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Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, August 2008, page 50 Muslim-American Activism Des Moines Audience Defends Muslim Author
DALIA MOGAHED, co-author of Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think, spoke to a remarkably receptive standing-room-only audience at the Des Moines Public Library’s Central Library on May 27, at the invitation of the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy. The book, published in March by Gallup Press and available from the AET Book Club, dispels many of the myths about Muslims popularized by Western mainstream media outlets. (See July 2008 Washington Report, pp. 67-68.) “It is quite appropriate that we would start our seven-day tour here in Iowa, because this is where everything started,” Mogahed, senior analyst and executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, told her audience. “Dr. George Gallup was born in Jefferson, Iowa and was educated at the University of Iowa,” she explained. “He received his BA, his MA and his Ph.D. at the University of Iowa, and he believed deeply in what he called ‘the wisdom of the people.’” Today, three quarters of a century later, she added, Dr. Gallup’s mission has never been more important. “Our country was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, in a way that few could believe or even imagine,” Mogahed said. “Since then, violence has grown exponentially as Muslims and non-Muslims alike continue to be victims of global terrorism and violent conflict. “Is all this evidence of an all-out clash between the West and 1.3 billion Muslims?” she asked. “The vital missing piece among the many voices weighing in on this question is the actual views of ordinary Muslims. With all that is at stake for the West and for Muslim societies, indeed for the world’s future, the time has urgently come to democratize the debate.” Describing Who Speaks for Islam, which she co-authored with Georgetown University Professor John Esposito, as a book about the views of the silenced majority of Islam, Mogahed cited polling data that revealed attitudes and opinions that many Americans might find surprising: for example, Muslims and Americans are equally likely to reject attacks on civilians as morally unjustifiable. Large majorities of Muslims would guarantee free speech if it were up to them to write a new constitution, and say religious leaders should have no direct role in drafting that constitution. Muslims around the world say that what they least admire about the West is its perceived moral decay and breakdown in traditional values—the same answer that Americans themselves give when asked that question. Asked about their dreams for the future, Muslims say they want better jobs and security, not conflict and violence. Contrary to assertions by Western opinion shapers and political leaders, Mogahed cited data indicating that large majorities of Muslims are not opposed to Western concepts of democracy and freedom, but rather are opposed to some of the foreign policies of Western governments, policies they view as inconsistent with American values and incompatible with the best interests of Muslims and predominantly Muslim nations. “The conflict is far from inevitable, Mogahed said. “It’s more about policy than principles. However, until and unless decision makers listen directly to the people and gain an understanding of this conflict, extremists on all sides will continue to gain ground. “Rather than allow extremists on either side to dictate how we discuss Islam and the West,” she concluded, “we need to listen carefully to the voices of ordinary people and thus let facts, not fear, shape our global relations.” During the question-and-answer period, an audience member, quoting verses from the Qur’an that seemed to deny the equality of women, demanded that Mogahed explain or defend the verses. His comments drew an immediate reaction from other audience members. “Sounds like Paul!” one man shouted, while another declared, “She’s not here to defend the Qur’an, that’s not her job!” Mogahed responded directly to the man, however, asking him, “Have you ever read the Bible, sir?” Her retort elicited general laughter and applause from the audience. Launched in 2006, the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy is headquartered in Des Moines. The event was co-sponsored by the Des Moines Public Library, the Iowa Council for International Understanding, Iowa Sister States, and the Rotary Club of Des Moines. —Michael Gillespie |
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