Comments on: Ayaan Hirsi Ali

By: Shahryar

Shahryar — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 12:01:35 +0000

I am currently reading Irshad Manji's The Trouble with Islam which I recommend to all Indians. Check out Irshad Manji's website: Muslim Refusenik

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 19 May 2006 14:09:24 +0000

Reading about Ayaan Hirsi Ali and about Dr. Wafa Sultan has led me to some other names of other heroines:
Homa Arjmand(f) and Azam Kamguiam (f)
So we are up to 4 now! And then you can also count a man Ahmed Mansour.

By: amar

amar — Fri, 19 May 2006 05:00:20 +0000

Now this happened. Also read the Op-Ed by Ian Baruma It seems Ms. Hirshi Ali is planning to leave Denmark for US.

By: amar

amar — Fri, 19 May 2006 04:57:33 +0000

Now this happened. It seems she is planning to leave Denmark for US.

By: Pardeshi

Pardeshi — Sun, 14 May 2006 16:23:11 +0000

Unfortunately women like Ayaan Hirsi Ali or Wafa Sultan are scarce even in the part of the world where you have freedom of speech ; most of them are discouraged by their own families especially by males elder or younger.I wonder whether these males are blessd with the faculty of critical thinking or they just don’t want to lose the power over others.
We may wait another couple of centuries before something significant happening in India

By: little Ram

little Ram — Sun, 14 May 2006 08:33:32 +0000

he point Ms. Ali makes about the regressive nature of the teaching in fundamental Islam is revealing; I had no idea it was that extreme or that such regressive practices were explicitly sanctioned.

Couple of traits that seem common to fundamental or radical religionists all over are-

1. Authority for radical views is derived from ancient texts.

What we need to realize is that these texts should be open to re-interpretration in the light of new knowledge.

2. Quoting a historical figure as the ultimate authority.

If Newton’s theory is subject to revision by Einstein’s and some of Einstein’s beliefs can be challenged by new evidence, I see no reason why we should not engage in healthy debate.

3. A sense of exclusionism. That is, my is the only way or that all others are lesser beings.

It seems a very peculiar religious belief that would condemn a large part of humanity to misery because they are not followers!

4. An active resort to violence.

More than anything, this violence gives lie to their assertion that they wish to establish the rule of God. By indulging in such acts they ensure they are perpetrating lawlessness and promoting anarchy- really rule by the mighty.

Lastly, I believe there is some truth in the saying that if there is evil in this world, it is not so much because the world is full of bad men committing evil acts as due to the fact that the vast number of good men choose to remain silent.

By: Pankaj

Pankaj — Sun, 14 May 2006 07:12:52 +0000

Atanu,

Thanks for sharing this video. Ms. Ali is far much braver than our entire gang of “Liberals”.

By: Uday

Uday — Sun, 14 May 2006 05:41:03 +0000

Thanks for sharing that video. Both Dr. Wafia Sultan and she are extremely articulate and captivate the listener. They don’t hesitate from stating their views in the most direct manner possible, hence their power. Isn’t it fitting that the leading Muslim voices against myopic and perverted Islamic ‘philosophy’ are both successful and attractive women?

The words that are unforgettable for me are Dr. Wafa Sultan’s: “They are not people of THE book, they are people of many books. All the useful scientific books you have today are theirs, the fruit of their free and creative thinking”. It would be good if the Christian right in the US realize the applicability of these words to their beliefs too. As an immigrant to the US, I am baffled at how its very people forget why their forefathers headed here from 16th-19th century Europe.