Time for American Muslims to Speak Up: ElBayly Must Be Fired Posted by Shadi Hamid

This is disgusting. Former Dutch MP, outspoken critic of Islam (and now fellow at AEI), Ayaan Hirsi Ali spoke at the University of Pittsburgh last week. "Islamic leaders" tried to stop it from happening. One of them, Imam Fouad ElBayly, president of the Johnstown Islamic Center, said the following:

[Hirsi Ali] has been identified as one who has defamed the faith. If you come into the faith, you must abide by the laws, and when you decide to defame it deliberately, the sentence is death.

Yes, you heard that right (read the original Pittsburgh Tribune article here). ElBayly essentially passed a death sentence on Hirsi Ali. It wouldn't be the first time, but it's probably the first time for an American-Muslim (he's been here since 1976, so I'm assuming he has citizenship). Here's hoping that the Muslim blogosphere (to the extent that it exists), rises up in arms, speaks out and condemns this guy, and tells him, "if you don't respect even the most basic American traditions of free speech and expression, then why the heck are you in our country? If you're going to go around passing death sentences on people you disagree with, then please leave not only the Islamic Center you purport to lead, but also this country." So, yes, here's a call to action: the Johnstown Islamic Center should fire ElBayly immediately. He should be prevented from holding any leadership post in the American Muslim community.

I'm no fan of Hirsi Ali and I've criticized her at length in previous posts. I suspect most American Muslims don't like her either. That, however, should not keep us from speaking out against ElBayly and those like him. Hirsi Ali's freedom of expression must be protected, and it is here that Voltaire's famous quote is most operable ("I may not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to my death your right to say it"). The irony of it all is that in one stupid, dangerous statement, ElBayly has succeeded in "defaming" Islam more than Hirsi Ali ever could.   

Comments

[Cyn Kim]

Geez, this reminds me of Zionists in NYC who closed down a play about a young Candian woman peace activist,run over by Israeli bulldozers in Occupied Palestine a few years ago. Such attempts at censorship are equally pernicious and yes, members of both communities should be encouraged to publicly protest these acts/words of their own militants.

[PRCS]

"but it's probably the first time for an American-Muslim"

The following Letter to The Editor of the Lansing State Journal was published on July 6, 2006. The author teaches kindergartners at an Islamic Sunday School in East Lansing, Michigan.

Islam or death

I read Le Roy Barnett’s letter (“Muslims, speak up,” June 26) about Muslims’ opinion on Abdul Rahman’s [the Afghani man who had to leave Afghanistan in fear for his life] conversion to Christianity.

Islam is not only a religion, it is a complete way of life. Islam guides Muslims from birth to grave. The Quran and prophet Muhammad’s words and practical application of Quran in life cannot be changed.

Islam is a guide for humanity, for all times, until the day of judgment. It is forbidden in Islam to convert to any other religion. The penalty is death. There is no disagreement about it.

Islam is being embraced by people of other faiths all the time. They should know they can embrace Islam, but cannot get out. This rule is not made by Muslims; it is the supreme law of God.

Please do not ask us Muslims to pick some rules and disregard other rules. Muslims are supposed to embrace Islam in its totality.

Nazra Quraishi
East Lansing

[runescape money]

runescape money runescape gold runescape money runescape gold wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft Power Leveling Warcraft PowerLeveling buy runescape gold buy runescape money runescape items runescape gold runescape money runescape accounts runescape gp dofus kamas buy dofus kamas Guild Wars Gold buy Guild Wars Gold runescape accounts buy runescape accounts runescape lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro goldrunescape money runescape power leveling runescape money runescape gold dofus kamas cheap runescape money cheap runescape gold Hellgate Palladium Hellgate London Palladium Hellgate money Tabula Rasa gold tabula rasa money Tabula Rasa Credit
Tabula Rasa Credits Hellgate gold Hellgate London gold

[runescape money]

runescape money runescape gold runescape money runescape gold wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft Power Leveling Warcraft PowerLeveling buy runescape gold buy runescape money runescape items runescape gold runescape money runescape accounts runescape gp dofus kamas buy dofus kamas Guild Wars Gold buy Guild Wars Gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold runescape money runescape power leveling runescape money runescape gold dofus kamas cheap runescape money cheap runescape gold Hellgate Palladium Hellgate London Palladium Hellgate money Tabula Rasa gold tabula rasa money lotro gold buy lotro gold Tabula Rasa Credit Tabula Rasa Credits Hellgate gold Hellgate London gold dofus kamas buy dofus kamas 血管瘤 肝血管瘤 音乐剧 北京富码电视 富码电视 富码电视台 7天酒店 7天连锁酒店 7天连锁 自清洗过滤器 过滤器 压力开关 压力传感器 流量开关 流量计 液位计 液位开关 温湿度记录仪 风速仪 可燃气体检测仪 wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft PowerLeveling Warcraft Power Leveling World of Warcraft PowerLeveling World of Warcraft Power Leveling runescape power leveling runescape powerleveling
runescape money runescape gold wow power leveling 棕榈树
eve isk
eve online isk
eve isk
eve online isk

[cheap rf gold]

RF online is a very good game. Through buying rf gold, I find fun in it. I am so glad that I can earn a lot of rf online gold. Gaia online cater to the taste of young people. With rf money, you can get everything you want in this game. So I like to buy rf cp.

[Rolex Prince replica watches]

we don't think it is reasonable to spend hundreds thousands dollars to buy a decorating watch. you can use those money to invest in other industry which will return you good profit.
here you just need to spend 100-200 dollars to buy a replica rolex watches.
Rolex Prince replica watches are made by the rating 1:1 according to the original watches, and you can't distinguish the original and the fake watches when you look at the surface of the watches.

[Arua ROSE zuly]

my brother says rose zulie is his favorite games gold he likes,

[dofus kamas]

I hope i can get kamas in low price.

[sro gold]

Once I played silkroad, I did not know how to get strong, someone told me that you must have silkroad gold. He gave me some sro gold.

[Sword of the New World Vis]

My teacher is a nice man Sword of the New World money , he kike buy Sword of the New World money .

[flyff penya]

Do you like playing the game where you need to use flyff penya, when you do not have flyff money,

[luxury watches]

I am so with you,rolex watch
luxury watch

[cheap coach handbags]

Thank you for your sharing! I like i very much!

[north face outlet]

This post is really brilliant. It might be very useful for those who are facing this case in daily work. Thank you for sharing. http://www.northfaceoutlet247.com

[Rado Watch]

Very interesting many thanks, I presume your readers would likely want more reviews along these lines continue the great effort.