Muslim dissidents face dire consequences in Islamic countries. To a great extent the western media and the western governments are to be blamed. Not only they don’t condemn these human rights violations, they are often reticent to report them. This silence is interpreted as a green light by the governments in Islamic countries and a seal of approval.
There is nothing unwise in criticizing any religion. All religions are regularly criticized. Why Islam should be an exception?
Millions of people in Islamic countries live in constant fear. They are the ones who can bring moderation. Instead of protecting them and supporting them, the western media ignores them and in most cased cooperates with Islamic fundamentalists to shut them up. Critics of Islam are called “haters” and “Islamophobes.” Thus name calling is designed to silence the legitimate criticism of Islam and the result is more extremism.
There are millions of people like Kashgari in all Islamic countries. All they want is to be free. Isn’t this the basic human right? But they are denied freedom, not just by their oppressive governments, but also by westerners who think respecting a religion, no matter how egregious it may be, is more important than human rights and even human lives.
Only truth will set us free and truth is that killing people for having different views is barbarity. Is it not? Then why not say it? Why not denounce and ban a creed that promotes such barbarity?
