Iraq: "The Value of Human Life" by Omid Safi
This is an excerpt from the recently re-released 'Twilight of Empire' (Perceval Press), featuring a new foreword by Howard Zinn. This piece was written soon after the occupation began, but we feel it still has resonance.
The ongoing U.S. occupation of Iraq presents a special challenge for Muslims who self-identify as socially and politically progressive. The challenge is to speak out, rise up, and act against the unilateral American display of unbridled military power, as well as against acts of violence by some Iraqis toward that same American might or perceived Iraqi sympathizers. This double critique arises out of the Qur'anic view that to save the life of one human being--any human being--is to have saved the life of all humanity, and to take the life of a single human being, any human being, is as if to destroy all of humanity [Qur'an 5:32].
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Tariq Ramadan's Call for an End to Capital Punishment Entirely
The Progressive Muslim Union stands behind Tariq Ramadan’s call for a international moratorium on the application of capital punishment in the Islamic world and further calls for an end to capital punishment entirely. Ramadan, himself, is not calling for a prohibition of capital punishment, nor challenging the legal force of the rulings supporting capital punishment. He is calling for a suspension of the application of these rulings because the necessary conditions for their just implementation are impossible to meet at the present time due to the prevalence of social conditions such as war, poverty, gender inequity, and racism in the Islamic world. We support Ramadan in his action. Furthermore, we contend that there is no possible just implementation of capital punishment under any circumstances. We are dismayed by the rejection of Ramadan’s equivocal call for a moratorium by The Al-Azhar Legal Research Commission who respond that the hudud are not open to debate nor is the one condition for their suspension met (certain circumstances in times of war). The reasoning behind their rejection demonstrates an obsession with legal technicalities over the preservation of Divine Justice which we argue should be the raison d'être of Islamic legal interpretation. To this end, we call for scholars to examine the destructive nature of these rulings through the principle of God’s desire for justice, and to work with the dynamic potential of the Islamic legal tradition for the benefit of the community.
Click through to find a link to Ramadan's call and his response to al-Azhar's statement in which he summarizes their criticism of his call.
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Sharia Law in Canada
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PMU Statement on the London Bombings
The Progressive Muslim Union of North America (PMU) categorically condemns the terrorist attacks in London of July 7. We mourn the loss of life and injury there as we do everywhere around the world. We offer our condolences and prayers to the families and loved ones of all those affected by this brutal attack.
These vicious crimes are completely contrary to every element of Islamic principles and morality, and offend the conscience of all humanity. Terrorism, and the use of violence against civilians, is never acceptable under any circumstances, no matter who the perpetrators or the victims might be.
PROGRESSIVE MUSLIM UNION CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF IRAQI WOMEN'S RIGHTS
PROGRESSIVE MUSLIM UNION CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF IRAQI WOMEN'S RIGHTS
August 8, Washington, DC -- The Progressive Muslim Union of NorthAmerica (PMU) is dismayed at reports that the new Iraqi constitutionmay severely restrict rights enjoyed by Iraqi women for many decadesand impose a draconian version of various forms of Islamic and otherreligious law on "family" issues. These new restrictions reportedlycould involve serious derogations of the rights to marry freely, toequity in divorce, inheritance and custody proceedings, and even tothe weight accorded to legal testimony by male and female witnesses.Many of us who opposed the invasion of Iraq warned strongly that theUnited States would in all likelihood create a power-vacuum into whichfundamentalists would rush. Now a Sunni-dominated insurgency iscreating a dangerous fusion of nationalism and fundamentalism andcreating a new training ground for terrorists. Meanwhile, theShiite-dominated parliament is apparently considering a fundamentalistconstitution that restricts the rights of women. As a result of theoccupation, forms of religious extremism are starting to characterizeboth the insurgency and the government in the new Iraq. While PMU isnot asserting moral equivalency between all expressions offundamentalism and religious extremism, both of these trends aredisturbing and dangerous. PMU calls upon the Iraqi constitutionaldrafting committee and the Iraqi parliament not to adopt anyconstitution or other governing document that in any way restricts orinhibits the full and equal rights of Iraqi women, or that underminesthe secular character of the Iraqi state, and urges instead theadoption of a governing structure that ensures equal rights for alland a strict neutrality on all religious matters by the state.
PMU Denounces Exclusion, Restriction of Muslim Women Performers
PMU Denounces Exclusion, Restriction of Muslim Women Performers
New York City, August 11 -- The Progressive Muslim Union of North America (PMU) condemns the latest instances of a disturbing and unacceptable pattern of excluding Muslim women musical artists in some Muslim events in North America. The upcoming "Muslim Fest" scheduled for August 13 at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, and the "Entertainment Session" at the Annual Convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), scheduled for September 5 in Chicago, Illinois, are only the most recent North American Muslim gatherings or events to adopt a policy of excluding or restricting Muslim women performers, forbidding them from singing in front of mixed audiences, requiring that they wear hijab if reciting poetry, or that they refrain from motions that might be mistaken for dancing, etc. We reject the fundamentalist argument that Islam considers a woman's voice to be part of her "awra" (the part of a person that should supposedly be "covered"), as the Qur'an and hadith have many examples of women expressing themselves in public. Moreover, PMU holds that no event or organization which places these restrictions on women's performances can be considered equitable, fair to women, or in-line with the traditional and mainstream interpretations of the faith. Misguided solidarity with extremists who demand the exclusion of women performers, or serious restrictions on their creativity, is not an argument for this kind of gender inequity and repression. PMU calls on all major Muslim organizations, events and gatherings in North America to reject demands for the restriction of women performers, and to embrace the principal of gender equality and fairness which are part of the ethical imperatives central to Islam.
