April 01, 2008

Help Defend Wafa Sultan from the Threats of Those Who Attack Our Freedom of Speech

Dr. Wafa Sultan Speaks at a Private Residence in Los Angeles

Shockingly, on U.S. soil, a citizen of this country has had to go into hiding due to threats from an organized group - radical Islamists:

Dr. Wafa Sultan has been forced to go into hiding with her family following a fatwa (religious edict) from an Islamic scholar, according to Omedia. Sultan faces the fatwa following a recent debate on Al-Jazeera in which she challenged Egyptian Islamist Talat Rheim over Dutch cartoons of Mohammed, who Muslims revere as a prophet. Sultan argued that Denmark had the right to print the cartoons.

Click here to see Sultan's March 4 interview on Al Jazeera.

Last week, at a private residence in Los Angeles, Sultan appeared. Here is an excerpt from her remarks (transcribed from an audio recording, and presented here with the permission of Dr. Sultan):

You need to jump the gap between you and them. Bridge this gap, and begin to understand this mindset. You cannot win this war until you understand the Muslim mindset.

You know, prior to my first interview on Al Jazeera in 2005, I thought I only needed to educate my people in the Arab world. But right after that interview, unfortunately, I found out that the West is lacking knowledge about the realities in the Arabic world. They don't know anything about the Muslim mindset. At a very early age, we are brainwashed to believe, that we are here, to spread Islam. We are here to fight, for Allah's sake, and to kill or to be killed in his army.

They're very different. Their concept of time is so very different from your concept. They are well-trained to be patient. They believe time is at their side. It doesn't matter how long they wait. One day they're going to reach their goal.

And there is a very well-known in Islam called al-Taqiyya. I don't know if you're familiar with it. Al-Taqiyya means Muslims are allowed to lie, to cheat, to deceive, in order to reach their goals.

In my first interview on Al Jazeera, the host asked me the question, "Why are you trying to be American, more than Americans? I said, "Believe it or not, I am American more than Americans. I was born in hell. I know the difference between hell, and paradise. But unfortunately, most Americans don't. [APPLAUSE]. They take their American lives for granted.

Just greeting my next-door neighbor - walking freely down the street - you take it for granted; I don't. So please, defend your life. Defend your values. This war is a very tough war. I have no doubt, that we are going to win this war.

Thank you so much!

[APPLAUSE]

Dr. Sultan asked us for our help in defending her against a fatwa issued against her by Al-Qaradhawl, a radical Islamist and resident of Qatar. You can help by submitting the following letter, drafted by one of her many supporters, to the embassy at Qatar. Use this link, and paste the letter into Feedback:

Embassy of Qatar:

As an American citizen I am appalled by the rage, threats and hateful rhetoric leveled against Dr. Wafa Sultan by Egyptian Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

Al-Qaradawi does not have the right to issue religious edicts, or "fatwas" against persons residing in the U.S., who express their opinions in an attempt to uphold the truth. In fact, it was this type of hateful rhetoric, threats and rage that compelled Dr. Sultan to speak out in the first place. As a result of al-Qaradawi's actions to exact revenge and incite hatred against Dr. Sultan, she has now been forced into hiding.

These are extraordinary charges against Dr. Sultan made by al-Qaradawi, who states them in a manner which his fellow jihadists understand perfectly. In fact, we all understand exactly what he is threatening.

Given that al-Qaradawi has justified suicide attacks against innocent civilians and American soldiers in Iraq, it is abundantly clear that he encourages violence and threats of death over civil discourse and free speech.

Law enforcement officials should take this latest threat against Wafa Sultan very seriously indeed.

Signed...

I've also drafted a variation on the above letter, which can be sent to the U.S. Embassy in Qatar. Use this email address to reach Michael Alan Ratney, currently the Chargé d'Affaires at the embassy while GWB's nominee for incoming Ambassador to Qatar, Joseph LeBaron, awaits nomination hearings.

Dear Mr. Ratney,

As an American citizen I am appalled by the rage, threats and hateful rhetoric leveled against Dr. Wafa Sultan by Egyptian Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

Al-Qaradawi does not have the right to issue religious edicts, or "fatwas" against persons residing in the U.S., who express their opinions in an attempt to uphold the truth. In fact, it was this type of hateful rhetoric, threats and rage that compelled Dr. Sultan to speak out in the first place. As a result of al-Qaradawi's actions to exact revenge and incite hatred against Dr. Sultan, she has now been forced into hiding.

These are extraordinary charges against Dr. Sultan made by al-Qaradawi, who states them in a manner which his fellow jihadists understand perfectly. In fact, we all understand exactly what he is threatening.

Given that al-Qaradawi has justified suicide attacks against innocent civilians and American soldiers in Iraq, it is abundantly clear that he encourages violence and threats of death over civil discourse and free speech.

As an American citizen, I urgently request that the U.S. Embassy in Qatar take every step to protect the lives of American citizens from death threats issued against them which emanate from Qatar.

Signed...

Just yesterday LiveLeak acted courageously in the face of death threats, to post the film, FITNA. We in this country must demand that our government take every step to defend our freedom of speech from threats against our citizens, and we must champion those who courageously defend our freedom of speech - from our soldiers fighting overseas, to LiveLeak, and to Dr. Sultan.