Outrageous!

Submitted by Ali Hassan (Canada), Jan 7, 2004 at 13:16

Dear Dr. Pipes,

lI do not agree with the label of "Reviving the Islamic Spirit" Conferece that ended on January 4, 2003, an "Islamist" conference.

That is far from the truth. For your information, Tariq Ramadan is NOT an Islamist, he is a leading voice of moderate, progressive Muslims in Europe. He wrote a controversial article in Europe calling on Muslims everywhere to stop anti-Semetism and fight against it. He speaks about getting rid of extremist Muslims.

I know nothing about Siraj Wahhaj, but your allegations of him being an Islamist on the basis of him being a alleged "possible undicted co-conspirator" in the 1993 WTC terrorist attack, are wrong, as he was never charged with anything, and the only reason he was included on the BIG LIST by the Federal Prosecutor is because he was within a 100 miles radius of the militant blind sheikh omar rahman.

....Islamic conference about "pluralism, introspection and tolerance Islam". The talking about pluralism and introspection are evidence in themselves of this conference urging Canadian Muslims to move towards moderation in Islam, and anti-extremism.

There was a topic about Women in Islam, where a Muslim scholar argued that "for too long Muslim women have been shut out of public spaces, including mosques...when it comes to women, our sacred tradition is inclusive, plural and egalitarian. "

That speech was the most anti-extremist speech, and was diametrically opposed to the Islamist notion that women should be kept in their houses.

So in conclusion, Dr. Pipes, I do not understand why you would label this Canadian Muslim conference "Islamist"... , when it was in fact, a conference about moderate Islam, and Muslims looking inward (introspection) to remove extremism and become effective and patriotic Canadian citizens....

As an avid reader of yours, I am disappointed.
Sincerely,

Ali Hassan
Toronto, Canada

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