“Islamism - not Islam - is responsible for terrorism”…
A few days ago, I came across this interview of Daniel Pipes on the newly launched Lokmanch by Amitabh Tripathi. It is his first-ever interview with any Indian journalist.
Some excerpts: “…Q: Several apologists and leftists across the world had their argument that Arab-Israel conflict is pivotal to phenomenon of Islamic terrorism; once this conflict is resolved there would be no terrorism? How do you take this argument? DP: Its solution would marginally reduce the problem, but it is silly to imagine that. Settlement of the Palestinian issue would end the beheadings in southern Thailand, the pro-Kashmiri terrorism in India, or the anti-Shi`i terrorism in Pakistan.
Q: The term “Islamism”™ has been your favorite term to elaborate the subject of Islamic terrorism, being an expert of Islamic politics how do you define term “Islamism”™?
DP: It is the effort, based on the idea that whatever the question, “Islam” is the solution, to impose a totalitarian version of Islam on the entire world…
Q: In some of your article you have categorically stated that it is Islamism - not religion Islam as a whole - is responsible for terrorism, how could you differentiate Islamism with religion Islam when both of them have equal respect for Shari at, vision of Khilafat and theology of Islam?
DP: The religion of Islam goes back nearly 1,400 years; although terrorism was an intermittent problem during that long era (think of the medieval Assassins), Islam has not historically been associated with terrorism.”
Read the interview in full here “Lokmanch par Daniel Pipes”
I am also convinced that Islamism should be targeted and focus should be to make pressure on Muslims to modernise themselves as well amendement in their theology .
Comment by Amitabh Tripathi | March 26, 2007
*** Comment Edited ***
May be Danial Pipes has not studied Muslim invadors in India prior to British. Wasn’t that terrorism?
Islamism term is coined out of fear at the same time to gather publicity.
*** NOTE by MODERATOR ***
Nanda: Thanks for your comment but please try and avoid generalisations and blanket condemnation. Thanks.
Comment by Nanda | June 9, 2008
Daniel Pipes,
Why don’t you call spade a spade? Do you recognize What Muhammad did was terrorism? if so, how could you say Islam as whole is not the problem, but Islamism is the problem.
Comment by Ramesh | July 30, 2008