Muslim reformers and critics of Islam around Europe are being silenced by Islamic extremists.
The new Centre for Social Cohesion report, Victims of Intimidation: Freedom of Speech within Europe's Muslim Communities warns that unless European governments take urgent action to protect these individuals and their right to freedom of speech, Islamic extremists will be empowered and the evolution of a peaceful, tolerant 'European Islam' will never take place. The report is available here.
Victims of Intimidation, by Douglas Murray and Johan Pieter Verwey, tells the stories of nearly 30 Europeans of Muslim background - some believing Muslims and others not - who have been threatened by Muslim extremists. Based on interviews with many of these individuals, the report details the substantial threats and violence they have faced as a result of critical inquiry into aspects of their faith or lifestyle.
The victims of this intimidation include politicians, journalists, writers, artists and human rights activists. Their personal stories are diverse and wide-ranging. Some have criticised Islam itself; others seek to reform traditionalist practices. All, however, have been targeted on the pretext that they have broken Islamic rules and traditions.
Many of the individuals featured in Victims of Intimidation have suffered physical assault and are forced to live under constant police protection as a result of their words and actions. Several tell of community and religious leaders' failure to support proponents of moderate Islam. Others warn of ineffectual government responses to coercion by extremists.
A Syrian academic who now lives in Germany, Bassam Tibi, is another name to follow. He was interviewed by Spiegel Online on 2 October 2006.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/
0,1518,440340,00.html
your daily bigotry makes me sick