudder at the thought of confronting the violence-oriented Muslims who wish to terrorize and conquer?

What do you say to muddle-minded Westerners who don’t really know who to support, and are really only concerned with trying to protect their lives and freedoms as cheaply as possible?

I wish you success in your endeavor, Mona. Yet it is a great deal for one person to undertake.

Solomon

I say to them all that violence is never justified.

I will talk to anyone and defend the rights of everyone as long as they denounce violence.

Thank you for your wishes but I’m by no means alone. I’m one of many.

As I said, we’re trying to pound on as many heads as we can!

I will talk to anyone and defend the rights of everyone as long as they denounce violence.

“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” – George Orwell.

Solomon

Don’t tell the jihadis that!

“Muslims aren’t 5-year-olds whose temper tantrums must be appeased or else!” Oh, no? Says who? And what evidence have you? I’d say that was a rather precise analogy, myself.

Mona, this is amazing and just spot-on! I first read about you at Natasha’s, and think I need to bookmark your blog. Keep it up!

@Mona, this is a brilliant piece. Thank you. I’m new to your blog but will definitely read more in the future!

@Zvi, you are absolutely right. In the Netherlands btw, muslims (and non-muslims) protested against the film in peaceful ways. Even though I believe it is pathetic to protest against a film you do not know its contents of but that it is about islam, I’m happy many of them chose the non-violent path.
Let us just hope it stays like this. Beating or killing the barking dog will only anger its family.

And this kind of anger has already been triggered after the murder of Theo van Gogh by a “muslim”, though went back under the surface.

Kinzi

Thanks much for your reading and for your kind words. I love the name of your blog and will also visit regularily.

Suzanne

Thank you for your kind words as well and for reminding us that no one has actually seen the film.

I really think Muslims have much bigger issues to worry about and fix so here’s hoping wiser and cooler heads prevail.

If we as Muslims focused all of our time and energy on the humanitarian crises all around the world instead of bickering about cartoons or Wikipedia articles, we would probably be able to eliminate much injustice in the world.

Well said, dreamessence.

Indeed!

I can’t believe you just used the word “jihadis” in one of your comments above. With each post you begin to sound more and more like an American, and a right-wing one at that (am I seeing collaborative efforts with Ayan Hirsi Ali and Wafa Sultan in the future?).

Well done for being the voice of reason and self criticism for an Islamic world that doesn’t need your opinion and has not asked for it. Then again, you’re not really writing with an Arab or Islamic audience in mind are you?

Wassim

I’m flattered by your attention!

You seem to hate what I write and yet you return to my blog again and again. You must be a glutton for punishment as they say.

Glutton for punishment? Absolutely! It’s part of what you might call my victimised Muslim routine.

Mona,

Well said.

Wassim, Again, as with our own disagreements, it is not clear what it is that you find offensive in what is being said. I know that you put me in the same “category” as Mona; that way, you don’t have to offer a critique in response to what is said, you just point to your categorization as if it was an accusation. If, on the other hand, suicide bombers blowing themselves up in mosques and amid pilgrims don’t trouble you as a Muslim, then there isn’t much to talk about.

Abu Kareem, please. Do you really think that my problem with Mona’s article is because I don’t mind the things you said? I think you must have a very low opinion of me and do me a grave injustice!

My main problem with Mona’s articles is the perspective and language that she approaches her stories from. As you saw above, some of her wording might as well have come from a blog by Daniel Pipes or Jihadwatch.com. Secondly, I agree that as a journalist it’s good for her to make a name for herself in some niche or other, preferrably by portraying herself as “daring” enough to broach certain subjects. That she does so from the perspective I mentioned earlier only undermines any credibility she might have beyond “Sadatist”-sympathising circles or wealthy “moderate” members of Arab societies, if that.

This is not an article. This is a collection of rehashed popular arguments which are doing the rounds throughout rightwing circles in Europe as well as North America. The ignoring of Muslim on Muslim violence, the need for a “moderate” Islam, false indignation over unconnected incidents and violence, a ‘problem’ with Islam or Muslims. The only explanation I have for why Mona writes this way is because she may be heading to a future book deal with some silly title like “Islam: my story” or “Not with my religion”. I’m sure bored housewives and urban warriors in Ohio will be lining up by the thousands to buy one.

