Do not look far...look at [some of] your neighbors!

Submitted by Norma Fares (Qatar), May 23, 2008 at 12:04

After 11/9, Muslims round the planet are trying to "fight" or to calm down the impact of terrorist acts committed in the name of Islam. Is that is a good step? We undoubtedly cannot and do not want to see otherwise. Is that is coming at the right time? I allow myself to say no with a big N.

Yes, with a big Y, [Human] World has no time left to expect very modest steps towards real Reform, secular states where the dignity of a "man" is respected. The free World already achieved this valuable step decades ago.

In the Muslim-Arab World, the majority of faith's population does not allow respective regimes to impose on their partner-non-Muslim-minorities any law under any form of religion i.e. Sharia' law under no circumstances.

Aiming to join EU, Turkey, must recognize its poor vision and incompetence to understand Sarkosy's rejection for Turkey to join EU during his presidential campaign: "Turkey is not Europe", he said.

Consequently, and due to Turkey's short vision, or lack of willing, I would advise that it does not look so far i.e. Europe and USA. But to better look closer to some 2 of your [20 century] states-neighbors:

Due to the French mandate, Lebanon has managed to be the only multicultural state --"with an Arabic facet"-- amid Arabs' where no religion is mentioned in its national constitution. Unfortunately, the term "with an Arabic facet" was changed to Arab state in 80's Lausanne summit, with [Sunni] Sahfic Wazan's government.

[The Jewish Sate] Israel that celebrates its 60 years anniversary is a majority of Jewish population in a secular state forged with civil laws that put all its citizens, Jews and non-Jews, under the umbrella of Justice and Equality. There are thousands of examples that prove that on a daily basis.

To conclude, religion creates the spirit of Nations, nothing more nothing less. But this spirit does matter: It's the main family/community factor that formulates the core of education, culture and vision.

With such many so-called reforms i.e. Hadith Project, Where is Turkey from all that?

"True reform awaits true reformers – not Islamist functionaries but independent, modern individuals intent on aligning Islam with the best of modern mores." as Dr. Pipes perfectly concludes his article.

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