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Violence and Context in Islamic Texts

by Mark Durie

Islam forbids the killing of innocents. The key question, then, is what constitutes "innocence" in Islam? According to some Muslim authorities, to disbelieve in Allah is to be guilty of the crime of "committing disbelief…[which is] worse than slaughter." Just being a Christian, a Jew or a pagan, is worse than murder. As soon as one converts to Islam, however, one is no longer guilty, but "innocent." By this logic, anyone anyone inside Islam is "innocent,"and anyone outside Islam is "guilty" and deserving of death.

The Arabs of Israel

by Khaled Abu Toameh

The Arab citizens of Israel are not fighting for political rights, which they already enjoy -- or there would not be so many Arab political parities or Arab Members of Parliament in the Knesset. Many Israeli Arabs, however, have lost faith in their representatives, particularly those who are trying to incite them against Israel.

Extremism Overpowering Indonesia

by Mohshin Habib

Nations are falling like ten pins: not only Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and nations throughout the Gulf, but also Turkey, Bangladesh, Tunisia and Egypt. Now bigotry is overwhelming the most populous but formerly moderate Muslim nation, Indonesia.

The Religious War in the Middle East

by Ali Salim

The proposal of the United States for a Palestinian state and a joint Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli policing mechanism in the Jordan Valley seems like a pipe dream. That sort of suggestion, disconnected from reality, clearly indicates a dangerous lack of awareness concerning the increasing militant Islamic aggression toward Israel and the West.

Tayyip Erdoğan, "God's Gift to Turkey"

by Robert Ellis

"In the Islamic world, democratization has led to an increasing role for theocratic politics." — Fareed Zakaria