• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Brian Whitaker defames Jihad Watch in The Guardian

Mar 27, 2006 7:43 am By Robert Spencer

Guardian writer Brian Whitaker, whose dhimmitude we have noted before, has gone out of his way to mischaracterize and caricature the positions of Jihad Watch in a Guardian column extolling Prince Charles as an Islamic reformer: “Prince Charles, the Islamic dissident“:

This, without doubt, is the nub of the problem within Islam today. Whether the issue is ill-treatment of women, the persecution of minorities, barbaric punishments or just general intolerance, it all stems from a belief that there are fixed rules, laid down centuries ago, which must never be questioned or adapted to changing circumstances.

Reactionary Islamic scholars are not the only ones who support that idea. It is also promoted by anti-Muslim activists, such as Jihad Watch, who argue that Islam is intrinsically bad and unreformable, and would like to press ahead with the great “clash of civilisations” as quickly as possible in order to wipe it out.

In his speech, therefore, Prince Charles was seeking to defend Islam from anti-Muslim prejudice in the west and at the same time supporting Islamic reform against clerics whose mentality is frozen in backwardness.

All right. Let’s take this from the beginning. Whether the issue is ill-treatment of women, the persecution of minorities, barbaric punishments or just general intolerance, there are Islamic clerics around the world who insist that all that must be maintained and defended, since it all stems from fixed rules, laid down centuries ago, which must never be questioned or adapted to changing circumstances.

When they say things like this, I duly report that they are saying them. And because I report on their words and deeds, in Brian Whitaker’s mind I must support them. And because of their numbers and prominence, as compared to the small and isolated voices calling for reform, I have noted that prospects for Islamic reform are dim. If Brian Whitaker thinks my assessment here is incorrect, he would be well advised to adduce in favor of his position an authority more respected in the Islamic world than Prince Charles, who is not — officially, anyway — even a Muslim.

As for the rest of Whitaker’s statement about Jihad Watch, it is false on virtually every level.

It is also promoted by anti-Muslim activists, such as Jihad Watch…

We are not “anti-Muslim activists.” In the FAQ here I say: “Any Muslim who renounces violent jihad and dhimmitude is welcome to join in our anti-jihadist efforts.” Jihadists worldwide are fighting to impose Sharia; we oppose the infringement of equality of rights for religious minorities and women that Sharia represents.

…who argue that Islam is intrinsically bad and unreformable…

I would ask Brian Whitaker to quote any statement to this effect from any of my books, articles, or web postings. But he can’t, because I have never said anything to this effect. “Islam is intrinsically bad”? Islam is many, many things. Are aspects of it “intrinsically bad”? Of course. Or would Brian Whitaker rush to the defense of the death penalty for apostates (Qur’an 4:89), the beating of disobedient wives (Qur’an 4:34), warfare to convert or subjugate Jews and Christians (Qur’an 9:29) and all the rest?

“Unreformable”? Let’s put it this way: show me, Mr. Whitaker, a large-scale Muslim movement anywhere in the world today that calls for indefinite peaceful relations as equals with non-Muslims, renounces and rejects for all time the jihad ideology of conquest and subjugation, and accords women full equality of rights. Take your time, sir.

…and would like to press ahead with the great ‘clash of civilisations’ as quickly as possible in order to wipe it out.

This is simply defamatory. Mr. Whitaker, I challenge you again to substantiate that statement with even a single quotation from my books, articles, or web posts. You will not, because you cannot. Unmoderated comments from posters here do not apply. You appear not to know, or not to want your readers to know, that I have told posters here that genocidal comments are unwelcome on many, many, many occasions. I believe that the antidote to bad speech is more speech, and I will not close comments here; however, I will not be held responsible for any comments, especially since people of all perspectives, including supporters of Islamic jihad, comment here regularly.

If you believe I support a position, prove it from my own writings. If you cannot, you are simply a liar.

Mr. Whitaker, I look forward to your retraction and apology.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: Uncategorized


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • gravenimage on Iranian Kurdistan: Muslim brothers behead their sister in honor killing over her romantic relationship
  • gravenimage on Iranian Kurdistan: Muslim brothers behead their sister in honor killing over her romantic relationship
  • Lion heart on Muslim cleric: ‘We welcomed the takeover of ISIS because they wanted to implement the Sharia’
  • Graham Bryant on Biden vows to surrender to Iran, then negotiate
  • gravenimage on EU Parliament members call for firing of border agency director for preventing illegal migrants from entering Europe

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.