I can’t find the author’s name anywhere on the blog, so I will refer to him as the Sudanese Thinker.
In the orthodox Muslim world, there are few public figures more despised than the feminist journalist and activist, Irshad Manji. The New York Times has described her as “Osama bin Laden’s worse nightmare.” She advocates a revival of critical thinking and wants to encourage young Muslims to question the orthodox interpretations of the Islamic scriptures through her program: Project Ijtihad. She has written books, articles and appeared on news shows all around the world.
When the Sudanese Thinker first explored her website, he was a little put off , as was a large portion of the Islamic world, by her pictures exhibiting her standing happily, arm in arm with Salman Rushdie. The Sudanese Thinker joined the bandwagon of Muslims who proclaim her as a sell out and an opportunist. When he finally got the chance to meet her, at a conference in D.C., the Sudanese Thinker told Manji exactly what he thought of her: “Let me just say that I didn’t like you previously.”
Manji was caught off guard by the bluntness of the comment, but then was drawn into a lengthy conversation with the Sudanese Thinker in which they discussed the political blogosphere, the goals of Project Ijithad, and how the “monopolization of Islamic interpretations by a circle of wacky male-dominated clerics must be opposed.”
Manji’s blog, although widely read, did not allow for comments, because she simply did not have the time to moderate her inbox of 80% hate mail. Now, however, the percentages have switched and she is receiving more and more support from many Muslims. More importantly than the numbers though, is that her work seems to be making an impact.
Manji is exactly the type of person who can make a difference in today’s political world. With the separation between political figures and the common people rapidly shrinking, due primarily to the Internet and the blogosphere, Irshad Manji’s work is becoming increasingly influential. She is not trying to enforce her views on people, she is simply trying to encourage young Muslims, especially women, to speak up.
When Manji, a figure hated by a huge percentage of the Muslim population, walked into the conference without a single body guard, the Sudanese Thinker was completely shocked. Upon asking her why she does not travel with security, Manji replied, “If I encourage others to speak up while I keep myself protected, then it’s very hypocritical of me. They can’t afford the same luxury. That’s when I decided after much thinking that I’d rather not have any bodyguards. If I get hurt, then I get hurt. If I die, so be it.”
I admire that, and I believe that the spread of Manji’s work is an encouraging sign.
