Muslim Activist on Muhammad Cartoons: It’s About Values, Not Freedom of Speech
Muslim MSNBC Guest on Contempt of Muhammad Cartoons: This Is Not About Freedom Of Speech, But Values (RealClearPolitics)
ZAINAB SALBI: People are scared, all over the world particularly in the Middle East. This is an implosion within Islam, within Islam it is not a conflict between us and them kind of situation. People no longer know what is in the religion, families no longer know what their kids are going to do. What is Islam? So the doubt, suspicion and fear there is happening within the family structure: parents vs. the sons and daughters...
People are scared where ever you talk to Muslims, particularly in the Middle East, asking what is Islam? We grew up with one concept of Islam and now ISIS and al Qaeda are telling us it is now this different self-doubt and assessment and fear within their selves about their religion. Now, when something like that happens and the society you are living in, say France, is attacking you from outside, there is further alienation of those who are not fundamentalists.
ALE WAGNER: They are exacerbating an already distressing problem.
ZAINAB SALBI: The West is part of this discussion. So we do need to actually create more spaces for moderates and to pick on the wrong things. There are a lot of things to criticize, fundamentalism, treatment of women, but to pick on Mohammed, the prophet, something sensitive for all Muslims. It is about a value that is engrained in Islam, do not idealize the individual. That's why they do not allow showing the face. You should not idealize the individual but put all your love and dedication to god. There is a value in it. This is not about freedom of speech. This is a value which has merit and almost all Muslims believe in that.
Why pick on the least interesting one? Why don't you pick -- why can't the West, actually, this is my appeal to Hollande, pick on the things that can have constructive feedback and progress towards Islam. We need to engage in productive conversations. We do. It is needed. We need it as Muslims. Let's not distract by doing these things that are not relevant to the freedom of speech.
