I agree with Sam Harris and Bill Maher

[trotsky]

http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/24414/i-agree-with-sam-harris-and-bill-maher/

As I thought over what Maher and Sam Harris had said, I found myself more and more in agreement with them. Admittedly, the two hosts had used some pretty harsh words, and what they termed as ‘problems in Islam’ are mostly ‘problems with Muslims’, but the core facts they shared were irrefutable. Something even Affleck realised after his passion filled emotional response.

...

While most of us would identify themselves as moderate Muslims who could never think of killing someone, one cannot argue that emotions run wild even in our own country when sensitive topics like blasphemy and apostasy are discussed.

...

We, Muslims, love to comfortably deny any criticism thrown towards us regarding extremist elements by simply saying that it is an insignificant minority, and what that extremist minority does neither represents the true picture of Islam, nor do they have popular support for their actions. This brushing of issues under the carpet, which make us uncomfortable, neither helps us nor the image of Islam in the world. Thus, the moderate majority (if that exists), does very little to collectively counter the extremist narrative and therein lies our problem.

As Muslims, we need to stop brushing aside every criticism as Islamophobia, we need to listen to opposing voices, and deal with the rising intolerance in our societies.

[beam me up scottie]

1. Jesus Christ, did you read the comments?

Felix Grey

Sameen your argument rests on examples drawn from Pakistan…. You use these examples to make generalized comments about 1.6 billion Muslims which is a grandiose judgement on your part……. Secondly, I’m not sure how much you’ve researched Maher and Harris, but they strongly advocate the use of violent methods to silenece (read: kill) Muslims who, in their opinion, disagree with the “liberal” principles of the west…. Please do elaborate on the two points raised and please do not cherry pick examples from Saudi Arabia/Iran or Pakistan…. Some examples from Malaysia, Turkey , even India would help…. You have clearly thought very provincially about it and your argument is solely based on your stereotypes and your viewing of that one show….. There is a problem, yes; but the way to solve problem is not the one envisaged by Maher/Harris

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Some of the comments exemplified the conclusion of the article.

However, that is often the case in many articles such as this one.

[trotsky]

3. Take a look at the author's info page.

http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/author/2244/sameen-qazi/

Why do you suppose her picture is blurry?

[beam me up scottie]

5. It's blurred at the bottom of the blog too, it's the first thing I noticed.

She's not even safe living here.

[trotsky]

12. Or check out her twitter feed.

https://twitter.com/sameenqazi

@sameenqazi's Tweets are protected.

Only confirmed followers have access to @sameenqazi's Tweets and complete profile. Click the "Follow" button to send a follow request.

[beam me up scottie]

13. Now why would she need protection from followers of the religion of peace?

Sickening that even some "liberals" feel it's necessary to protect religion from its victims.

[trotsky]

15. I think many realize that if they allow criticism of some religion...

they allow criticism of their own. To protect their own, they must protect them all. Thus we see people denying ANY religious component to a religious crime.

[beam me up scottie]

18. That explains why the religious claim religion has nothing to do with religious crimes.

I just don't know why do non-believers do the same thing.

Do they really think it makes them look more liberal?

[skepticscott]

20. We sure are lucky

that Islam is a "religion of peace". Who knows what the world would be like if it were a religion that actually advocated violence against people?

Oh..wait..

[beam me up scottie]

21. But criticizing Islam for calling for the death of muslims who convert is Islamaphobia!

Just listen to the screams of the willfully ignorant in GD .

Here's a quote taken from True Blue Door's thread:

Another poll, reported by the Washington Post, which is far more disturbing, found that 78% of Afghans, 64% of Egyptians and Pakistanis, 59% of Palestinians, 58% of Jordanians, and 53% of Malaysians...supported the death penalty for leaving Islam. In other words, majorities in these countries were found to support killing other Muslims who decide not to be Muslims anymore.

The respondents were muslim, not atheists who want to bash religion.

[trotsky]

22. Hey!

Someone needs to tell those majorities that they don't represent their religion!

[beam me up scottie]

23. It was faulty because it's a "western" poll

oy

[rug]

14. The Express Tribune is a Pakistani newspaper.

[beam me up scottie]

16. So she's in mortal danger.

Lovely.

[rug]

17. This just happened in Bangladesh.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/645391

[beam me up scottie]

19. I'm sorry I missed your thread on it.

Edited, will reply in thread.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. Interesting.

What's really interesting is this is coming from a Muslim, yet many poo-poo what she says, including those who are usually first on the scene with "what do the moderate Muslims have to say about...?" Even more interesting, IMO, is this is the fall out on a discussion from TWO weeks ago about Islam, not Muslims as a group. It has spawned at least 30 threads just at DU alone. While it is wonderful it sparked conversation, it also revealed a rank hypocrisy in a number of people who continue to gloss over that Maher and Harris have said similar things about Christianity, and when they do, they are cheered as visionaries by the same people now screeching they are bigots. Neither person devolved into nasty name calling of Muslims, yet 30 threads later, it is still being discussed; however, when someone who is an Iman says "Jews are descended from pigs and apes" the information is mocked, people sling the usual "whataboutery", and in a few cases, Jews are actually blamed for the anti-Semitism directed at us.

Attacking ideas, which religion is, is nothing new and warrants discussion. Attacking people for who and what they are can be (though not always) bigoted and unproductive, and in some cases, deadly.

[beam me up scottie]

6. Excellent points.

Did you see this thread?: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025624414#post22

[Behind the Aegis]

7. That was actually a really good thread.

I was surprised at the positive responses; it was not what I expected in the least, not here.

[beam me up scottie]

8. Yes it was.

True Blue Door was great, he easily shrugged off the personal attacks he must have known would be hurled at him when he posted it.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. Did you see the thread where this kurfuffle was called a "blood libel?"

Besides being historically and etymologically incorrect, it served the purpose of making it about another group not involved. I said in that thread, in this modern world, everyone is the (new) Jew, except for the Jew!

[beam me up scottie]

11. Ugh. Just when you think you've seen everything on DU...

Seriously, the chronically clueless worked overtime that day.

[edhopper]

10. I can't get past this circular logic

Islam is not a monolithic religion, but when you criticize a group from that religion, whatever the size, for what they do and believe in, you are accused of slandering all of Islam. A response that makes Islam sound monolithic.
Why shouldn't we criticize Islam, as it is practiced by those we deem acting badly, especially when they do so in the name of their religion.