Other than the juvenile stuff about her looks, powerful stuff
http://tinyurl.com/j59yomb
I found her views in the article contradictory in places, though it did have some good written sound bites. Always useful if you are trying to sell a book. I am unsure about what she is trying to say about the hypocrisy of "Islamophobia whiners" when she says “What do these Islamophobia whiners say to the millions of individuals who live in Islamic theocracies and dream of liberty?”
Is she saying that people should not label a behaviour or view as Islamophobic or racist or bigoted in one country because people are oppressed in another country?
Or is she saying it is wrong to silence criticism of oppressive theocracies by calling the criticism Islamophobia? In which case I agree.
I don't agree with some of her other assertions e.g. “The most abject crimes of Islamic State are but a 21st-century remake of what the first Muslims accomplished under the guidance of the Prophet,”
I'm not surprised by her rhetoric though - non-violent, vocal Muslim atheists in the public eye who have been threatened by Muslim extremists seem to feel they have to use Prophet Mohamed as target practice for their anger, as it can be very effective at wounding / winding-up certain types of Muslims. It's also good publicity for her book. I think it is perfectly legitimate for her to deal with the issues she faces by writing a book - and books are a much more acceptable and less destructive way of trying to change people's views than bombs, missiles, fighter-jets, terrorism etc. No physical collateral damage and humanitarian disasters with books.
Disagree with her opinion on this: “When we apply Islam to the letter it gives Islamism, and when we apply Islamism to the letter it gives terrorism."
I think it's a silly sound bite since Islam can't be defined by one journalist.
She says: "“If the terrorists of Daesh [ISIS] behead those they judge to be miscreants, that is because they draw on their legislation in the texts like the 8th surah of the Koran, al-Anfal, verse 12: “Remember what Your Lord revealed to the angels : I am with you, so support those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. You can strike them above the neck and strike off every fingertip”."
I can't figure out if she is agreeing with ISIS or just reporting what ISIS thinks when she asserts that Quran 8:12 is legislation for people to follow. The translation she provides has the word "can" inserted, which is not in any of the translations I have seen. The verse is referring to the Battle of Badr and is recalling the instruction to angels, as opposed to people, to strike those who disbelieved during the Battle of Badr. It would be good to know who translated it as "You can strike them...". and it would be good to know who (other than ISIS types) told her it is legislation for Muslim people to follow.
Not sure what she means by "Until Islam has admitted this and accepted that the freedom of men and women is superior to it" - Islam is individual and diverse, not a single person. Wonder who she is expecting to be the single spokesperson for "Islam" in order for "Islam" to admit anything?
Especially since she contradicts the idea of a single "Islam" further on in the article by saying "the “Islamophobia ruse” is driven by “great ignorance” and a lack of understanding of the culture of Islam and what Islam with a big ‘I’ is — “they ignore its complexity and that there have always been opposition currents and progressive and liberal pushes from within.”
She comes across as understandably bitter about her friends who were murdered and the death threats that she has faced from Muslim extremists.