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PMU Denounces Desecration of Islamic Historical and Cultural Sites
The PMU denounces the destruction of Prophet Muhammad's home by the Saudi government and calls for the protection and preservation of Islamic historical and cultural sites throughout the Muslim world.
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PMU Speaks out against Racial Profiling
The Progressive Muslim Union opposes the use of racial profiling in the war on terror. Hussein Ibish, vice-chair of PMU elaborates in the Daily Star and the Chicago Tribune:
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PMU Denounces Iranian President's Remarks on Israel
Iran's new President Ahmadinejad has recently called for the destruction of Israel, and has marched in the streets with thousands of Iranians who rallied behind his call. This must seen for what it is: hateful bigotry and deceptive manipulation. The ayatollahs who control Iran with an iron grip, are using the pain of the Palestinian occupation in order to divert people’s attention from pressing matters at home. They talk about wiping out Israel, but in reality since coming to power all they have wiped out are Iraqis and fellow Iranians. After a reign of terror that killed thousands and drove many more into exile, they have used torture, arbitrary arrest, vigilante justice, and murder to silence fellow Muslims in Iran. Steady and high rates of unemployment, a drug addiction problem that affects some 2 million Iranians, as much as 40% of the population living in poverty. These are some of the real problems facing Iran.
Before President Ahmadinejad postures as the self appointed guardian of the Palestinians, he should take care of his own. He insults Islam by usurping it toserve his own political interests, and divert attention from problems at home. With friends like the Iranian ruling ayatollahs, the Palestinians do not need enemies.
At the same time, let us not get carried away and use Ahmedinejad's speech to make Iran into another Iraq. While the Iranians posture about pan-Islamism and display their racist, hateful view of the world, President Bush and the American government has not done much better. While Iran misuses Islam to oppress its people, the United States abuses "democracy" and "freedom" to advance its agenda. Next-door Iraq serves as a window of truth where both Iran and the US have cooperated to destroy a nation. Central America is still reeling from America's "defense of the democratic world." Let us not forget Irangate.
While we must unreservedly condemn the Iranian president's bigotry -- and Muslims must take concrete steps to counter the anti-semitism that is so rampant in our communities -- we, American and Muslims alike, also cannot remain silent about Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territories. Nor should we allow the American government to continue posturing as a deliverer of freedom while occupying Iraq, especially given its history of contributing to the downfall of countless democratically elected regimes that did not serve our financial interests.
The PMU strongly condemns sectarian violence
The PMU strongly condemns sectarian violence such as the bombing of the Al-Askari mosque and attacks upon Shi’ite, Ismaili, or Ahmedi communities in Pakistan. While we may disagree about certain tenets of Islam, there can be no doubt that the proper response is to leave these differences to Allah. It says in the Qur’an, (32:25) “Verily, it is God alone who will decide between people on Resurrection Day with regard to all on which they were wont to differ.” In no case can violence against people of differing beliefs be justified, simply on the basis of their belief.
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PMU Calls for an end to killing in Darfur
The PMU regards widespread Muslim silence about the ongoing violence in Darfur as shameful and hypocritical. We call for an end to the killing, and condemn racism in all its forms, against all races or ethnicities. While recent developments, including the signing of a peace treaty between the government of Sudan and the opposition forces, are hopeful, the PMU encourages the international community to maintain pressure on Khartoum to ensure that the treaty is honored. Board Member, Tarek Fatah explores the issue in depth in his article, Why are We Muslims So Silent on Darfur?
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PMU calls for calm in the wake of Pope's Remarks
The PMU calls for calm in the wake of Pope Benedict's recent remarks which defamed the Prophet, and asks the Catholic church to open doors of dialogue with Muslim organizations. While we appreciate the Pope's expressions of regret, a full apology would be more appropriate, as would constructive efforts to engage with the Muslim community.
The vast majority of Muslims would agree with the substance of the Pope's lecture – that faith cannot be coerced and that aggressive, coercive violence in the name of religion goes against the nature of God and human beings. However, we take exception to his quoting Byzantine Emperor Manuel II who challenged a Muslim scholar, saying, "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
The Pope had to know that this description of Muhammad and his teachings would be viewed by Muslims around the world not only as patently false, but also as terribly offensive. Such a characterization of any religious figure would be offensive to his or her followers, unless followed by a clear condemnation. At a time when tensions run high between certain elements in the West and in the Muslim world, we expect the leader of a world religion to work for rapprochement rather than stirring up the pot with provocative remarks.
We encourage the Muslim community world-wide to express our dismay and frustration over the Pope's remarks with calm, reason, and to seek redress through dialogue, not expressions of outrage. We should follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad who ignored insults, and of another figure Muslims revere -- Jesus -- who taught us to turn the other cheek. We call on the Pope to recant this depiction of the Prophet and Islam, and to foster open dialogue between the Catholic church and Muslim institutions.
PMU urges Muslim women to reject the Niqab
PMUNA urges Muslim women to reject the Niqab
It’s neither required by Islam nor is it a mark of civil society
The Progressive Muslim Union acknowledges the right of a woman to dress as she sees fit, but we maintain that the use of the face veil as an expression religious identity or as a symbol of political defiance is neither in the best interests of Muslim women and the Muslim community at large, nor is it a requirement of the Islamic faith. We also remind the Muslim community that the religious rights and freedoms of an individual have to be balanced with the rights of the wider society and measured by the impact it may have on Muslims in North America.
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Iran's Holocaust Conference Is a Step in the Wrong Direction
The Progressive Muslim Union of North America is gravely concerned that this week's conference on the Holocaust being held in Iran is nothing more than an excuse for indulging in rampant anti-semitic bigotry.
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