Mona El Tahawy opines:
Nearly every week, hundreds of Muslims are blown to shreds in Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The frequent demonstrations held across the Muslim world don’t call for an end to the slaughter of Muslims by Muslims, but to demand petulantly that the ‘world’ stop offending Muslims.

Well, as long as those two countries are actually OCCUPIED by the US (and its collaborators), I don’t need to protest anything that happens there. Let the occupation go away first and will see then…

But since Mona doesn’t seem to have her priorities right, she wouldn’t protest the occupation, would she?

But what does shake my faith is the violence. When I read that a Muslim killed 68 pilgrims, I confess I question if I can continue to claim the same faith as such a barbarian.

Well listen, there were times during those 1400 years when there strives and turbulences. But real Muslims’ faith never shook, the core Islamic believe is that you will have to accept whatever Allah bestow upon you. The essence of faith is that it never changes no matter what happens. Or are you asking of Allah to show you the bright yellow cow the Jews wanted to see?

Offended

Who is occupying Pakistan? Who is occupying Turkey or Algeria or Morcocco or Egypt or other Muslim countries where we’ve seen suicide bombings?

My argument was about suicide bombings being used by Muslims against Muslims. I’m against suicide bombings unders any condition but the point I emphasised in my piece was the use of suicide bombings to settle scores among Muslims.

Wassim

I stand by everything I’ve written in my opinion piece and your ridiculous conflation of it with Pipes and his ilk is just silly.

One more time – if you don’t like how I write or what I say, there are plenty of alternatives out there. Go read them instead.

As for “jihadi” that seems to have upset you so much – I guess the humour of what I was sayign in response to Solomon’s quote of Orwell was lost on you.

But you know what they say about Muslims – no sense of humour.

Oops – did I sould like Pipes again…?

And Wassim

I forgot all the times that Daniel Pipes and JihadWatch defended the Muslim Brotherhood against the Egyptian regime…give me a headsup next time they do.

Just like the right wing you think there’s only one way to be a Muslim, there’s only one way to write like a Muslim, etc etc.

There isn’t. Thank God.

Mona, I am sorry but to suggest that violence to something peculiar to Muslims is just ridiculous.
Throughout the history, there were scholars who have issued various edicts and fatwas, amongst which are the extreme ones. Now given the tremendous pressure the region is experiencing (which I am sure you don’t feel, since you are far away), people resort to such acts to settle scores, I know it’s wrong for God sake, which Muslims is his right mind would vouch for suicide bombing? But in the midst of accusing suicide bombers of being criminals and barbarians; we forgot that they have become ‘suicidal’ before they have become bombers. Do you know what suicidal means? People are fed up with what they’ve got and khalas, nothing else matters in life. So if a certain extreme scholar told them about those mermaids in heaven and all, they wouldn’t hesitate to end their lives and their miseries. Look again, I am not justifying the deed, all I am saying is give Muslims healthy and prosperous atmosphere to grow, and I’ll guarantee you they will not blow themselves up against each other or against other people.

P.S: the one who had conceptualized human bomb is the British novelist Frederick Forsyth in “The Negotiator”

* Correction: …violence is something peculiar to Muslims…

Offended

I don’t kow why you’re not more “offended” at the Muslim-on-Muslim violence.

Does it not offend you that two suicide bombers killed at least 99 people at a pet market? Or that a suicide bomber killed dozens of pilgrims?

And why are you so easy on those scholars who legitimized suicide bombings? They’re not just fringe lunatics they’re big name ones like Qaradawi. If there’s anyone who should offend you, it’s them. They’re the ones I hold responsible for damaging modern Muslim mores.

You conradict yourself. In your first message to me, you chide me for allowing the violence to shake my faith and say:

“Well listen, there were times during those 1400 years when there strives and turbulences. But real Muslims’ faith never shook, the core Islamic believe is that you will have to accept whatever Allah bestow upon you.”

And yet in your last message you chide me for not understanding how desparate things have become for Muslims.

