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Sadik Al-Azm, the "Apostate of Damascus," says that Islam can be made compatible with democracy if it "jettisons certain laws" -- particularly the dhimmi laws, which institutionalize discrimination against non-Muslims, and which most Western Muslims deny even exist. Oh Al-Azm, you Islamophobe!
"Islam: 'Conflict with democracy' centres on non-Muslims' status," from AKI (thanks to all who sent this in):
Rome, 26 July (AKI) - Syrian philosopher Sadik Al-Azm believes that while "there exists a conflict between Islam, in its original form, and democracy, this problem can be solved easily"."To do this Islam needs to jettison certain laws, first and foremost the concept of 'ahl al-dhimma'" the so-called 'protected' status granted to followers of the only two other religions recognised by Muslims - Judaism and Christianity, "Al-Azm said in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).
In practice, ahl al-dhimma, which is gaining popularity in an increasingly Islamised Iraq, allows non-Muslims, and only Christians and Jews at that, to follow their religion, while effectively stripping them of their political rights and privileges.
Abolishing ahl al-dhimma "paves the way for the concepts of citizenship and equality of all people before the law" Al-Azm , who lectures at universities in Lebanon, Syria and Germany, told AKI.
Similarly, the Syrian philosopher argues that Islam must reappraise its stance on slavery, which he says is at best ambiguous.
"Islam fails to address in a direct and fundamental manner the issue of slavery from a judicial level".
Posted by Robert at July 27, 2007 4:44 PM
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Could this be the voice of a moderate Muslim?
Posted by: awake![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 27, 2007 4:50 PM
"Could this be the voice of a moderate Muslim?"
Yes! Sadik Al-Azm is a true Muslim reformer. Therefore he has been condemned by the Sunni leaders as an apostate. In an ideal world, a person like Al-Azm would be respected and possibly elected president of Syria instead of facing death threats.
Posted by: Provoslavni at July 27, 2007 5:19 PM
"Islam fails to address in a direct and fundamental manner the issue of slavery from a judicial level".
Slavery is seen as valid because it's valid in Qur'an for eternity and because Mohammed was a slave-maker, slave-taker, slave-trader and slave-giver.
Neither Sunnah nor Qur'an will be changed until Islam is threatened existentially and probably not even then. Sorry.
Posted by: A_Plague_on_Both_Houses at July 27, 2007 5:27 PM
If one 'jettisons dhimmi laws', the Qur'an is no longer the uncreated word of God, of which it is said that nothing can be changed.
The hadith cannot be rewritten or assigned new ranks of authenticity, not after more than a thousand years of authority cling to Bukhari and Muslim. The figure of Muhammad cannot be changed, the details of his life that Muslims find so inspiring cannot be changed.
Jettison dhimmi laws? Don't hold your breath.
at July 27, 2007 5:49 PM
A word of advice:
Bulk up on your security, you will need it.
Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at July 27, 2007 6:10 PM
Yes! Jettison the dhimmi laws.
And slavery!
And then paedophilia!
And then the chopping off bodily parts for minor crimes!
And then the trivial punishments for major crimes, such as murder of non-mohammedans!
And then the public stonings!
And then the belief that mohammedans are superior to everyone else!
The list goes on and on.
And in the end they become a modern civilized culture!
But only after they jettison islam...
Posted by: Aardvark at July 27, 2007 6:12 PM
Greetings:
You can put feathers on a pig, but it ain't gonna fly.
Posted by: 11B40 at July 27, 2007 6:17 PM
Dead Man Talking.
Posted by: profitsbeard at July 27, 2007 7:10 PM
I hope this guy is a Baath/Alawite supporter. He'll need all their security that he can get.
I normally don't admire Muslims until they jettison Islam itself, but given the circumstances here - the guy lives in Syria - maybe I could make an exception.
Posted by: Infidel Pride at July 27, 2007 7:10 PM
...how dare he?! DEATH TO THE ISLAMOPHOBE!!!
..seriously, good to hear him say it. There's actually a number of people in Syria saying the same thing. Kind of surprising that Assad hasn't silenced them yet.
Posted by: GetBornAgain at July 27, 2007 9:40 PM
"If one 'jettisons dhimmi laws', the Qur'an is no longer the uncreated word of God, of which it is said that nothing can be changed."
And they will not have anyone to feel superior to.
Posted by: jay at July 27, 2007 11:06 PM
And since NOTHING in the Koran can be changed, it's a moot point and this poor wannabe-reformer will end up with fatwas calling for his death. The more Muslims try to reform Islam, the more conservatives will react to those changes and pull Islam right back to the year 900.
Posted by: Patrick at July 28, 2007 12:07 AM
Evidence of intelligent life on earth.
===========
Hey Sadik, I'd prefer to see you prosper in Syria, but I expect you'll end up either dead or in the US.
You'll be welcome if you make it.
Hope you escape before the idiots get you.
Be well.
Posted by: joeblough at July 28, 2007 3:36 AM
....Islam need a lot of revamping before joining the 21st century....
Posted by: exsgtbrown at July 28, 2007 12:02 PM
You go, Salik Al-Azm!
Posted by: tanstaafl at July 28, 2007 2:32 PM
You go, Salik Al-Azm!
Posted by: tanstaafl at July 28, 2007 2:34 PM
"Islam: 'Conflict with democracy' centres on non-Muslims' status,"
NO SHIT, Sherlock!!
How many of you think this guy's FOR REAL??! If he means what he is saying he may not live long.. at the very least he has one foot in jail..
Posted by: Allahfanculo at July 29, 2007 4:55 AM
I don't know what else to say.. this is too shocking considering the source.. if this is for real we may have found a logically thinking moslem..
..and an extremely endangered one to boot.
Can anyone tell us if this story has been picked up by the MSM anywhere..?
I mean anywhere.. USA, AUS, GBR, EU.. wherever..
In case you have links.. please do post.. I am not holding my breath..
I think I can do 3 min. max. underwater.. so.. you know.. I do wish to keep on living for a while longer.. if only to see OUR side gaining in strength and in battle...
.. I know that is a LOT to ask, Dear God.. but the more I get depressed and hopeless.. the more I actually am beginning to see the twistedly humorous logic of it all..
Posted by: Allahfanculo at July 29, 2007 5:03 AM
No can do!
No dhimmi's, no slaves. Who will feed these wankers who have based their whole belief-system on booty and slaves? If we stop the jiziyah tomorrow Egypt, Pakistan and Indonesia will be starving and many more will declare violent jihad on us....
You may as well take the 164 jihad verses out of the Koran, the hatred, the stupidity, and then what? You might have one page left if you're lucky, and that's stolen from the Jewish bible...
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at July 31, 2007 11:31 AM
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