Islam as an ideology
Reader comment on article: Radical Islam as Its Own Antidote[, Argues Reuel Gerecht]

Submitted by Paul Smith Navel (United States), Oct 11, 2005 at 00:05

I do not agree with Reuel's argument on fundamentalist Islam being its own antidote. We cannot generalise about the frustration of all Iranians based on the comment of one youth. What happended with Taliban. Afganis were not satisfied with the extremism, but was there any revolution? No. It was an external force that overturned Taliban.

Whereas other religions speak of tolerance, Islam propagates words such as 'Kafirs' i.e. non-believers (which means any non muslim); jihad (dying and killing for the cause of God); supremacy of Islam over any other religion; oppression for Kafirs (non muslims); no freedom of speech.

The root cause is not the muslim people, but the ideology indoctrinated. As rightly highlighted by others in their feedback, wherever Muslims are a majority the minority disappear or are tormented. Wherever Muslims are a minority, they fight for rights not granted to even the majority. I was surprised to know from an indian friend of mine that in secular india, Muslim men have a special right to have 4 wives. They can do away with divorce with uttering 'talaq' thrice. Others have to go to court. Now that is unequal treatment.

How can Muslims be brought into the mainstream and united with the other factions of society if they want such special rights? And to assume that Muslims will be mellowed down by education is a harmful presumption. Even the so called moderates are very few and have no sway over the mass. What is the solution? Change of ideology.

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