So which is it? Shouldn’t the clerics preach to the would-be bombers what you just preached to me about accepting whatever God bestowed upon them?

And your sneaky “oh and by the way you can’t possibly understand what it’s like because you’re so far away” is groundless. What do you know about where I’ve been or what I’ve seen over the past few years?

Well Mona, those desperate people went with the suicide bombing under the pretext of faith (that they will end up in heaven).

While you at the other hand, you go ahead irresponsibly claming that these incidents shake your faith.

Couldn’t you just find a moderate scholar to ask these questions and clear the ambiguities? Or does it just feel better (and pay off better maybe?) to take these cheap shots at Islam in public forums?

And btw, it shouldn’t matter to you whether I am ‘offended’ by suicide bombing or not, what you should be concerned about is what driving people to the verge of suicide. You and I know it’s not the Qaradawy alone. It’s a whole complex of other issues.

Conclusion: every religion or faith group has its own extreme views somewhere, I refuse to accept your insinuations that Muslims in particular are more susceptible to violence than other people.

Mona,
Writing what you do and the way you do, I don’t understand why you are having a hard time handling criticism of your style or perspective. I would have thought this is something you could handle quite well. I also cannot understand why you would like us to be offended about the killings in pet markets and elsewhere to the exclusion of a concerted American led campaign against Islam and Muslims? I just don’t see where you are going with this? So we should all have a resounding condemnation of the violence perpetrated amongst Muslims and then what? Should we conveniently overlook that in EVERY single one of the countries where this violence occurs, we find American, Israeli or European interference at some level which makes it either possible or, as some believe, justified? Do you want to talk about Morroco? About Algeria? About any of the examples you mentioned? You will have a hard time apologising for your friends and the damage they have caused us, believe you me. That damage will stay with us much longer than that caused by a crackpot with an explosive belt.

Offended

I don’t need to ask a moderate scholar anything – I can think for myself, thank you.

And Wassim

I couldn’t care less what you think of my writing. You can criticise it all you want. As I told you, I’m flattered by your attention. If you think the right wing that I supposedly resemble, actually cares about Muslims killing Muslims, then you’ve obviously been going to the wrong right wing sites.

And if you think they’d name compassion and social justice as Islamic values they care about, then your naivete is quite cute.

While you go looking for the American, Israeli, European and Martian plots against Islam, I’m going to go and write about the suicide bombing – the second by a woman in a week – that killed more than 38 pilgrims in Karbala today.

Come back in a few days so that you can tell me once more how much you “love” my writing, yalla.

I hesitate to comment on this one. As an American who thinks that Ronald Reagan was too liberal, I probably wouldn’t agree with Mona on many subjects. I hate women in general, for one thing, I have no use for feminism in the US, and I think Islam is a false doctrine. That said, I like Mona. I think she is intelligent… probably more intelligent than I am… and I would be more than a little frightened to have to debate her on any subject.

I agree with her on this one, though.

I find it intriguing that this piece generated so very much commentary. To my mind, the premise of the piece; that Muslims are their own worst enemies, is so obvious that it wouldn’t be worth writing an article about.

As to the “occupation” of Afghanistan and Iraq. I would be only too happy to bring all the soldiers I know home to their families and let the Muslims solve their own problems with the blood of their own children. Unfortunately, if we did that, it would only be a matter of time before another nut-case attacked the West again in some way and we’d have to go back and make certain that only radioactive cockroaches were left alive in the Middle East.

I’m convinced, though, that the violence is not so much because of Islam as it is because of other aspects of Arab culture. Yes, there is some violence in Indonesia, but not to the level it has progressed to in (name your favorite Middle Eastern country), and the Indonesians in general have not been actively attacking the West. Also, unless I miss my guess, there are more Muslims there than anywhere else.

Am I missing something?

I don’t need to ask a moderate scholar anything – I can think for myself, thank you.

*sigh*

Talk about self-denial.

