Stop imposing 'Your Islam' on Moslims.

Submitted by M'Hamed CHETTALI (Belgium), Feb 9, 2006 at 05:35

Many moslims - I am one of them - believe that the values of peace, human rights, freedom of speech and belief, justice, equality, and democracy are all laid down in the Quran and Islam. In fact, I take my interpretation as far as to drink alcohol, eat pig and have many friends who hold other beliefs. Not believing in God is also my right. Am I an exception ? Not all ! I know many people who consider themselves as true moslims, but they live their lives in accordance to their conscience and understanding of Islam.

Sunnis, in particular, resist the idea of having others interpreting for them the words of the Quran. Yet, the most blatant interpretations come today from non-moslims. These assert the most horrendous things. Is it done on purpose to engender a clash of civilizations ? Maybe yes, maybe not. But, doing so plays only in the hands of extremits of all kinds.

Paradoxically, for years, the Islamists have been calling for democratization in the moslim world. Their writings clearly indicate that they view Islam as, not only as compatible with democracy but commands democracy, freedom and the rule of law. Moslims do understand the political stakes and don't like the status quo, as many Islamic countries are in the grip of dictators or pseudo-democrats supported by the West. Whenever free voting has been tried, islamic parties came out as winners. Yet, many Islam hate-mongers propagate false accusations based on simplistic views of Islam. I would say just one thing : Stop lying, stop imposing 'your Islam' on Moslims. Not even your notion of moderate Islam. They know better and still capable of producing even a better Andalusia.

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