Since September 11th 2001, how often have we heard it said that Islam needs to embrace modernity? Too often, according to leading Muslim intellectual Dr Zia Sardar, who says that the West has enough problems with its own brand of modernity, and that Islam is more than capable of critiquing and reforming itself. Zia Sardar was born in Pakistan and now lives in Britain, where he’s a scientist, broadcaster and cultural critic, and he’s also the author of a number of books, including the recent bestseller Why Do People Hate America?
Dr Sardar says that the West’s great economic and military muscle is not supported by an adequately robust intellectual life, and that the major changes in human societies over the coming decades are going to be driven by paradigms of thought from China, from India and from the Islamic world.
A Full transcript is at ABC Radio site.
A woman who is constantly surrounded by security guards who protect her from death threats. Her name is Ayan Hirsi Ali author, ex dutch parliamentarian and one of the worlds most outspoken critics of ISLAM. She was born in Somalia and raised a Muslim, but after September 11, denounced her faith altogether. She says it's the new fascism, it's sexist and discriminatory.
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short interview on JJJ
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Muslim response on JJJ
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Long Speech at Sydney Writers Festival 2007
Transcript is at ABC Radio site.
For Muslims, apostasy - the renunciation of one's religious faith - is a sin punishable by death in many parts of the Islamic world. A discussion with Ibn Warraq, critic of Islamic fundamentalism and author of a recent book "Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out".
A Full transcript is at ABC Radio site.