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Tammy Bruce Interviews Dr. Wafa Sultan
You may have been one of over 1,000,000 people who have already seen the MEMRI TV video of Syrian-born Dr. Wafa Sultan, taking on two Islamic Imams on Al-Jazeera TV. Last night, Dr. Sultan appeared in Los Angeles at an event organized by Janet Levy for the Center for the Study of Popular Culture.
Update 5-5-06: For those who haven't seen the clip, Dr. Sultan does what is unthinkable in Sharia culture -- she stands up to the Imams and questions them on the subject of religion. This is unimaginable for anyone there to do, and even more so for a woman. If you haven't yet seen the video, check it out.
In introducing Dr. Sultan, Levy noted that Sultan was born in Syria and raised in the Islamic tradition. In school, she saw one of her teachers murdered in cold blood in the name of Islam. This changed her life. She eventually renounced Islam, and in 1989 was able to immigrate to the U.S. Last week Time magazine named Dr. Sultan one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Dr. Sultan delivered some prepared remarks, was interviewed by Tammy Bruce, and took questions from the crowd.
A few highlights (from my handwritten notes -- not expected to be verbatim: )
Dr. Wafa Sultan: I have lost hope for Islam and I think it is the duty of all free speakers to help in the effort to enlighten the Muslims.
...Islam should not be considered a religion, but a political ideology that applies its policy violently.
...Sometimes when I talk to American friends, I get so upset that they don't know anything. A friend [...] said, Islam is a religion of peace. The President of the United States said, Islam is a religion of peace. Do you read anything about Islam? Do you know anything about Islam? When I heard that I just wanted to close my eyes.
...Islam shouldn't be classified as a religion because as a Muslim you have to believe in Islam as a religion and as a state.
...As long as you are allowing the Koran to be read in your schools, you are in grave danger.
...You should force Imams to answer your questions publicly about Islam. Just have them open their book and read it. Many Muslims are embarrassed because the world is starting to ask questions about Islam, and the Muslims know they don't have good answers.
...Muslims at my house say, "wait a few years -- we will replace the U.S. constitution with sharia law, here in the U.S." They are working for that. They don't say it to your face, but they are working for that.
...The Internet is the beginning of the end of Islam. It is the beginning.
...You would be surprised if you knew how many people in Syria believe what I believe. Using fake names, and behind the scenes, they are supporting me. Because you are risking your life and the life of your family. Everyone is looking to the free world to get them out of their prison.
When Muslims say, there are 1.3 billion of them, it makes it sound like they are the whole world. But the rest of the world is 5 billion. Muslims are a minority and they have to act like it. Those Muslims have no choice of religion, they are forced to be Muslim. Give those 1.3 billion Muslims freedom of religion, and then see how many Muslims there are in the world!
...In our country we have one source of information: religion. We are not allowed to get information out of our religious source.
Tammy Bruce: Have you seen a Koran which was accurately translated into English?
Dr. Wafa Sultan: No! Whenever I read the Koran in English, they say, for example, "fight," when the correct translation is "kill." For example, "Life is fighting."
Audience Member (me): How important is it to stop Iran from getting the nuclear bomb?
Dr. Wafa Sultan: It is very important. Iran is in the hands of lunatic people!
Audience Member (not me this time): What is your view of the withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza strip, and the planned withdrawal of Israel from much of the West Bank?
Dr. Wafa Sultan: To solve it, you have to go to the root of the problem, which is deeply rooted in Islamic teaching. Do you think if you solve the Palestinian situation, it will stop people from teaching that Jewish people are not human? We are taught that Jewish people are there to be killed.
Update 5-5-06: Welcome, Tammy Bruce readers!
