Minaret of Freedom Institute

02/01/2025

Our summary of the USIP / IRCD program on "Bridging Divides: The Power of Religious Engagement in Global Diplomacy" has been published on our blog: https://blog.minaret.org/?p=91109.

10/14/2024

In a recent debate sponsored by AU's Students for Liberty, Walter Block claimed that his disagreements with me were over facts not principles. I attempted to explain that libertarians are naturally skeptical of "facts" produced by state a propaganda apparatus -- especially when they are contradicted not only by the UN (which Israel and Block dismiss as anti-Semitic) but by virtually every human rights organization to have studied the matter, including the Israeli group B`tsalem.

12/12/2023

Three university presidents found themselves unable to explain to members of a House committee the difference between reprehensible but protected free speech and terrorist actions. Perhaps they should have given an extreme example, such as the following:

“If a person holding a position with the university were to attempt to argue that the mass killing of members of a particular ethnic group is somehow morally justifiable, that would be reprehensible but protected speech. If, on the other hand this person were to spend 10.5 million dollars a day of university money to kill those people and then try to spend 14 billion dollars more to kill more of them, it would become necessary to remove him/her from that position. Do you understand Congressman/woman?”

If they don’t understand, perhaps their constituents will.

10/03/2023

Our summary of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy dinner with former Tunisian President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki is now on our blog:

[On September 26, 2023, the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy held a dinner with former Tunisian President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki. This is my summary of highlights of the program, not a transcript.

12/09/2022

My essay on "The Moral and Ethical Role of Taqwa in the Personal, Social, Economic, and Political Spheres of Life in the 21st Century" published in the Journal of Islamic and Muslim Studies VII #1 (May 2022) pp. 113-125] and is reprinted on our blog:

[Reprinted from Journal of Islamic and Muslim Studies VII #1 (May 2022) pp. 113-125.] The Moral and Ethical Role of Taqwa in the Personal, Social, Economic, and Political Spheres of Life in the 21st Century

10/31/2022

We have published a summary of highlights from the Middle East Policy Council's panel discussion on Iran: Historical Context and Latest Developments on our blog: https://blog.minaret.org/?p=86448.

[On October 21, 2022, the Middle East Policy Council held a panel discussion on Iran moderated by retired Ambassador Richard J. Schmierer. The following is a summary of highlights and not intended as a transcript

10/31/2022

We have published a summary of highlights from the Middle East Policy Council's panel discussion on Iran: Historical Context and Latest Developments on our blog: https://blog.minaret.org/?p=86448.

05/27/2021

On our blog, we denounce all three forms anti-Semitism (thinly disguised, overt, and treacherous): https://blog.minaret.org/?p=84342.

You have heard reports of an upswing in anti-Semitic (i.e., anti-Jewish) incidents lately, and in any case anti-Semitism was already a serious problem with over half of the religiously based hate crimes in the U.S.

04/12/2021

"Manufacturing Counter-mythology," a preprint of a review by Dr. Ahmad of Darío Fernández-Morer's book The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise: Muslims, Christians, and Jews under Islamic Rule in Medieval Spain scheduled for publication in the Molinari Review in May 2021 is now available on our blog:

Manufacturing Counter-mythology [This is a preprint of a book review scheduled for publication in the Molinari Review in May 2021] The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise: Muslims, Christians, and Jews under Islamic Rule in Medieval

04/06/2021

Join us for an online symposium on Sun., April 11, on the recently released book What Jerusalem Means to Us: Muslim Perspectives and Reflections. Reserve by 4/10:
https://www.facebook.com/hcef.peace

HCEF invites to preserve the living stones, and seeks to replace despair with hope, fear with security, and humiliation with human dignity.

03/25/2021

A version of Dr. Ahmad's essay on "The Meaning of Jerusalem Through My Mother's Memories and My Faith" has been published in What Jerusalem Means to Us: Muslim Perspectives and Reflections (https://hcef.org/publications/what-jerusalem-means-to-us-muslim-perspectives-and-reflections/) is now available on our blog: https://hcef.org/publications/what-jerusalem-means-to-us-muslim-perspectives-and-reflections/.

What Jerusalem Means To Us Muslim Perspectives and Reflections Jerusalem’s sacredness is interconnected with its worldliness as it is the home of Palestinians, both Muslim and Christian, and others. However, what has been challenging in recent decades is the lack of empathy and understanding on th...