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TechnoratiCP: There are moderate Muslim countries like Jordan and Algeria. Jordan has a Sunni Muslim population of over 90 percent and only about a 4 percent Christian population but they are praised for their religious tolerance. Their queen promotes woman’s right and interfaith dialogue. So when people see this kind of Muslim country, they hope that Islam and Christianity can co-exist and that extremist Islamic nations can one day “see the light” and become a moderate Muslim country like Jordan. How would you respond to people who believe that Islam is a peaceful religion and everyone can co-exist?
Darwish: But Jordan has a very high rate of honor killings. Most Muslims are cultural Muslims. Most have not read sharia, they are not even allowed to question or analyze the Quran or doubt. So because Muslims don’t really know what is in their scripture - these kinds of Muslims are really nominal Muslims - but by the West’s standard they are considered moderate Muslims.
There is nothing in the Middle East called moderate Muslim. You’re either a Muslim or not. The problem is not so much the people but the ideology. Cultural Muslims are like sheep almost. They have to abide. They just want to survive. But anyone who takes Islam seriously and believes Islam seriously must follow sharia. That is the predicament. The [Jordan] queen can be a western minded woman, the King could be a moderate, peaceful man, but unfortunately the destiny of a country does not depend on honorable leaders who want to have peace.
Muslim leaders who want to live in peace and reject jihad, they want to reject sharia, become apostates. And what happens to those leaders? Many of them get killed. And that is why if you listen to the Jordanian queen or king or whatever Muslim leader, they have to present moderation in a very diplomatic way or else they will become apostates and their life will be threatened.
CP: How would you explain all the Muslim women living in the Middle East who are well treated by their husbands?
Darwish: Women have adapted themselves to living knowing that men are the power in their lives. That does not mean that all Muslim women are walking slaves in chains. No. You know why some Muslim women are living a good life? There’s one reason – their husbands are good people, they are humane people. But the reason why their husbands are good people is not because of Islam, it’s because of their humanity.
When I say that women don’t have much rights because men have all the rights, it doesn’t mean that all Muslim men are evil or bad. The majority of Muslim people are just human being - good and bad like everybody else. But I don’t attribute the goodness between Muslim men and women towards each other to Islam. I attribute it to the humanity and observing the Judeo-Christian culture and emulating them.
CP: You warn that American-born Muslim students are advocating for sharia laws to be imposed in the U.S. Many American’s first reaction is that could never happen. Do you think it could happen, why?
Darwish: Yes, and I’ll tell you how that can happen. There is a French Algerian Muslim sociology professor by the name of Mohamed Sabaoui. He recently said the following in France, a western nation, a democracy: Continue »
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