Citizen Islam: The Future of Muslim Integration in the West

Description

Since September 11, Western governments have legitimized and empowered "nonviolent Islamists" as representatives of Islam for all Muslims in the West, an approach that has worried Muslim moderates. Citizen Islam addresses the implications of this approach. The book opens with an overview of the theology and history of Islam, to show that violence and intolerance are not fundamental aspects of the religion. It then explains the growth of Islamism in Europe and in the United States before suggesting that both are finally beginning to recognize the threat posed by nonviolent Islamists. Lastly, it outlines steps that Western and Muslims leaders can take to strengthen moderate Islam and counter the threat of Islamism. Written by Zeyno Baran, a Turkish-born Muslim, Citizen Islam sheds a sharp light on Muslim communities in the West. It concludes that there is much that Western governments can still do to reverse the spread of Islamism. But they must act quickly.

Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Zeyno Baran was until recently Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute's Center for Islam, Democracy, and the Future of the Muslim World and Director of the Center for Eurasian Policy. Baran regularly briefs European and U.S. officials and has testified before congressional committees on issues related to Muslim integration and radicalization in Europe and the U.S. She currently lives in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Citizen Islam constitutes a timely appeal, and warning, to the West: stop legitimizing non-violent extremists. For the patient, incremental and systematic approach utilized by the Muslim Brotherhood and other non-violent extremists-to create a so-called "fully-Islamic" personality, family, community and state-poses an even greater threat to the core values of modern society, than do their impatient terrorist brethren, armed with guns and bombs." - C. Holland Taylor, Chairman & CEO, LibForAll Foundation and co-author of The Illusion of an Islamic State, with former Indonesian president Kyai Haji Abdurrahman Wahid, et al. "A brilliant, principled, brave book. "- R. James Woolsey, Chair of FDD (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) and former Director of Central Intelligence. "This book is very informative and helps both Muslims and non Muslims understand the ideologies, historical trends and current events in Muslim communities. It is an especially valuable resource for western countries because it aptly explains how some Muslim societies are evolving and resolving issues of religion and state. It is also important for Muslims to see how they are being perceived by others. I recommend it highly for those who need to better understand the many facets of Islamic doctrine and beliefs. " - Shaykh Hisham M Kabbani, Chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council of America "Zeyno Baran's new book is fascinating reading for anyone wishing to understand the challenge of fundamentalist Islam, and vital reading for those tasked to deal with it." -Douglas Murray, Director, The Centre for Social Cohesion, UK. [Zeyno Baran's] new book describes how Islamists have captured many Islamic religious and social institutions, including most of the Western ones. -- The New Republic