Moderate Muslim Watch: Notes From the Malaysian PR War
Ben Domenech has been following Moderate Muslim Watch and writes about it at the Washington Examiner. He's keen on Malaysia and particularly on Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak:
While on a trip to New York last month, during which he called for a “global movement of moderates” to retake the center of the international conversation, I asked Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak about the experience in his country.
“We have always taken the position that Islam is an integral part of public policy in Malaysia. By doing so, we have taken the wind from the sails of the extremists. There is no contradiction between being moderate and being Muslim,” Najib told me. “Being moderate, taking the middle path, is fundamental to Islam. It is one of the pillars of Islam. Muslims have rights, but it’s also enshrined in the teachings of Islam to safeguard non-Muslims in your midst. It’s wrong for Muslims to even be unkind to non-Muslims.”
One prominent example in recent months has been the jailing of two Muslims convicted of church arson during a series of religiously motivated attacks earlier this year. They were given five year jail sentences.
“We want to show that we are fair. If you desecrate a church, or a mosque, or a temple, the punishment is and should be the same,” Najib said.
These are the kinds of examples of respecting minority religions that more Muslim nations ought to adopt. While words about moderation, tolerance, and evenhanded justice are well and good, it’s the actions that bear this out.
I'm not in Malaysia, and wary of making excessively confident pronouncements about the Malaysian political scene. But here's what I can piece together. First, that series of "religiously motivated attacks" should probably worry us more than the jail sentences should reassure us. This report on extremism in Malaysia gives a fuller picture of the situation.
Second, Najib and opposition leader are Anwar Ibrahim are at each others' throats, with both competing to position themselves in the eyes of the US as the leading light of Malaysian moderation. Anwar is now facing flogging and a 20-year jail sentence on sodomy charges, reputedly trumped-up, and even if they weren't trumped up, the words "flogging" and "sodomy charges" speak for themselves--as should such words as, "It's illegal to convert from Islam in Malaysia."
Everyone in Malaysia is accusing everyone else of massive corruption, all quite credibly, and when they're not accusing each other of corruption, they're accusing each other of collaborating with the Jewnited States. Former prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is a malicious, raving anti-Semitic loon. Anwar is another malicious, raving anti-Semitic loon. He's being defended by a remarkably unlikely duo--Paul Wolfowitz and Al Gore, to wit--who last summer leapt to his defense in a jointly-authored piece in the Wall Street Journal:
We come from opposite sides of the political spectrum and disagree about a great many things. However, one issue that brings us together is the case of Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia who is now leader of the political opposition in that country.
Mr. Anwar has been charged under very dubious circumstances with sodomy, a criminal offense under Malaysian law. If convicted, he faces a possible 20-year sentence—effectively life in prison for a man of 63. His trial, scheduled to resume next week, threatens not just Mr. Anwar but all those in Malaysia who have struggled for a freer and more democratic nation. It is also important for the rest of the world, because it casts a troubling shadow over the future of a nation that should be a model for other Muslim countries.
Our views of Anwar Ibrahim have been formed completely independently of each other. We do not always agree with his views on foreign policy, but we do agree that as a political leader, statesman and intellectual, Mr. Anwar possesses qualities that encourage hope for the future. These qualities include lucidity and openness to debate and engagement; commitment to principles of accountability and good governance; and a serious concern for the future of his country and the world—not to mention his extraordinary courage in standing up for what he believes. We are convinced that he is committed to the values of pluralism, tolerance and freedom that are needed for Malaysia to flourish.
Now, I suppose I'd agree that locking up your opposition leader on "highly dubious charges of sodomy" is not the best press for your moderate Muslim country. What I don't quite get here is why anyone would think Anwar is committed to the values of pluralism, tolerance and freedom needed for Malaysia to flourish. He is, as I say, a gibbering, anti-Semitic loon. He also has more than a few uncomfortable connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. He co-founded the IIIT, for example, which is pretty much a Brotherhood front organization in the United States. It's been raided by the FBI; it's members have been arrested on terrorism charges; it publishes obscene Islamist propaganda--and while the name IIIT probably doesn't ring a bell with the average American citizen, it surely should ring a few bells with Paul Wolfowitz. (Al Gore is a lost cause.) I get very tired of seeing these connections overlooked by people who should know better.
It does seem Najib is the less odious of the lot--Meet the New, Less Anti-Semitic Malaysia reads the headline of a blurb about him in Foreign Policy, damning him with faint praise.
But let's not get overly excited here too soon. I'm pleased that Najib isn't Mahathir and he isn't Anwar. But Malaysia's entire political culture obviously has a few issues to work out.
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Aug '10
Re: Moderate Muslim Watch: Notes From the Malaysian PR War
Thanks Claire, I have always been astounded that Mahatir remained in position. What a creep.
Chic Islamism (with it's barely veiled antiSemitism) is the lingua franca of all those countries now. You have to hand it to those guys, one of the most successful multinational movements ever. Wrapping all that poverty, ignorance, and global envy into a neat package that lets you marry four women- neat trick that !
The world , in the grips of PC, is mum. That was the neat trick of the Soviets !
Thank God they're not around to savor the fruits of their labors. Iran and Russia both parry for the top antiAmerican seat,and look at the press rush in a wet-pantsed frenzy to assist. Disgusting.
This kind of behavior usually signals some religious kneejerk reaction, too bad it's the wrong religion ( if that is it's real name).
Now how about Thailand ? and murkier yet.....Burma ?
Edited on Oct 21, 2010 at 1:48pmJul '10
Re: Moderate Muslim Watch: Notes From the Malaysian PR War
In other Moderate Muslim News, there's this.
The outrage from the Muslim Community will commence next century, maybe.
Jul '10
Re: Moderate Muslim Watch: Notes From the Malaysian PR War
This is why Barney Frank doesn't vacation in Malaysia.
Oct '10
Re: Moderate Muslim Watch: Notes From the Malaysian PR War
I guess this doesn't quite qualify as the radically moderate Islamic reform movement I've been hoping would appear to counter the MB.