Scheduled speaker promotes intolerance

I was pleased to see Leyla Ozgur’s statement that Islam
has no monopoly on truth (“Islamic Awareness Week aims to
educate, elucidate,” News, Jan. 31). It seems many Muslims,
especially in our current era, have not interpreted their faith
that way and believe that Islam does give them a monopoly on truth.
There are many verses throughout the Koran that assert the absolute
truth of the document, and these verses can easily be interpreted
as giving Muslims sole access to the truth. I am happy that Ozgur
takes a different view.

Islam has existed for nearly 1,500 years and it would be
ridiculous to assume every Muslim since the 7th century has
interpreted the Koran in the same narrow way. A student of Islamic
history will find many examples throughout history in which the
Islamic texts have been interpreted in ways that provide a basis
for tolerance and religious pluralism. I applaud Ozgur’s
stance and the fact that she uses her faith as a means for
promoting acceptance rather than exclusion.

I am therefore dismayed that the same Muslim Students
Association of which Ozgur is a part has invited a man named Amir
Abdel Malik Ali to speak at the annual MSA West Conference at
California State University, Sacramento this weekend. While
Ozgur’s comments represent tolerance, Ali’s past
comments represent hatred. I have attended two of his lectures,
which were incredibly hostile and intolerant.

On May 19, 2004, The East Bay Express reported on an appearance
by Ali at UC Berkeley in an article titled, “Berkeley
Intifada.” According to the article, Ali said onstage that
the conflict between Muslims and Zionists is an opportunity,
because “we’re allowed to fight against oppression.
It’s an act of worship. … In America, you’re mostly
fighting with your tongue. But you should also learn how to fight
with the sword.” After this apparent call for violence, he
declared later in the day that “we must be in power; when
it’s all over the only one standing is gonna be us,”
the article reported. “We ain’t gonna lose,” he
continued, “we must implement Islam as a totality,” in
which “Allah controls every place ““ the home, the
classroom, the science lab, the halls of Congress.”

Examples of Ali’s extreme remarks can also be found at
standwithus.com, which has a video posted of a talk he gave at UC
Irvine. In the video, Ali declares his support for suicide bombers
who target civilian buses and claims without evidence that those
buses are used as military transports. He then claims a two-state
solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is “off the
table,” and says Palestine will be one state with majority
rule. “One state, majority rules. Us. The Muslims.”

Ali’s creeds embody the most intolerant elements of the
Islamic community today. I am deeply troubled that the MSA is
having him speak at its conference despite having a thorough record
of his extremism. The MSA cannot endorse diversity and tolerance
while at the same time inviting a speaker who espouses Islamic
supremacy and endorses violent acts of terrorism. Ozgur’s
comments are much appreciated, but her organization is sadly
inviting a hate speaker to Sacramento this weekend.

Muslim students who are concerned about this need to make their
voice heard in the MSA and ensure that speakers like Ali do not get
invited to speak at their events. I urge Muslim students to embrace
the best in their tradition and truly show that they are serious
about promoting tolerance. Islam has a long history and Islamic
civilization has much to offer. Surely the MSA can find more
speakers like Leyla Ozgur and fewer like Ali.

Parello is a fifth-year history student.