The Hullabaloo's article "Ann Coulter visit part of Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" (Oct. 12) reported that Tulane will participate in a nation-wide campaign known as Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week. As the Tulane Muslim Student Association, we feel the responsibility to give our perspective on the issues that the campaign was created to address.
The joining of the word "Islam" and "fascism" is an inaccurate portrayal of the various political and theological movements occurring throughout a very diverse Muslim world. More so, we believe it is purposefully inaccurate, meant to produce a fear-inducing image of our religion.
The violence that makes up the actions of a very limited group of Muslims has nothing to do with fascist ideologies or even religious doctrine and has more to do with historical circumstance and economic and political disenfranchisement.
While we make no excuses for terrorism in the name of Islam and condone it under no circumstances, we also stand firm in our conviction that addressing the violence must be done with nuance and compassion, not through dehumanization and aggression.
As such, we question the responsibility of the College Republicans on hosting Ann Coulter to speak on campus as part of Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week.
While we fully support free speech and the presentation of diverse opinions on all issues, she is known to be divisive and insensitive. We feel that such speech goes against the spirit of tolerance and freedom that both our faith and nation are built upon.
We hope everyone takes the time to approach Islam and its portrayal in the media with an open heart and an open mind. Understanding the world in purely black and white terms does nothing for the struggle toward a more peaceful existence for all of humanity.
We, along with the vast majority of Muslims, raise our voices to condemn terrorism. Along with this we must also raise our voices against hate-mongering and anti-Islamic propaganda. In this case, as in any, we stand firmly in opposition to any actions that promote divisiveness over unity.
Yasmiene Mabrouk
The Tulane Muslim Student Association
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
Maryam
Maryam
posted 10/20/07 @ 7:22 AM CST
Dear Yasmiene,
Raising an alarm is not hate-mongering, and it is disingenuous of us to pretend it is. In the last TWO DAYS this is the toll of Muslim violence in the name of Islam:
10/19/2007 (Yala, Thailand) - An 81-year-old Buddhist man is murdered along with his wife by Islamists in their fruit orchard. (Continued…)
Jordan
posted 10/20/07 @ 7:55 PM CST
Yasmiene, MUSLIMS, Algerian Muslims, coined the term "Islamo-Fascism, in the early '90's, circa 1991.
So, why don't you tell the 200,000 DEAD Algerian Muslims, killed by other Muslims, that their "portrayal" is "innacurate?"
As Salman Rushdie (yeah, I know - your hero!) has said, "What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it doesn't exist. (Continued…)
Maryam
posted 10/21/07 @ 5:07 PM CST
Gulu ...
For many Islam is a beautiful religion.
However, trying to control the speech about and the perception that the violence inside Islam is debased, becoming worse and spreading, is the WORSE THING MUSLIMS COULD POSSIBLY DO. (Continued…)
Maryam
posted 10/21/07 @ 6:33 PM CST
One more comment. I just ran across this. Apparently it's been going on for a week. Here is what happened.
A 22-year-old Moroccan kid in the Netherlands stormed a police station. (Continued…)
Stephany
posted 10/22/07 @ 7:46 AM CST
"I would like to say that Muslims commit autocracies just like anyone else, and just because they do it in the name of Islam doesn't mean it's remotely supported by Islamic doctrine. (Continued…)
Maryam
posted 10/22/07 @ 8:31 AM CST
Gulu ...
Another thing. Your assertion that Muslims commit atrocities like everyone else is just patently untrue.
Name me ONE Quaker who's beheaded somebody in the last 100 years. (Continued…)
Maryam
posted 10/22/07 @ 9:12 AM CST
I expect two things: At some point while I am posting this week in response to this article, a Muslim will call me an apostate, say I am not a Muslim, and claim my posts should be disregarded. (Continued…)
Maryam
posted 10/22/07 @ 10:14 AM CST
Staphany ...
Maryam is the name, in Arabic/Islam, of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. She is, according to classical Islam, the most revered of all woman, and the virgin birth is upheld. (Continued…)
Maryam
posted 10/22/07 @ 12:45 PM CST
As promised:
Attacks from October 13-19
Attacks in the name of Islam: 45
Killed: 348
Critically Injured: 1021
And here is news, though it is not counted above becuase no one died. (Continued…)
Maryam
posted 10/23/07 @ 7:20 AM CST
Violence in the name of Islam during Ramadan
Jihad Attacks: 282
Countries Affected: 20
Religions Attacked (including Islam): 5
Killed: 1,327
Critically Injured: 1,648
Most of the victims, AS ALWAYS, are traditional Muslims killed by radicals to force impositions of dress code or draconian forms of shari'a law. (Continued…)
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