The editors of a new book with compiled testimonies of ex-Muslims say they were not surprised when the Council on American-Islamic Relations attacked their work, without first reading the anthology. However, the group was shocked that the New York Daily News characterized CAIR as the voice of moderate Muslims. The compilation, titled Why We Left…
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith Wednesday announced plans for an extra 300 counter-terrorism police to target radicalization in Britain. But her announcement, coupled with controversial proposals to seek the help of moderate Pakistani imams, was described as the ‘most blatant breach’ of pre-election campaigning rules by the opposition Conservatives. The Conservatives said they were reporting Smith…
Two former Islamists are to launch a Muslim thinktank aimed at improving relations with the west by challenging extremist ideologies. The Quilliam Foundation believes Muslims should shake off the “cultural baggage of the Indian subcontinent” and the “political burdens of the Arab world”. Its director is Maajid Nawaz, 30, who was adopted as a prisoner…
Members of the World Jewish Congress presented a message to Pope Benedict XVI saying that they would like to reach out to moderate Muslims, saying the religion is under attack from within. The group’s secretary general, Michael Schneider, says “Most Muslims are not terrorists” and are not different from other people.
Martin Amis defended himself yesterday against allegations of Islamophobia, insisting it was necessary to “build all the bridges we can” with moderate Muslims, who he said constituted the majority within the faith. Jonathan Brown reports.
