Islamic Reformers Speak Out
It comes as no surprise to find that certain factions of the Islamic world are just as concerned with women's rights and freedom as I am - after all they have to live within Islamic society.
The "St. Petersburg Declaration" from Secular Islam Summit - subtitled "The Next Islamic Enlightenment Starts Now" makes some relevant points about the current problems that face us in the New Cold War.
We are secular Muslims, and secular persons of Muslim societies. We are believers, doubters, and unbelievers, brought together by a great struggle, not between the West and Islam, but between the free and the unfree.We affirm the inviolable freedom of the individual conscience. We believe in the equality of all human persons.
We insist upon the separation of religion from state and the observance of universal human rights.
We find traditions of liberty, rationality, and tolerance in the rich histories of pre-Islamic and Islamic societies. These values do not belong to the West or the East; they are the common moral heritage of humankind.
We see no colonialism, racism, or so-called “Islamaphobia” in submitting Islamic practices to criticism or condemnation when they violate human reason or rights.
I agree with these people.
We should not give Islam a "free pass" on human rights in the name of "cultural equivalance", "moral equivalence" or even "multicultural political correctness".
These (very brave) people put it quite plainly and call for governments of the world to:
Eliminate practices, such as female circumcision, honor killing, forced veiling, and forced marriage, that further the oppression of women; (and to) protect sexual and gender minorities from persecution and violence.
Quite ... I bet my wife and mother would agree as well ...
Tags: secular islam summit, islam, womens rights, human rights, islamic reform movement, st petersburg declaration