Saudi Arabia: Misunderstanders of Islam force Understander of Islam to resign for publishing correct understanding of Islam

The silly headline above reflects the sacrosanct dogmas about Islam that we are all forced to accept in the Western public square, on pain of ostracism and marginalization: Islam is a Religion of Peace™. Jihad terrorists, despite their claims to be motivated by Islamic texts and teachings, have nothing to do with Islam, but are rather a Tiny Minority of Extremists™ who have Twisted and Hijacked that Religion of Peace™.

If that were so, Jamal Khashoggi might still be editor-in-chief of al-Watan. One would think that the Vast Majority of Peaceful Muslims™, all stout believers in the freedom of speech and other Western notions of human rights, would have risen up against this and demanded nothing less. But apparently the Misunderstanders of Islam are in the driver's seat in Saudi Arabia -- and, as other stories posted here abundantly illustrate, in other areas of the Islamic world as well.

"Saudi editor Jamal Khashoggi resigns from of al-Watan," from the BBC, May 17:

A leading Saudi Arabian journalist has resigned from his post as editor-in-chief of one of the country's more progressive newspapers.

Jamal Khashoggi was editor of al-Watan which published an opinion piece questioning Salafism, a form of Islam at the heart of the Saudi state.

There is speculation that Mr Khashoggi had been forced to resign.

Mr Khashoggi had clashed with the authorities before with articles on the religious police and women's rights....

The opinion piece by Saudi poet Ibrahim al-Almaee criticised Salafism, a conservative school of Sunni Islam that draws inspiration from the practices of the earliest Muslims.

Saudi Arabia is governed under an austere form of Salafi Islam, Wahabbism....

"We believe in al-Watan newspaper, and we believe in reform," Mr Khashoggi said after resigning.

"The newspaper is more important than I am, and I hope it will continue. We may question social issues like women's rights, but we should not have allowed an article to question the essence of faith."

He said he was abroad when the decision was made to publish the article, and he did not agree with the points made by Mr Almaee.

In 2003 Mr Khashoggi was dismissed from al-Watan for criticising a 14th Century Muslim theologian, but returned to the newspaper in 2007....