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Recently I noted an article by king Abdullah II of Jordan, denouncing terrorism, and I asked, “Now, where do all the other Muslim leaders stand on this issue – both in and outside of the U.S.? Why aren’t their voices heard, ringing out, condemning the killing of innocents, as Abdullah II has done here?”
Well, we found another one. In a letter to today’s L.A. TIMES this letter appears, from Nayyer Ali, Vice Chairman for the Muslim Public Affairs Council of Huntington Beach:
...I read the entire text of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s speech at the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and I did agree with much of what he said. His call for Muslim nations to revive themselves economically and intellectually is good advice. He also correctly pointed out that 50 years of opposition to Israel had not accomplished anything and, in fact, had made the situation worse. I agree with him that it is in Muslim self-interest to end this conflict on an equitable basis.However, I would strongly criticize him on two grounds. His remarks about Jews, such as the odd claim that they invented democracy and human rights to further their own interests, are bizarre. It would come as a surprise to ancient Athens or 18th century Philadelphia to learn that neither of them are the source of democracy. But this conception of democracy and human rights dovetails with his complete lack of any comment on these issues to the OIC. This lack of basic human freedom is the single largest problem of the Muslim world, and if he were serious about fixing its ills, he would have brought them front and center. His cockeyed view of democracy puts him outside the camp of true Muslim reformers.
He’s not yet the most prominent Muslim leader by any means, but he’s saying reasonable things.
Are there any other Muslim leaders willing to make similar statements?
