Ayoon wa Azan (Islamophobia -6-)
Jihad el Khazen Al Hayat - 29/07/08//
The highly credible Gallup institution shocked the enemies of Arabs and Muslims when it published the findings of its comprehensive survey: Muslims around the world think differently than what claims those who try to frighten the West (and the East) of Islamic extremism and terrorism.
The Gallup survey represented the basis of the book "Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think" by Professor John Esposito from Georgetown University's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Centre for Muslim-Christian Understanding and Dalia Mogahed, the executive director of the Gallup Centre for Muslim Studies.
I read that in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, many Americans seemed to have no idea whether or not Muslims supported terrorism. This troubled Jim Clifton, Gallup Chairman, who felt that "no one in Washington had any idea what 1.3 billion Muslims were thinking, and yet we were working on intricate strategies that were going to change the world for all time." Clifton ordered his company to undertake this job. It conducted a survey that lasted six years and encompassed 50 thousand interviews with Muslims in 35 nations that are predominantly Muslim or have sizable Muslim populations.
To the surprise of many, the findings came as follows:
· Muslims and Americans reject attacks on civilians as morally unjustifiable.
· Most Muslims around the world would guarantee free speech if they were to write a new constitution.
· Similarly to the majority of Americans, Muslims are not enthusiastic about the moral decay and breakdown of traditional values in the West.
· When asked about their dreams for the future, Muslims said they wanted work and security not conflict and violence.
· Muslims say that the most important thing Westerners can do to improve relations within their societies is to change their negative views toward Muslims and respect Islam.
Esposito and Mogahed's book focuses mainly on the seven percent of Muslims described as "politically radicalized." These are not more pious than others, nor do they speak about the role of religion in their lives. They are mostly more educated than the average population and their unemployment rate no higher. However, they identify US occupation and the US control as the biggest threat.
When the 7 percent were asked about the justification for the 9/11 attacks, none cited a religious excuse. They instead evoked political factors, such as the US foreign policy.
The book was heartily welcomed by people well-known for their moderation or humanity, like Pastor Desmond Tutu, Karen Armstrong, Deepak Chopra, and Ambassador Edward Djerjian. According to Michael Scheuer, a former CIA agent and an expert on terrorism, Esposito and Mogahed's book clearly shows that Muslims are not against equal opportunities, freedom and democracy in America, but rather against the US policy.
Of course, the neocons did not like the book and criticized it as Esposito expected beforehand. Martin Kramer, a neocon hawk, described the book as laden with false and dangerous information. But, in my opinion, his book "Ivory Towers on Sand" is a dangerous Israeli campaign against US universities that dare to give justice to Arabs and Muslims. Of course, the campus control group attacked the book, because it is a gang specialized in targeting any professor who speaks the truth about the suffering of Palestinians or the crimes of Israel.
John Esposito and I were two of the founding members of the Council of 100, formed by the World Economic Forum in Davos a few years ago. This council was at first chaired by Prince Turki Al Faisal and Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury. But later Princess Lolwah Al Faisal replaced her brother.
On January 2008, the Davos dialogue issued a 156-page report entitled "Islam and the West: Annual Report on the State of Dialogue." It was officially launched in London two months later.
The report handled 5 issues: international politics, citizenship, integration, religion, ethics and ideology. I participated in both Davos and London dialogues and wrote about them. They grouped some of the best Western minds renowned for their moderation, humanity and will to coexist. These constitute the majority in the entire West, including the US. As for extremists, they are always a minority, even though their voices are loud. (To be continued)
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