Yes, This is About IslamYes, This is About Islam((The New York Times, November 2, 2001)The New York Times, November 2, 2001)

By: By: Salman RushdieSalman Rushdie

Student: Mitja Sabadin Student: Mitja Sabadin Brno,17.5.2006Brno,17.5.2006

““This isn’t about Islam”This isn’t about Islam”

Why have we been listening this Why have we been listening this “mantra” for weeks after September “mantra” for weeks after September 11 attacks?11 attacks?

• To prevent reprisal attacks on innocent Muslims To prevent reprisal attacks on innocent Muslims living in the Westliving in the West

• United States had to maintain it’s coalition United States had to maintain it’s coalition against terroragainst terror

• To avoid suggestions that Islam and terrorism are To avoid suggestions that Islam and terrorism are in any way relatedin any way related

““Of course, it is about Of course, it is about Islam”Islam”

But it is not about the personal But it is not about the personal sphere of the religion:sphere of the religion:

• ““Fear” of God (worship God)Fear” of God (worship God)• Variety of customs, opinions and dietary practicesVariety of customs, opinions and dietary practices• The “sequestration” or near-sequestration of “their” The “sequestration” or near-sequestration of “their”

womenwomen• Other personal-sphere related attitudes and viewsOther personal-sphere related attitudes and views

But it is about:But it is about:

• Demonstrations in support of Osama bin Laden Demonstrations in support of Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaedaand Al-Qaeda

• 10.000 men on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border 10.000 men on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border answering some mullah’s call for Jihadanswering some mullah’s call for Jihad

• Denying the know-how of the Muslims to pull-off Denying the know-how of the Muslims to pull-off such attacks on the WTC and Pentagon such attacks on the WTC and Pentagon

• Attaching responsibility to Jews with the most Attaching responsibility to Jews with the most classical anti-Semitism theoryclassical anti-Semitism theory

Muslim : IslamistMuslim : Islamist

• MuslimMuslim is a politically neutral word is a politically neutral word

• IslamistIslamist::

Somebody who is engaged in a radical political Somebody who is engaged in a radical political movement, usually powered by poverty, who movement, usually powered by poverty, who blames outsiders or “infidels” for the ills of the blames outsiders or “infidels” for the ills of the Muslim society and is against the Muslim society and is against the “Westoxication” of their society.“Westoxication” of their society.

The Islamist movements are not The Islamist movements are not the solution!!!the solution!!!

Why?Why?

• Because they blame the West for their Because they blame the West for their problems and for the ills of their own societiesproblems and for the ills of their own societies

• But the real problem lies in their own society, But the real problem lies in their own society, in the politicization of Islamin the politicization of Islam

• It’s like the non-communist socialists used to It’s like the non-communist socialists used to distance themselves from the tyrannical distance themselves from the tyrannical socialism of the Sovietssocialism of the Soviets

Solution?Solution?

• Way to another Islam, the personal faith, Way to another Islam, the personal faith, not the “state faith”not the “state faith”

• Restoration of the religion to the sphere of Restoration of the religion to the sphere of the personal, its depoliticizationthe personal, its depoliticization

• Secularization of Muslim societies on the Secularization of Muslim societies on the base of secularist-humanist principlesbase of secularist-humanist principles