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of Muhammad are the minds of Muslims themselves. They are imprisoned in the fear of hell and so also fear the very natural pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. There is as yet no consensus in the West on whether to support the side of the radical reformers. The present-day attitude of Western cultural relativists, who flinch from criticizing Muhammad for fear of offending Muslims, allow Western Muslims to hide from reviewing their own moral values. This attitude also betrays the tiny majority of Muslim reformers who desperately require the support—and even the physical protection—of their natural allies in the West.

Muslims must review and reform their approach to Muhammad’s teachings if those who love freedom and the open society are to coexist peacefully with them. The terrorists and their allies the fundamentalists should not dictate to us Westerners the rules of the game. We must maintain and proclaim our core values of free and open debate, of rational thinking, and the rule of law not religion. In this, the resolve of the British people to preserve civil rights is brave, and should be an example to all of us. The use of torture and the denial of legal rights to suspects of terrorism will serve only to corrupt Western systems and views of the West as a model of openness. Such actions also provide the terrorists with facts that serve as ammunition to prove their specious argument that the West is hypocritical and morally confused.

Notes

CHAPTER ONE

1 It is therefore not surprising: NRC Handelsblad, July 8, 2002.

2 Beating is degrading: in the same article in the NRC Handelsblad, July 8, 2002.

3 In a June 2002 interview: in the NRC Handelsblad, July 8, 2002.

CHAPTER TWO

4 Neither the Islam and Citizenship Society: Stichting Islam en Burgerschap.

5 Only aid organizations: Riagg.

6 The Child Welfare Council: Raad voor de Kinderbescherming.

CHAPTER THREE

7 The three main shortcomings: listed in the United Nations’ 2002–2003 Arab Human Development Report.

8 Only about 330 foreign books: Stichting Speurwerk, Titelproductiestatistiek, 1997.

9 The United Nations reports: Trouw, October 2, 2003.

10 “Stay quietly in your homes”: Koran, Surah 33, verse 33 (Abdullah Yusuf Ali, translator).

11 “And say to the believing women”: Surah 24, verse 31.

12 “Oh Prophet!”: Surah 33, verse 59.

13 The eleventh-century imam: in his book Wie luidt de doodsklok over de Arabieren? (Who Tolls the Bell for the Arabs?), Marcel Kurpershoek.

14 According to the Koran: Koran, Surah 4, verse 34.

15 Customs and Morals in Islam: Gewoontes en zeden in de Islam.

16 Guide to Islamic Upbringing: Gids tot de islamitische opvoeding.

17 A Glimpse of Hell: Een glimp van de hel.

CHAPTER FOUR

18 Nobody who has been following the debates: The original version of this article appeared in the “Letter & Spirit” section of Trouw newspaper on March 16, 2002. Also published in De zoontjesfabriek (2002).

19 The writer Leon de Winter: In an article of November 10 in the “Letter & Spirit” section of Trouw newspaper.

20 In addition, Muslims in Europe: Marcel Kurpershoek (NRC Handelsblad, November 3).

21 In the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe: Afshin Ellian.

CHAPTER FIVE

22 This is “religion as a culture-forming factor”: T. von der Dunk, “De West en de Rest: over de gelijkwaardigheid van culturen [“The West and the Rest: On the Equality of Cultures”], in Socialisme en Democratie, vol. 58 no. 9, September 2001, pp. 391–399.

23 In the year 2000 these Dutch communities: All figures taken from Integratie in het perspectief van immigratie [Integration from the perspective of immigration]. Government Report, January 18, 2002, p. 66.

24 Muslims now form the biggest ideological category: Netherlands Scientific Council of Government Policy, Nederland als immigratiesamenleying [The Netherlands as an immigration society]. Reports for the government no. 60, The Hague, 2001.

25 “The vast majority, especially those who come”: from economist Arie van der Zwan.

26 “Their demographic profile is traditional”: A. van der Zwan,