Citizens, Ex-Muslims & More React to Organization of the Islamic Conference

The Organization of the Islamic Conference in Senegal has met with a great deal of international controversy as it has acted as among the first, high profile Islamic meetings of late, meant to touch down on a number of issues that they feel are directly affecting Muslims worldwide. Not surprisingly, two of the largest topics have been the East's concerns over what it describes as Islamophobia and the increase in violence in the Palestinian-occupied Gaza Strip.

Controversy began early when Palestinian Fatah Leader Mahmoud Abbas, self-described moderate, continued his rhetoric against Israel, calling air strikes against Palestinian rocket positions "genocide" and a "holocaust" over the deaths of 125 Palestinians, including those manning the rockets. However, with the largely pro-Palestinian Muslim outpouring at the summit, there was little condemnation for such harsh terminology, and a general consensus of condemnation was drawn up, led by the Palestinian and Iranian representation.

Response in the United States has been less favorable however, as even left leaning college students, such as Elizabeth Newkirk formerly of Tulane University, described the terminology as "ludicrous."

"I believe that the language used by the Palestinians and Iranians is harsh. Comparing the genocide in Darfur or the holocaust where millions of people have died to 125 (even though any death is tragic) is ludicrous," she told AC Content Producers.

In a far more alarming turn, however, the OIC has been quoted as agreeing that there should be a legal backlash against those who "blaspheme" against Islam, specifically citing the Danish cartoons of Muhammad that triggered worldwide protests that culminated in the deaths of hundreds amidst the riots.

Muslim leaders argue that there should be laws protecting against what it describes as Islamophobia, citing examples of European laws that denounce anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial, a topic that many mosques have also protested as British Imams have been noted as teaching Holocaust denial during worship. As a result, many British schools have dropped the Holocaust as a topic to be studied in their school classes to appease local religious sensitivities.

Ibrahim Hooper, of the Council on American Islamic Relations, came short of condemning the action in a telephone interview with Associated Content, insisting that CAIR, "Supports the First Amendment." Hooper was recently outspoken in his support of Harvard's segregation policies that forbade males from participating in gym workouts during certain hours so that Muslim women did not have to be in the presence of males during their exercises, calling dissenters "Muslim bashers".

He also told the author that the appropriate response is "outreach" and "education".

Sheila, an anonymous former Muslim using an alias to avoid confrontation with friends and family, was wholly opposed to the resolution, that was backed by the majority of the summit delegates. She cited experiences as a Muslim during the Danish cartoon incident when she tried to call on her friends and family for reason, arguing that the bullyish antics expressed internationally only did more to hurt the image of Muslims abroad.

"If anything," she told AC in a phone interview, "this will just help spread Islamophobia, since it's real easy to offend them and a lot of Westerners will see that and compare them to their own liberties and freedoms. They'll ask 'Why do they get to get away with it?'"

She cited a number of examples about how several faiths, from Christians to Jews, are constantly offended daily without receiving financial compensation, and asserts that none of them deserve it either.

"Why is Islam so damn special?" she demanded.

She echoes the voices of some, by saying that such a resolution may only act to polarize and "alienate" Muslims and non-Muslims even more, specifically saying that it is going to make adherents to Islam seem, "even more ignorant, unworldly, stupid, and backwards, and it's really not going to help matters."

Sheila doesn't believe that it will catch on as a policy in the United States, however she echoes the feelings of Elizabeth Newkirk when she states that it will likely catch on with many of the politically correct types in the nation.

In contrast to Sheila however, Elizabeth spoke favorably of it, calling it a "backlash" against the 9/11 "discrimination" felt against Muslims.

The idea was not without dispute inside of the Senegal summit, however, as Bangladesh argued widely against the notion, believing that a confrontational approach to the West was not the best course of action. However, by and large, it has been generally agreed at the summit that blasphemy should be considered "restricted" from free speech, specifically says Senegal's President Wade.

Ahmed Bedier, of the Tampa chapter of the Council on Islamic American Relations, did not return AC's phone call on the matter.