Hi Mona
Thank you very much ! Your blog is at this moment “circulating” in Denmark and you wouldn’t believe the positive reactions.
I am – as must danes – a kind of semi-christian; as most danes I would have a hard time answering a question like “What do you beleive in ?” But – my religion aside – I DONT believe muslims are evil ! I DONT believe muslims are suicide-bombers ! I DONT believe muslims consider women a lower race ! There really are a lot of things I dont believe muslims do ! I DO believe, that there is a lot of crazy people out there ! I KNOW there are people out there, who are evil, who die (thank god) bombing pilgrims, that wont shake hand with a woman; I just dont think they are muslims ! Oh yes, they claim to be, but I – a semi-christian – know they are not. And if they insist I will have to say to them : “Read the Quaran (I did), live by it, and THEN call yourself a muslim !”
And Mona : Don’t mind the attacks ! There will ALLWAYS be people (in your case men – the OTHER kind of muslims !) who simply HATE intelligent women (well, probably ALL women who speaks without permission) and imagining all kinds of reasons why they speak. The one with “…writing a book” is allways good ! Really – you don’t have any opinions you just want to make a dollar ! I have allways wondered WHY intelligent women scare so many men ! I WANT an intelligent woman – and i got one (for 22 years, now) ! Otherwise it’s no fun for an intelligent man – Ups ! There’s the reason !!
Stupid men aside : Write a book, Mona ! Write 5 ! Write 10 ! I’ll bye them all !! If Islam shall stand a chance it needs the women. Badly !
(I excuse in advance for any bad spelling and other blob’s in my comment – I’m danish)

I’m in Boston to speak at Emerson College so this is brief until I’m back on regular programming again.

Dale – as always thank you for your comment with which I almost totally disagree!

And Carsten thank you for your kind words.

More later…

Mona,

“I probably wouldn’t agree with Mona on many subjects.”

So… are you surprised to disagree with my comment? Remember, I really AM an ornery old man!

Since I am the only one who know Wassim, Offended, and Mona … I will assure you all that you would be best friends in real life. You are all very smart, honest and caring.

Wassim, I understand how you feel about Mona’s published opinions. I also prefer that she balances her articles in putting the blame on both the fanatics and on the mistakes of America and Israel. She would be more effective in communicating her opinion to her Muslim readers if she balanced it instead of shocking them with blame only.

But I can tell you that she refused a $10,000 offer to speak after she found out a defense contractor was paying the fees. And she certainly could have used the money at the time (2005).

She believes in what she is writing. It is not a financially motivated direction.

Keefak Dr. Abu-Kareem?

Wow, Mona amazing. They don’t argee with you because you do not reaffirm their status quo on these issues. Please, I beg you do not stop, we need more voices like yours. Once upon a time, muslim communities were founded on debates, discussions, different anaylis of issues. Now muslims (not all but the loud ones)are afraid to hear different opinions, a lack of self-expression. This attitude of don’t say anything different, what is that word called; “intolerance”. Everything that is frowned upon. Some of the comments above reflect that and the role of the superior or victim. But you are a hero, my mother and I can’t get enough of you. Mona, rattle the cages! We want to hear more of you!

Thank you, We need Attitude Changes. I really appreciate your support!

Anyone who writes will be criticised – that’s to be expected.

What is most frustrating is that the easiest way to criticise someone these days is to call them right wing and to say they’re in it for the money. They don’t actually address what was written – very convenient – but launch personal attacks.

I stand by every word that I write and I’m especially heartened by the number of comments re this article.

Thank you to all who left comments!

Alex, you know I almost never disagree with you. This time is no exception
However, such kind of speech as Mona’s, alludes that we as Muslims are collectively unable to self-criticize or make one smart action together. Well maybe it is true, but the reasons are not because we are Muslims, it is because the whole region is in shambles. And because more enlightened and educated Muslims are unable to get their voice across. It is easy to pick up on the suicide bombers and the sectarian violence in Iraq, but it must be harder to try to address the root cause of the problem; THE OCCUPATION!

Offended

How can you not see that when you blame THE OCCUPATION you’re in effect saying that the only way Muslims know how to behave is violently?

Of course I’m against occupation but to refuse to self-reflect and to be in denail over how easy it has become to resort to violence, does us Muslims a great disservice.

comment1,